Climate Vault Job Opportunity: Chief Executive Officer

About Climate Vault

Climate change is one of the existential crises of our times, and the question remains: how much hotter are we going to let it get?

Founded at the University of Chicago, Climate Vault’s mission is to help organizations and individuals voluntarily reduce their carbon footprints and foster innovation in carbon removal. Climate Vault is a Delaware-incorporated non-stock, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Building on our early success, we are building our team to have an even greater impact. As a fast-growing non-profit startup, we are searching for flexible go-getters who welcome the challenges of a growing organization. Culture is important to us - from the ground up we are building on our culture of pragmatic high-speed forward movement and getting (important) things done.

This is your opportunity to be part of a great team that is building something significant and making an impact on stopping climate change.

About the Position

Climate Vault has proven its model in the market - and is poised for massive growth to support the mission of reducing and removing carbon. We are looking for an inspirational CEO who can significantly grow the organization and set it up for continued success, measured by preventing and removing as many tons of CO2 as possible. The CEO will work closely with the board of directors to form an executive leadership team that will drive Climate Vault’s efforts at scale.

The right person for this position will have over 20 years of executive management experience and are ready to take on a role whose impact will extend far beyond the organization’s day-to-day operations to tackle the existential challenge of our time - climate change. In addition, this person will have experience building and leading a multi-facilitated team focused on growth - and they understand that forming the right team is vital to achieving a massive impact.

This person will leverage a pragmatic approach and work with high integrity. They will demand the same of everyone on their team. They also understand that an organization’s culture is fundamental for sustained success - and that sustaining that culture is an intentional activity.

As the CEO, they will represent Climate Vault in the public, with strategic donors, and in the carbon reduction and removal community. At the same time, they are concerned and aware of all aspects of the organization’s operations - from cash flow to diversity. In return, they have the opportunity to be part of one of the most important activities of our time and work with the thought leaders in that space.

What You Will Do

• Maintain a laser focus on reducing and removing the maximum number of tons of CO2
• Recruit, lead and inspire a high functioning executive management team the positions Climate Vault for sustainable growth
• Make data-driven decisions that are back up with metric-driven results
• Establish specific, measurable goals and work through your team to build the execution plans to achieve those goals - both in the short and long term
• Build on and enhance Climate Vault’s organizational principles - allowing the organization to flourish even when senior management isn’t in the room
• Roll up your sleeves when required - and pragmatically approach situations to judge what deserves the organization's time and what does not
• Move fluidly between leading and doing as the situation requires
• Work closely with the board of directors on key strategies and opportunities
• Represent Climate Vault in the media and public forum to further its cause

About You

• You have 20 years of leadership experience in high growth environments
• Strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit, capable of moving a small organization to new levels
• You have high integrity, as anybody who has previously worked with you will report
• You understand the culture of an organization is not accidental and work to ensure everyone who comes into the organization will support the culture
• You have direct sales and marketing experience which you can leverage for donor development
• You engender long term loyalty and commitment with your team
• Comfort in managing various tasks simultaneously, ranging from the strategic to the administrative, with proven ability to synthesize, prioritize and act
• You are extremely pragmatic and balanced in your approach to both everyday and challenging situations
• Strong political acumen and negotiation skills, including the ability to determine when and how to engage partners and stakeholders
• You have proven the ability to balance short, long, and competing priorities in pursuit of established goals
• A demonstrated history of advancing equity and inclusion at all levels
• You have a good sense of humor - and can laugh at yourself
• Chicago, IL location preferred but not mandatory