Job Description

About Project Drawdown

The World’s Leading Resource for Climate Solutions

Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”— the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Since the publications of the New York Times bestseller Drawdown in 2017 and The Drawdown Review in 2020, the organization has become a leading resource for information and insight about climate solutions and strategies. Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, and activists turn to Project Drawdown to help advance effective climate action. We support a growing constellation of efforts to move climate solutions forward and move the world toward drawdown—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.

Drawdown Lift works to deepen collective understanding of the links between climate change solutions and poverty alleviation, particularly in low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Launched in early 2021, the Lift team seeks to address both climate change and extreme poverty by collaboratively identifying and promoting climate solutions that catalyze people-centered, positive, equitable change.

Position Summary

Project Drawdown is seeking a passionate, committed, and experienced individual to join the Drawdown Lift team. The person in this new role will be a key member of Drawdown Lift and will lead/assist in policy advocacy and writing projects that support and advance our work to scale climate solutions that meet the magnitude of the climate crisis and human development needs. Building off our landmark Climate-Poverty Connections report (launched in March 2022), we are focused on amplifying the impact of the report and Drawdown Lift’s work through building meaningful relationships with influential individuals and institutions to increase engagement in and commitments to climate solutions that generate substantial co-benefits for human well-being.

The position will report to the Director of Drawdown Lift.

This candidate will be a skilled policy advisor and consensus builder who understands and appreciates the complexity and value of public funding to support nationally informed global climate and sustainable development goals. We seek candidates who are passionate about intentional relationship building and interdisciplinary work and have direct experience working across sectors to advance solutions to global challenges. Candidates will be committed to collaborations focused on the nexus of climate solutions, climate finance, poverty alleviation, and human well-being.

This position is an ideal opportunity for someone with knowledge of and interest in the connections between climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and poverty alleviation, strong skills in communicating evidence (written and orally) to decisionmakers, and experience engaging with policymakers, decision makers, and local stakeholders. We seek candidates who understand the case for climate mitigation solutions as critical investments for poverty alleviation, particularly for human well-being dimensions around income and work, ecosystem conservation, health, food security, and gender equality. The candidate will understand the importance of data as the foundation of sound policies and will create advocacy materials that integrate evidence on complex climate-poverty concepts into accessible, compelling formats and messages.

The ideal candidate will be self-driven and thrive in a highly collaborative setting, with experience successfully working in low- and middle-income country contexts. We especially welcome applicants who will have working fluency in both English and other language(s) from the Africa or South Asia region.

As a small organization with a big mission, the Policy Advisor, Drawdown Lift will need to work with independence and self-direction yet thrive in a team environment to lead and manage simultaneous projects, meet deadlines, and contribute to achieving Lift team objectives.

Project Drawdown welcomes people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs to join us in helping the world reach drawdown quickly, safely, and equitably. We are a 100% remote organization based in the U.S.; candidates must possess U.S. work authorization.

Essential Responsibilities

The Policy Advisor, Drawdown Lift position will:

Policy analysis

• Lead/co-lead Lift’s policy analysis and advocacy on topics such as climate mitigation, climate adaptation, resilience, equity, poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and human well-being.
• Design and lead/co-lead the implementation of Lift’s policy advocacy workplan with objectives, outcomes, and key messages for our primary and secondary audiences.
• Create written and web-based advocacy materials and compelling presentations to advance Lift’s policy engagement and reach with influential institutions and individuals.

Partner engagement

• Facilitate and track external institutions and decision-makers’ use of Lift’s research to support strategic, programmatic, and financial shifts around climate-poverty solutions.
• Lead Lift’s engagement in key policy-focused conferences and convenings.
• Cultivate outreach to existing and new influential people and institutions in the climate-poverty space.
• Participate in virtual and in-person workshops, convenings, and conferences.

Writing and Communications

• Develop and contribute to case studies, infographics, videos, and web features to disseminate knowledge about climate, human wellbeing, and poverty solutions.
• Contribute Lift content for Project Drawdown’s newsletter and Insights blog and external blogs and media pieces, including drafting articles at the idea stage.

Education and/or Experience

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of the following education and experience:

• Master’s (required) in relevant field, such as international affairs, international development, environmental studies, sustainability, political science, public administration, etc.
• 4-6 years of professional experience in international development, climate science (mitigation, adaptation/resilience), public policy, global health, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in policy advocacy and external affairs focused on climate change, low-carbon development, and poverty alleviation.
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
• Proven dedication to centering diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in their work.
• Experience living/working/studying in low- and middle-income countries.
• Experience working for/with the major climate funds (e.g., Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, etc.) and/or on climate policy at a national level is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The qualifications listed here are necessary to perform this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions:

• Ability to synthesize and communicate a wide range of human well-being, poverty reduction, and climate solutions and create concise, high quality written products and presentations.
• Ability to develop tools and products used in policy review, advocacy, and dissemination.
• Experience developing and implementing policy advocacy, strategy, and project plans.
• Experience with and understanding of relationship-driven policy advocacy work.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills to engage effectively within Project Drawdown and with external collaborators/stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage workflow on deadline.
• Self-starter with an ability to work independently and as a member of a remote team.
• Flexibility, creativity, and can-do attitude.
• Commitment to centering youth, underrepresented communities, and community leaders.
• Strong passion for helping the world achieve drawdown and alleviate poverty.
• Fluency in English.

Location

As with all positions at Project Drawdown, this will be 100% remote. Employees can work anywhere within the United States. Candidates currently authorized to work in the United States (US Citizens, green card holders, and work visa holders), who reside anywhere within the U.S. may apply.

Compensation

This is a full-time position with benefits. The salary range for this position is $90,000 – $120,000. Project Drawdown provides exceptional benefits including 4 weeks PTO in your first year plus 6 sick days, 13 holidays, and a paid holiday closure December 26–30, health/dental/vision insurance (employee premium 100% paid), a 401k program with company match, a parental leave benefit, a professional development program, and a home-office connectivity stipend.

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Project Drawdown is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Project Drawdown does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by law, and we will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. We strongly encourage all qualified persons to apply for this position. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and the organization’s need.

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If you have questions, contact us at [email protected]. Please, no phone calls.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete our online application form which can be found here. All candidates will need to upload a cover letter, their most recent resume, and work samples as described below:

• Cover letter that communicates who you are and your interest in this role.
• Resume detailing your professional and educational background.
• Writing sample of 2-3 climate-related advocacy pieces (Please include relevant project context and details about your role or contribution).

Applications will be reviewed beginning July 20, 2022.

Job Categories: Climate Change. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: climate change, Policy advisor, and poverty alleviation. Salaries: 100,000 and above.

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