Program Associate - Road Transportation

About the Organization

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $1.3 billion in grants to more than 600 organizations advancing climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

• Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.

• Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world. 

• Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org. 

About the Road Transportation Program

ClimateWorks Road Transportation Program works to accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation in time to save the climate. We connect philanthropy to changemakers that are helping communities on the journey to fossil fuel-free cars, trucks, vans, and other vehicles. This Program Team houses the Drive Electric Campaign and Minerals for the Energy Transition Initiative. 

Drive Electric is the campaign to accelerate the global transition to 100% clean electric transportation for people and goods, delivering massive benefits to the climate, health, and the economy. The campaign advances smart government policies to drive electric vehicle and infrastructure supply and demand; engages business leaders to ensure adequate investment in EV production and procurement; and supports diverse people-powered coalitions working to advance a cleaner transportation future. The Leapfrogging Partnership is an initiative of the Drive Electric Campaign to close the gap between leading and emerging markets, working with regional and local leaders to enable strong government policies, business leadership, and diverse coalitions in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Job Summary

The Program Associate will play a crucial role in expanding the reach of Drive Electric’s Emerging Economies strategy. You will work closely with the Program Manager and Associate Director to support the efforts of partners worldwide to accelerate the transition to electric mobility. In addition to providing grants to a wide range of organizations, our team plays a convening and connecting role between our global partners, which will give you the opportunity to engage with some of the leading organizations working on transportation decarbonization worldwide. The position will require a well-organized, detail-oriented, analytically-minded self-starter with strong writing, research, and project management skills. Equally importantly, we are looking for someone who is highly passionate about decarbonizing the transportation sector and is prepared to wear many hats to support the mission of our team. You will join a fun, tight-knit, and collaborative team who are very passionate about solving the climate crisis.

Essential Tasks  

The Program Associate is responsible for the following duties:

• Provide research, planning, and general coordination support to the campaign team to deliver on the goals of the emerging economies strategy.
• Lead grants tracking and monitoring, ensuring the team has the relevant information to issue and manage grants in a timely manner.
• Support research and analysis that informs the development of program strategy across our three key geographies: Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
• Ensure knowledge sharing across our network by supporting or leading on written communications and helping plan, organize, and execute online and in-person events.
• Communicate effectively internally and externally by supporting grant reports and other materials.

Required Qualifications 

The successful applicant will have the following minimum qualifications:

• 3 to 4 years’ experience in a program support and/or project management role, including experience in a relevant sector such as electric vehicles, energy transition, sustainable international development, circular economy, etc.
• Professional and/or lived experience in emerging economies. 
• Work experience, academic experience, or training on climate change. 
• Commitment to diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills.
• Excellent relationship management and collaboration skills.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including writing for general audiences.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively (both virtually and in-person) with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work across different time zones

Other desired qualifications include: 

• An advanced degree in environmental policy or other relevant fields is preferred. 
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed, between 4-6 times per year. 
• Resourcefulness, good judgment, and a commitment to excellence and integrity. 
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize, and multi-task.
• Willingness to be flexible, adaptable, and proactive in a dynamic work environment.
• Passion for environmental and social issues and commitment to the mission and values of ClimateWorks Foundation. 
• Caring and generous attitude toward colleagues, grantees, and partners, and a commitment to supporting people to build careers and institutions. 
• Commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment.

Compensation 

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location). The following salary range is for candidates bases in the United States.

Salary Range (Bay Area / NYC): $80,000 - $85,000 annually

Salary Range (Other US): $75,000 - $80,000 annually

***ClimateWorks strives to create an equitable culture of transparency and fairness.

International salary range - will be determined based on the location and local cost of labor.

We recognize that compensation and benefits can vary across countries and understand that this can raise important questions. Our goal is to ensure fairness, equity, and competitiveness within each local context. To achieve this, we align our compensation structure with the economic conditions, labor market dynamics, and social benefit systems of the regions where we operate.

Salaries are determined based on country specific labor markets, allowing us to offer pay that is competitive within each region and consistent with other international organizations. Compensation is intentionally structured to be above lead local market averages and appropriate to the regional cost of labor. This approach supports our commitment to equity across our global workforce while enabling us to attract and retain top talent in diverse locations.

Location 

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as Americas Flexible (North, Central and South) and can work remotely within domestic US time zones. This role will be expected to travel to the San Francisco Bay Area semi-regularly and ideally located no farther than a 10-hour flight. A geographic differential will be applied to compensation based on local cost of labor. Candidates would only need a US work authorization if they are based in the US.

Commitment to Racial and Social Justice

At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. We aim to foster an inclusive workplace that values diverse lived experiences and emphasizes the voices of marginalized people — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and whose voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial to winning the climate fight.

To ensure that we are making meaningful progress, we have made a set of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across all dimensions of our work to further our mission and realize our vision. For more information, please visit: Fostering Racial and Social Justice in Pursuit of our Mission

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at ClimateWorks Foundation and as such we are committed to creating a diverse and multi-cultural work environment. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to complying with all laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities, as well as employees’ religious beliefs and practices. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment. ClimateWorks Foundation will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual and/or employees’ religious beliefs and practices, as required by law.

If you require an accommodation, please notify Human Resources. Once ClimateWorks Foundation is aware of the need for an accommodation, it will engage in an interactive process to identify possible accommodations.

Application Process 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must submit a resume and cover letter. This position will remain open until filled.

Employment at the ClimateWorks Foundation is at-will.