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by Max Elder
Jan 284 min read 0

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Careers & VolunteeringClimate & EnvironmentAlternative ProteinsFAST Community
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About Food System Innovations

Food System Innovations is a philanthropic impact platform investing in a humane and sustainable future of food. FSI accelerates the transition to sustainable proteins by uniting science, markets, and society to create better food choices for everyone.

Role Overview

FSI seeks a highly-motivated and experienced climate leader to spearhead a new initiative that bridges the climate and sustainable protein communities. This role will focus on elevating food system innovations as a critical and urgent pathway for climate action by engaging strategic stakeholders across philanthropy, civil society, and government to increase resources and support for decarbonizing the agri-food industry.

The Climate Director will report directly to FSI's Managing Director and will be responsible for developing and executing a robust strategy to increase the amount of climate capital funding sustainable food system solutions and elevating the urgent and critical role diet shifts play in the agri-food decarbonization toolkit.

FSI is looking for a dynamic self-starter with over five years of leadership experience in the climate sector, expertise in building strategic partnerships, and a passion for sustainable food system transformation.

Apple here.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Leadership: 
    • Design and execute a comprehensive engagement strategy that maps the climate funding landscape, identifies key decision-makers, and creates clear pathways to increase climate capital flowing to sustainable food solutions, with defined metrics for success and quarterly evaluation points.
    • Conduct regular landscape analyses to identify emerging opportunities, funding gaps, and potential leverage points within climate philanthropy, using these insights to develop detailed action plans for increasing engagement and funding.
    • Maintain close coordination with FSI staff to ensure climate initiatives complement and amplify existing workstreams, participating in regular strategy sessions and contributing to FSI's long-term strategic planning.
  • Network and Relationship Management: 
    • Cultivate and steward relationships with decision-makers at major climate foundations, environmental NGOs, and relevant government agencies, maintaining regular contact through check-ins, educational workshops, and curated networking events.
    • Establish and facilitate a dedicated climate funders' learning community focused on food system transformation, including regular convenings, resource sharing, and collaborative funding opportunities.
    • Design and implement strategic initiatives that demonstrate the climate impact potential of food system innovations, such as case studies, pilot projects, and impact measurement frameworks tailored for climate-focused organizations.
    • Create opportunities for climate stakeholders to engage directly with food system innovations through site visits, technology demonstrations, and expert roundtables.
  • Research and Analysis: 
    • Commission and oversee research projects that build the evidence base for food system transformation as a climate solution, including analysis of emissions reduction potential, cost-effectiveness studies, and implementation pathways.
    • Create data visualization tools and analytical frameworks that clearly communicate the climate impact potential of food system innovations to diverse stakeholders, from policy makers to philanthropic leaders.
    • Partner with academic institutions and research organizations to produce peer-reviewed studies that strengthen the case for increased climate investment in food system transformation.
  • Grantmaking and Partnership Development: 
    • Manage a strategic portfolio of climate-related grants, including developing grant strategies, evaluating proposals, and monitoring impact against defined metrics.
    • Design and implement collaborative funding initiatives that leverage FSI's grants to attract additional climate capital, including matching fund programs and co-funding opportunities.
    • Establish formal partnerships with key climate organizations to create shared programs, research initiatives, and funding mechanisms that advance food system transformation goals.
  • Thought Leadership & Strategic Communications:
    • Develop and articulate compelling and evidence-based narratives that position diet shifts and sustainable proteins as essential tools for achieving climate goals.
    • Create frameworks and messaging that helps climate stakeholders understand how supporting sustainable proteins aligns with and advances their existing climate objectives.
    • Build strategic media relationships to amplify FSI's perspective on the critical intersection of climate action and food system innovation.
    • Design and deliver workshops, presentations, and other educational content that builds climate funders' confidence in supporting food system initiatives.
    • Author opinion pieces and other public-facing content that makes the case for increased climate investment in food system transformation, contextualizing the urgency of agricultural emissions reduction within broader climate action.
  • External Representation:
    • Represent FSI at climate and food system conferences and events.
    • Deliver compelling presentations and participate in panel discussions to elevate the importance of food system transformation for climate action.

Requirements

  • Leadership Skills: A minimum of five years of experience with increasing responsibilities leading climate initiatives and managing complex projects from inception to completion.
  • Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans, including setting clear objectives, identifying key performance indicators, monitoring performance, and updating tactics based on progress.
  • Network Development: Strong track record of building and maintaining relationships with climate funders, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the climate space.
  • Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences. Fluency in both climate and food system lexicons.
  • Entrepreneurial Mindset: A self-starter with a bias towards action who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and is comfortable navigating ambiguity, adapting quickly to changing priorities, and operating in a lean manner without significant support staff.
  • Mission-Driven Passion: Deep commitment to advancing sustainable and ethical practices within the food system, with a specific interest in accelerating the transition to sustainable proteins.
  • Remote Work Proficiency: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage time effectively in a remote environment.

Salary Range

$125,000 - $150,000 (based on location and experience).

Benefits

FSI offers a competitive benefits package that includes full medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401k plan, work phone and internet reimbursement, companion animal benefits, unlimited PTO, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, and flexible work hours.

Location

This is a remote position, with occasional travel required for meetings and events.

Eligibility

The successful applicant should be legally able to work in the United States. We participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See here for additional information.

Equal Opportunity

FSI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer, fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Application

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resumes and cover letters on Workable. We will accept applications until 11:59pm PST on March 30, 2025. We appreciate all applicants' interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

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