Director, University of Washington Climate Impacts Group

The Climate Impacts Group is hiring a director to lead, support and plan the activities of our group. The Climate Impacts Group is a member organization of EarthLab, a visionary institute that pushes boundaries to address our most pressing environmental challenges, with a focus on climate and its intersection with social justice. 

Our director will: 1) provide strategic leadership for the organization; 2) drive fundraising and financial stewardship; 3) build relationships and maintain an engagement plan focused on enhancing impact; and 4) provide internal management by promoting a positive work culture and supervising and mentoring key staff members. 

The Climate Impacts Group recently completed a 2024-2029 strategic plan, which was co-created through extensive collaboration, input and feedback among all CIG staff and informed with detailed input and feedback from many of our external partners. Our new director will drive the implementation of this ambitious plan, which includes expansion of long-standing efforts at CIG on action-oriented research and decision support, while establishing largely new efforts in communications and capacity building. A key aspect of this plan is a renewed commitment to equity by centering the priorities of frontline and marginalized communities, who historically have not benefited from climate services.

Other key responsibilities of this role include broadening and deepening diversity, equity, inclusion and justice-focused efforts internally and with external partners; working in coalition with leaders from other organizations to build capacity for climate resilience efforts in the state, regionally and nationally; and leading in an empathetic way that prioritizes DEIJA, supports teamwork, enhances trust, builds collaboration and results in a motivated workforce. 

Although this position will remain open until filled, applicant screening will begin October 14, 2024.

EarthLab and the Climate Impacts Group acknowledge the systemic racism that exists in the environmental sector and within environmentalism. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. We are seeking candidates who are committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive work environment where all voices are considered and valued.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Master's degree or terminal professional degree or the equivalent in knowledge and experience in a climate adaptation-relevant discipline + 9 years relevant experience.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Nine (9) years’ experience in a complex organization providing research, services, and programs relevant to climate resilience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Experience advancing justice, inclusion and equity at an individual and organizational level.
• Demonstrated experience working with elected officials, appointed and career agency staff.
• Ability to manage a demanding workflow with competing deadlines, solve problems, resolve stress and conflict, initiate timely responses to changes in the political and institutional environment, and exercise sound judgment and decision-making authority using tact and diplomacy.
• Evidence of advanced oral, written and interpersonal communication skills in engaging with diverse audiences, collaborators and staff.
• Demonstrated effectiveness as a collaborator, mentor, team builder, supervisor, and program manager.
• Proven track record of securing and administering funding from a variety of sources.
• Demonstrated success building partnerships and working collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external constituencies (e.g., communities, academia, NGOs, industry, Tribes and all levels of governmental agencies and institutions).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph. D. + 7 years' experience
• Familiar with Washington state and the greater Pacific Northwest’s climate-resilience related resources, issues, and interested parties.
• General knowledge of Northwest treaty Tribes, Tribal issues (particularly as relates to climate impacts and adaptation) and practices for effective partnership with Tribal nations.
• Recognized as a leader in supporting applied, collaborative interdisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement connecting science and decision making in support of societal responses to climate change.
• Working knowledge of state and federal legislative processes.

Please submit a 1-page cover letter with your resume, and include your experience, lived or professional, in the area of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Learn more and apply below.

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