Environmental Defense Fund is hiring a
Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.
We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 1,000 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.
Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?
Term: This is an 18-month fixed term contract position.
Global Methane Initiative Overview
EDF seeks to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas 45% below 2020 levels by 2025, on a path toward a 75% reduction by 2030. Improved data collection technologies now make defining the methane problem, highlighting its importance, supporting solutions, and assigning responsibility feasible at scales both global and local. We can use this information to support strong new methane targets and rules; condition both private investment and, when sector appropriate, public-sector investment, upon high performance; leverage market-based mechanisms to drive reductions in hard-to-reach regions; promote voluntary corporate commitments and hold companies accountable; and better inform research and public investments. The MethaneSAT project, run through EDF’s wholly owned subsidiary MethaneSAT LLC (MethaneSAT), will be able to locate, measure, and monitor global methane emissions and is an essential tool to win this fight. We will succeed only if we leverage data procured from MethaneSAT to secure meaningful emissions reductions from those with the power to act. To accomplish this, we have developed an advocacy strategy and are in search of a campaign director.
Position Overview
The Senior Director, MethaneSAT Advocacy Campaign will work with a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders to orchestrate and lead a complex, multi-pronged campaign to champion the capabilities of MethaneSAT – a new, high performance, purpose-built satellite to map and measure oil and gas methane emissions worldwide, with the potential to assess emissions from the full range of anthropogenic sources, and MethaneAIR - a custom-designed, airplane-mounted instrument with a pair of spectrometers very similar to those in MethaneSAT. This position will ensure the data MethaneSAT and MethaneAIR produce is widely used within government, industry, academia, the financial community, and civil society to monitor, measure, and reduce oil and gas methane pollution.
The Senior Director, MethaneSAT Advocacy Campaign, will report to the Vice President, Energy Transition, and work closely with the leadership of MethaneSAT, LLC and EDF’s Global Methane Campaign.
The MethaneSAT campaign is being carried out in three phases: (1) pre-launch, (2) early post-launch/pre-data, and (3) operational data streaming. The Senior Director, MethaneSAT Advocacy Campaign will step into advancing the first phase of the campaign, currently underway, and work with the team in refining and advancing the following two phases.
Key Responsibilities
Lead MethaneSAT and methane advocacy staff to maximize global impact of MethaneSAT and MethaneAIR and serve as the overall advocacy project lead for both internal and external stakeholders and audiences.
Develop and achieve the goals, objectives, and strategy of the MethaneSAT Advocacy campaign in collaboration with the leadership of MethaneSAT, LLC and the EDF Global Methane Campaign.
Work closely with the Senior Product Manager, MethaneSAT, LLC, and the MethaneSAT, LLC data science engineering team and other external science and engineering partners to deliver scientifically accurate and deeply impactful data products and tools for a global audience, with relevance and utility to key stakeholders in government, the oil and gas industry, financial institutions and investors, and civil society advocacy groups.
Lead work across EDF science and advocacy teams to ensure that internal stakeholders understand MethaneSAT and MethaneAIR data and have a plan to strategically distribute it to key audiences.
Lead the Global Methane Campaign Team on identification and engagement of strategic partners among government, the oil and gas industry, financial institutions and investors, academia, and civil society, and to enlist them as allies of the MethaneSAT and MethaneAIR project and its objectives.
Make and implement recommendations on the MethaneSAT advocacy strategy, including developing and prioritizing targets for satellite flight routes and leading a core team of decision makers.
Professionally represent EDF, deliver presentations, and network at major global events, e.g., ADIPEC, CERAWeek, COP, etc., where relevant.
Identify and address challenges, opportunities, and roadblocks quickly, developing new strategies and contingency plans as needed to make the campaign successful and keep it on track.
Manage relationships and negotiate contracts, subgrants, partnership agreements, and MOUs with experts and partner organizations.
Oversee and manage the project budget for MethaneSAT Advocacy, maintaining frequent communication with finance, operations, and development staff and ensure smooth financial operations and sound budgetary reporting.
Maintain ongoing, proactive communication with all key internal and external stakeholders and produce regular status reports for internal leadership, partners, donors, and board members.
Work with EDF’s communications professionals to develop appropriate strategies for stakeholder outreach, media relations, and launches at key phases in the project lifecycle.
Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
Qualifications
12+ years of related experience in developing and implementing successful policy advocacy campaigns and a Bachelor’s degree required. A Master’s degree in communications, policy, government, law, or related fields may substitute for up to 2 years of experience. A relevant PhD may substitute for up to 4 years of experience.
Experience negotiating complex contracts with global institutions and managing large, multi-stakeholder budgets.
Demonstrated experience in managing complex advocacy campaigns in the context of a matrixed, high-pressure organization.
Proven track record of successfully collaborating as a strategic partner and building strong working partnerships through rigorous analytical and advocacy skills.
Familiarity with oil and gas industry strongly preferred.
Exceptional personal organization and attention to detail coupled with demonstrated project management experience. Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize, and manage a diverse and dynamic workload.
Ability to maintain calm in high-pressure situations and manage and meet tight deadlines and competing priorities with a positive attitude.
Proactive with a demonstrated ability to independently determine and advance successful strategies and tactics in situations without precedent.
Works well independently and collaboratively as a part of a multidisciplinary team across multiple time zones.
Experience in working with scientists, data engineers, or other technical experts in achieving business or policy objectives.
Ability to effectively communicate complex scientific, economic, and technical information to a non-technical audience, both written and oral.
Strong interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills, with the sophistication and confidence necessary to interact with journalists, philanthropists, prominent scientists, senior government officials, and business and financial leaders.
Proficient in written and spoken English. At least one other official UN language strongly preferred (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish).
Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% time.
We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.
The pay range for this role is shown below.
Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.
USD $156,000.00/Yr.
USD $166,000.00/Yr.
Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.
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