Climate Director

About Food System Innovations:

Food System Innovations is a philanthropic impact platform investing in a humane and sustainable future of food. FSI accelerates the transition to sustainable proteins by uniting science, markets, and society to create better food choices for everyone.

Role Overview:

FSI seeks a highly-motivated and experienced climate leader to spearhead a new initiative that bridges the climate and sustainable protein communities. This role will focus on elevating food system innovations as a critical and urgent pathway for climate action by engaging strategic stakeholders across philanthropy, civil society, and government to increase resources and support for decarbonizing the agri-food industry.

The Climate Director will report directly to FSI's Managing Director and will be responsible for developing and executing a robust strategy to increase the amount of climate capital funding sustainable food system solutions and elevating the urgent and critical role diet shifts play in the agri-food decarbonization toolkit.

FSI is looking for a dynamic self-starter with over five years of leadership experience in the climate sector, expertise in building strategic partnerships, and a passion for sustainable food system transformation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: 
• Design and execute a comprehensive engagement strategy that maps the climate funding landscape, identifies key decision-makers, and creates clear pathways to increase climate capital flowing to sustainable food solutions, with defined metrics for success and quarterly evaluation points.
• Conduct regular landscape analyses to identify emerging opportunities, funding gaps, and potential leverage points within climate philanthropy, using these insights to develop detailed action plans for increasing engagement and funding.
• Maintain close coordination with FSI staff to ensure climate initiatives complement and amplify existing workstreams, participating in regular strategy sessions and contributing to FSI's long-term strategic planning.

• Network and Relationship Management: 
• Cultivate and steward relationships with decision-makers at major climate foundations, environmental NGOs, and relevant government agencies, maintaining regular contact through check-ins, educational workshops, and curated networking events.
• Establish and facilitate a dedicated climate funders' learning community focused on food system transformation, including regular convenings, resource sharing, and collaborative funding opportunities.
• Design and implement strategic initiatives that demonstrate the climate impact potential of food system innovations, such as case studies, pilot projects, and impact measurement frameworks tailored for climate-focused organizations.
• Create opportunities for climate stakeholders to engage directly with food system innovations through site visits, technology demonstrations, and expert roundtables.

• Research and Analysis: 
• Commission and oversee research projects that build the evidence base for food system transformation as a climate solution, including analysis of emissions reduction potential, cost-effectiveness studies, and implementation pathways.
• Create data visualization tools and analytical frameworks that clearly communicate the climate impact potential of food system innovations to diverse stakeholders, from policy makers to philanthropic leaders.
• Partner with academic institutions and research organizations to produce peer-reviewed studies that strengthen the case for increased climate investment in food system transformation.

• Grantmaking and Partnership Development: 
• Manage a strategic portfolio of climate-related grants, including developing grant strategies, evaluating proposals, and monitoring impact against defined metrics.
• Design and implement collaborative funding initiatives that leverage FSI's grants to attract additional climate capital, including matching fund programs and co-funding opportunities.
• Establish formal partnerships with key climate organizations to create shared programs, research initiatives, and funding mechanisms that advance food system transformation goals.

• Thought Leadership & Strategic Communications:
• Develop and articulate compelling and evidence-based narratives that position diet shifts and sustainable proteins as essential tools for achieving climate goals.
• Create frameworks and messaging that helps climate stakeholders understand how supporting sustainable proteins aligns with and advances their existing climate objectives.
• Build strategic media relationships to amplify FSI's perspective on the critical intersection of climate action and food system innovation.
• Design and deliver workshops, presentations, and other educational content that builds climate funders' confidence in supporting food system initiatives.
• Author opinion pieces and other public-facing content that makes the case for increased climate investment in food system transformation, contextualizing the urgency of agricultural emissions reduction within broader climate action.

• External Representation:
• Represent FSI at climate and food system conferences and events.
• Deliver compelling presentations and participate in panel discussions to elevate the importance of food system transformation for climate action.

Requirements

• Leadership Skills: A minimum of five years of experience with increasing responsibilities leading climate initiatives and managing complex projects from inception to completion.
• Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans, including setting clear objectives, identifying key performance indicators, monitoring performance, and updating tactics based on progress.
• Network Development: Strong track record of building and maintaining relationships with climate funders, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the climate space.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences. Fluency in both climate and food system lexicons.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: A self-starter with a bias towards action who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and is comfortable navigating ambiguity, adapting quickly to changing priorities, and operating in a lean manner without significant support staff.
• Mission-Driven Passion: Deep commitment to advancing sustainable and ethical practices within the food system, with a specific interest in accelerating the transition to sustainable proteins.
• Remote Work Proficiency: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage time effectively in a remote environment.

Salary Range: 

$125,000 - $150,000 (based on location and experience).

Benefits

FSI offers a competitive benefits package that includes full medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401k plan, work phone and internet reimbursement, companion animal benefits, unlimited PTO, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, and flexible work hours.

Location:

This is a remote position, with occasional travel required for meetings and events.

Eligibility:

The successful applicant should be legally able to work in the United States. We participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See here for additional information.

Equal Opportunity: 

FSI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Application:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resumes and cover letters on Workable. We appreciate all applicants' interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.