Senior Director, Complex Systems

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States, +2 more countries.

📋 Description

• Define enterprise priorities and oversee the Complex Systems portfolio with clear guidance, sound judgment, and accountability.

• Ensure the distinct missions of Land, Transportation, and Industry are integral to portfolio decision-making.

• Develop and promote a unified systems-level strategy that integrates technical expertise, policy, infrastructure, finance, innovation, and markets.

• Identify opportunities to enhance impact across programs, portfolios, disciplines, and regions.

• Strengthen impact, stewardship, and leadership within the portfolio.

• Assist program leaders, clarify outcomes, track progress, enhance leadership and technical capacity, and support teams in navigating trade-offs and challenges.

• Direct globally relevant policy and advocacy priorities based on technical, economic, political, and market realities.

• Collaborate with regional advocacy teams to tailor strategies to local contexts and influence policy outcomes.

• Oversee portfolio planning, budgeting, prioritization, and collective investments.

• Foster alignment across programs, solution portfolios, regions, and organizational functions.

• Act as a senior external representative and craft narratives for systems-level climate solutions.

• Guide policy positions and thought leadership while building relationships across government, industry, finance, academia, media, philanthropy, and civil society.

• Collaborate with Development, Communications, and senior leadership on fundraising strategies and funder relationships.

• Report to the Chief of Programs & Advocacy and participate in CATF’s Impact Leaders Group.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 15 years of progressively responsible experience in climate, energy, environmental, or related policy fields.

• Senior leadership experience overseeing complex programs, portfolios, departments, or multidisciplinary teams.

• Proven track record of shaping strategy and influencing policy outcomes in intricate climate, energy, environmental, government, industry, advocacy, research, or related environments.

• Experience in leading senior leaders and enhancing leadership capacity, team effectiveness, accountability, and succession readiness.

• Profound understanding of systems-level climate challenges and barriers to transforming land, transportation, and industrial systems.

• Experience in building and implementing strategies that connect technical, policy, financial, market, organizational, and regional considerations.

• Ability to lead across functions, disciplines, and geographies in a matrixed organization while respecting program missions and subject-matter expertise.

• Experience representing an organization and establishing trusted relationships with senior external stakeholders, including policymakers, funders, industry leaders, and strategic partners.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.

• Candidates must have authorization to work in their country of employment.

• Preferred: experience in fundraising, donor engagement, or philanthropic partnerships.

• Preferred: experience working across the U.S., Europe, and other regional contexts within a global or cross-regional organization.

• Preferred: familiarity with hard-to-abate sectors, land systems, transportation, industrial decarbonization, carbon management, fuels, or related climate solutions.

• Preferred: experience contributing to organizational strategy, portfolio design, or operational model changes.

• Preferred: familiarity with nonprofit, policy, advocacy, technical, research, philanthropic, or mission-driven environments.

🏝️ Benefits

• Excellent benefits package.

• Benefits aligned with your country of employment.

• Flexible, remote working environment within the U.S. or Europe.

• Mission-driven work supporting practical, durable climate solutions.

• Collaborative and intellectually curious culture that values diverse perspectives.

• Opportunities for cross-functional collaboration with program, regional advocacy, Development, Communications, and senior leadership teams, along with external partners and funders.