Schmidt Sciences is a philanthropy dedicated to fostering the advancement of science and technology. We approach this by identifying under-supported or unconventional areas of exploration and discovery in order to accelerate and deepen our understanding of the natural world and develop solutions to global issues.

We seek ideas, people, and techniques across disciplines of science and technology to catalyze results for society. Our current focus areas include AI and Advanced Computing, Astrophysics and Space, Biosciences, Climate, and Cross-Science programs.

The Program

Schmidt Sciences’ climate programs aim to advance the fundamental science required to thrive on a warming planet, with a focus on decarbonization and its implications for carbon cycling on land and oceans, global freshwater, energy systems, ecosystem resilience, and feedbacks in the Earth system. Our climate programs support the transformational research across multiple disciplines required for planning, implementation, and evaluation of climate mitigation strategies, and generate the necessary data, cutting-edge tools, and platforms required to determine which proposed pathways are likely to lead to the promised carbon reductions worth pursuing. Our climate programs connect a growing interdisciplinary and international network of people and projects leveraging innovative technologies to understand our planet - from the deepest depths of the ocean to outer space. The portfolio will have multiple large, multi-year consortium-based autonomous research grants across the globe as well as multiple ancillary activities aimed at creating a whole greater than the sum of the parts.

Reporting to the Climate Institute Lead (V. Balaji), this position will lead and coordinate climate portfolio efforts to manage a broad range of programs focused on the generation of necessary data, tools, platforms, and innovative technologies required for planning and evaluation of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. The responsibilities for this role are as follows:

The Role

• Work with Institute Lead to set program strategy for Schmidt Sciences climate portfolio.
• Manage and advise the design and execution of new and existing climate initiatives focused spanning advance modeling and research in carbon, energy, and freshwater
• Work closely with the Climate Institute Lead and portfolio stakeholders to ensure that climate research areas are brought together into a unified program of work that collectively enables the Institute to achieve its goals. 
• Build strong relationships with climate stakeholders in government, civil society, industry and non-profit sectors across the world to ensure uptake of output from our programs in decision making.
• Foster partnerships and pursue alignment with the climate science community including universities, research institutions, funding agencies, and philanthropic organizations.
• Work closely with leadership at Schmidt Sciences responsible for delivery for all programs, including finance, legal, grants and internal partnerships team, to ensure that our efforts meet or exceed their objectives. 
• Coordinate climate team initiatives to explore and develop new funding areas to shape the broader climate strategy
• Represent the Schmidt Sciences Climate Program to the external community
• Lead and manage a growing team (6-12 FTE)

• Identify opportunities for Schmidt Sciences that are consistent with the approved program goals and approach, drawing on an extensive multi-sector network in scientific and technical communities
• Review research projects and proposals for scientific promise and viability, in conjunction with the climate team and external advisors
• Participate in the oversight and evaluation of gifts and grants related to the climate programs
• Contribute expertise regarding climate related initiatives for Schmidt Sciences program
• Oversee budget for all climate initiatives in conjunction with Schmidt Sciences management
• Build and engage a broad network of academics and researchers, with a specific focus on fostering relationships with scientific and technical communities in the Global South 

• Exceptional experience in climate science
• Experience in executive or strategic roles with evidence of managing and motivating large multi-sectoral teams and forging partnerships in academia, industry, philanthropy, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to develop new ideas and bring them into existence
• Demonstrated ability in integration of diverse workstreams for delivery of system-level solutions
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic landscape with rapidly evolving priorities, opportunities, and partner engagements.

• Have at least 7 years of work experience in academia, business, government, and/or philanthropy
• Have a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution, focused on climate science or a related field
• Track record of strong program and team management skills, as well as experience serving as a mentor
• Have demonstrated ability to collaborate and a record of impact in high-intensity, team-based environments

This is an exempt position.