Director, Innovation at Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)

Location: Washington, D.C., United States (Hybrid, 2–3 days in office)

Contract: Full-Time

Salary Range: $127,000 – $158,000 USD

About The Organization

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) is a high-influence U.S. climate policy think tank working directly with:

• federal and state policymakers
• Fortune 500 companies
• international climate negotiators
• industry coalitions
  
  

They are not an advocacy group in the traditional sense.

They are a policy engineering hub that helps shape how climate innovation actually gets funded, scaled, and regulated.

About The Role

This is a senior leadership role in climate innovation strategy.

You are not supporting a program.

You are designing and leading the program itself.

The focus is on accelerating clean energy technologies such as:

• hydrogen
• sustainable aviation fuel
• engineered carbon removal
• clean firm energy systems
  
  

This role sits at the intersection of: policy design innovation systems stakeholder power networks

What You’ll Do

Program Strategy & Leadership

• Design and lead C2ES innovation strategy
• Expand and scale innovation programs across clean energy technologies
• Build and manage a high-performing team
• Set program direction and funding strategy
  
  

Policy & Systems Influence

• Work with policymakers on innovation and climate policy design
• Engage in federal funding and appropriations processes
• Shape U.S. innovation ecosystem strategy
• Identify commercialization pathways for emerging technologies
  
  

Stakeholder & Coalition Building

• Represent C2ES in high-level coalitions and forums
• Engage Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders
• Build cross-sector partnerships across government and private sector
  
  

Thought Leadership

• Produce policy and analytical outputs on clean energy innovation
• Translate technical and market insights into policy recommendations
• Represent organization in public speaking, panels, and briefings
  
  

Organizational Leadership

• Contribute to organizational strategy and culture
• Support DEI and internal capacity building
• Align resources across programs for maximum impact
  
  

Who They’re Looking For

• 9–12 years experience in:
• climate policy
• energy systems
• innovation strategy
• public-private sector engagement
• Deep understanding of U.S. energy innovation ecosystem
• Strong leadership and team management experience
• Ability to operate across policy, corporate, and nonprofit spaces
• Strong writing, communication, and convening skills
• Established professional network in climate/energy sectors
  

Why This Role Matters

This is not operational ESG work.

This is systems-level influence over climate innovation architecture.

You Are Working On

• what technologies get funded
• how they reach market scale
• how policy accelerates or blocks deployment
  
  

In Plain Terms

You are shaping the pipeline that decides what the future energy system looks like.

Apply Here

📩 Submit application (resume, cover letter, writing sample) via C2ES careers portal:

🌐 https://www.c2es.org/about/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-justice

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