Job Summary

Harvard University has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in the search for the Director of the Climate Action Accelerator at the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability. John Muckle is leading this search with Damla Williams. All confidential inquiries, applications and nominations MUST be submitted to Isaacson Miller via the following link:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/harvard-university-salata-institute-climate-and-sustainability/director-climate

1. Please provide a cover letter with your application.
2. The position is based on the Harvard University campus with the option of working remotely part of the week.
3. Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background screening. Harvard University is unable to provide work authorization and/or visa sponsorship. This position has a 90-day orientation and review period.

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability develops and promotes durable, effective, and equitable solutions to the climate change challenges confronting humanity. The Institute pursues its mission by strengthening the Harvard-wide community of scholars, students, practitioners, and staff working towards climate solutions by providing a home for research, teaching, and engagement in climate and the environment. The Climate Action Accelerator represents a pillar of the Institute and accounts for a powerful new platform that aligns and amplifies Harvard's research and outreach efforts, while leveraging the University's convening power and scale of expertise to play a leading role in addressing the climate crisis.

The Salata Institute seeks a proven leader to become the first Director of the Climate Action Accelerator with the single goal of making a real-world difference in the fight against climate change.

Position Description

The Director will have the skills and experience to draw upon the University's research strengths, global reach, and ability to convene stakeholders in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors to develop a platform for leadership like no other. The Climate Action Accelerator platform will identify critical climate problems, build consensus for solving them, home in on promising solutions, and convene decision-makers who have the authority and the resources to act. It will be nonpartisan, agile in dealing with emerging issues, and trusted by stakeholders to facilitate dialogue on high-stakes and sensitive climate topics.

The successful candidate will be knowledgeable about climate change issues, professionally committed to progress on climate change, well-connected in the climate change sphere, effective in conducting outreach to varied stakeholders to understand their needs, interests, and positions, strategic in building consensus for action, enterprising in seeking opportunities to turn Harvard's research to action, and comfortable in the role of convener.

Reporting to the Institute Director, the Director of the Climate Action Accelerator will build and lead a team of colleagues who will support the communications, outreach, and engagement efforts; organize convenings; sustain leadership and outreach after each convening; and provide research, analysis, and tools that aid stakeholders in implementing solutions.

As part of the Institute's leadership team and one of the Institute's first employees, the Director will also be expected to contribute to the development of this new organization by helping to develop efficient work processes, as well as to cultivate a mission-driven organizational culture of collaboration, creativity, respect, diversity, and inclusivity. It is essential that the person in this position have a strong work ethic, be flexible and adaptive to change, and demonstrate professionalism and enthusiasm for the endeavor.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Establish the Climate Action Accelerator as a trusted source for evidence-based solutions to the climate change problem.
• Collaborate with Harvard faculty to identify opportunities to translate their research and scholarship into real-world action.
• Conduct outreach to stakeholders to understand their needs, interests, and positions around climate issues, and to build consensus for solving them.
• In collaboration with the Institute's communications and events colleagues, develop a process for regularly convening stakeholders and facilitating dialogue among them that yields results.
• With the Institute Director lead the programming of an annual high visibility symposium that attracts top-level decision-makers, faculty, students, and climate practitioners, including Harvard alumni, and which gains a reputation as a forum where visionary leaders and organizations make public commitments and unveil plans for climate action.
• Build and supervise a strong and diverse team that performs the work of the Accelerator.
• Develop a set of performance measures for the Climate Action Accelerator and use them to report on its impact.

Basic Qualifications

1. An advanced degree required.
2. A minimum of ten years of experience working on climate change issues, in positions of increasing responsibility.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

1. A record of meaningful accomplishment in addressing the climate crisis.
2. Experience in conducting outreach to varied stakeholders (NGOs, government, business, citizens' groups, etc.) in ways that have yielded tangible results.
3. A robust network of contacts in government, business, and civil society, and communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
4. Collaborative.
5. Organized with excellent follow-through ability.
6. Sound judgment and discretion are essential.
7. Adaptable, thorough, and able to work with substantial independence, including leading meetings with senior faculty and staff, and representing the Institute to external audiences.
8. Exceptional writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills are essential.
9. Demonstrated experience and success building relationships in a complex and highly collaborative work environment.

The ability to innovate, think strategically and conceptually, listen carefully as well as to influence and persuade others. The position requires an extremely high level of professionalism, sound and mature judgment, and collegiality.

Additional Information

All applications MUST be submitted through Isaacson Miller. If you have questions or general inquiries about this job opportunity, or if you need assistance to fully participate in the application or hiring process, please contact: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/harvard-university-salata-institute-climate-and-sustainability/director-climate

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard's commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging is rooted in our belief that drawing from the widest possible pool of talent results in the unity of excellence and diversity. Our community strives to uphold these beliefs by honoring the rights, differences, and dignity of others, and by embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. Harvard aims to foster a campus culture where everyone can thrive, a key to which is ensuring that we each experience a sense of inclusion and belonging.

Accessibility:

Harvard University IT plays an important role in supporting Harvard's commitment to accessibility by seeking to create, procure and deploy technologies that are accessible to all, including and especially those who live with disability. Harvard welcomes individuals with disabilities to apply for positions and participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact our University Disability Resources Department.

Harvard University supports a hybrid workplace model which will actively support some remote work. The position is based on the Harvard University campus with the option of working remotely part of the week. Specific days and schedules for on campus work and remote work will be discussed during the interview process. Please note hybrid workers must reside in a state where Harvard is registered to do business (CA, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA).

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up to date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Salary Grade: 061

Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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