Senior Manager, Policy

Title: Senior Manager, Policy

Location: Remote with ~10% travel for team offsites, partner collaborations, etc.

Terms: Full time, Exempt

Background

Carbon to Sea Initiative is a nonprofit effort that brings together the best scientists, engineers and market shapers to 1) systematically assess whether ocean-based CO2 removal can be a safe, scalable, and permanent climate solution, and 2) lay the groundwork for responsible oCDR deployment in the future. In 2023, we granted $21M to scientific consortia and engineers around the world to accelerate the science and technology in this field; we advanced policy priorities for a well-resourced and well-regulated CDR sector; we’ve started building field research hubs around the world; and we heavily engaged in general field building to nurture a well-connected and mature community of practitioners. We are supported in this work by some of the most experienced funders in the world, who support us not only financially but also help guide our work with decades of experience at the ocean-climate intersection.

About the Role

Carbon to Sea is looking for an exceptional colleague to support the strategy-development and execution of our Global Policy and Communications Initiative. The ideal candidate is a highly skilled relationship builder and policy strategist with the expertise to effectively establish, grow, and sustain diverse new coalitions of stakeholders for evaluation of ocean-based carbon removal (oCDR).

This role will support the Director of Global Policy and Communications, with frequent collaborations across other pillars of work. We aim to coordinate and harmonize oCDR support, research, and advocacy across a range of stakeholders to be able to push forward results related to: increasing public funding for oCDR R&D, clarifying responsible governance regimes in key geographies, and providing strategic public affairs guidance to leading researchers as they  move from the lab to the ocean environment. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Working with the Global Policy Director and other team members, the Senior Policy Manager will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating activity of grantees and partners to deliver on our policy goals. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Facilitate and lead new initiatives to increase policy engagement capacity for the sector, for example managing the planning and execution of a new fellows program
• Develop and maintain a network of key stakeholders (policymakers and staff, scholars, and peers in the CDR field)
• Attend and be a strong representative for Carbon to Sea at various scientific and carbon removal conferences
• Monitor, analyze, and report on policy developments around ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (oCDR) and ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) and facilitate information sharing among partners
• Envision and plan engaging briefings/meetings, site visits, meetings and other events to represent Carbon to Sea’s policy priorities and increase understanding of oCDR for targeted audiences
• Build strategic communications materials and presentations for policy maker audiences to progress projects forward

Team

This role will report to the Global Policy Director, with frequent collaboration across the senior leadership team, advisors, scientific grantees and board.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• At least 5 years work experience in policy development and advocacy related to ocean science , environment, or energy policy matters 
• A desire for a continued policy advocacy and communications action-oriented career path
• Highly independent, resourceful and self driven to achieve goals
• Excellent communication skills—written & oral
• Excellent proactive problem-solving skills across a range of disciplines and content areas
• Experience in managing complex, long-term projects with interdisciplinary and cross functional teams
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to learn and pivot quickly
• Ability to communicate complex topics in a compelling way for a range of stakeholders
• Deep curiosity, humility and openness to ideas
• Expert level polish, presentation and facilitation skills

    Nice to haves:

• Experience working internationally with UNFCC, IMO, or other int’l policy setting bodies 
• Negotiation and contract management Skills

Compensation & Terms: 

Salary is based on the candidate's experience and ranges from $125,000-150,000 per year. Carbon to Sea offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 160 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year and benefit from additional paid time off during our annual office closure from December 24th to January 1st. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

Recruitment Process

To express your interest, please email a brief cover letter and resume to: Andrew P. Zalman, Search Light Solutions, andrew@searchls.com. 

In the subject line, please include “Policy - Last Name, First Name.”  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Advanced candidates may be asked to present a case study of recent, relevant work experience. 

Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Carbon to Sea Initiative is a project of Windward Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Windward Fund is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. Windward Fund’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

E-Verify

Windward participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.