The Super Pollutant Action Alliance is a brand-new, growing organization that focuses on cutting super pollutants, which are responsible for half of today’s climate change yet receive far less than half of global climate funding and attention. Reducing super pollutants, including methane, tropospheric ozone, and black carbon, is the fastest way to limit dangerous near-term temperatures, which is all the more important in a rapidly warming world. In addition, reducing super pollutants improves air and water quality, bolstering food production and potentially saving hundreds of thousands of lives per year.

The Super Pollutant Action Alliance (SPAA) is a philanthropic collaborative backed by some of the world’s leading climate foundations. Our mission is to enable and expand highly effective super pollutant reduction efforts to reduce global temperatures as much and as soon as possible, and to save lives from reduced heat and pollution. With dedicated resources, SPAA aims to catalyze the super pollutant reduction field, working closely with experts, civil society, and policymakers to develop thought leadership, targeted philanthropic interventions, and convenings that increase the impact of the field as a whole.

Purpose of role

The Program Strategist is a new role, working in close collaboration with the Executive Director, to advance SPAA’s mission by building, managing, and evaluating a high-impact philanthropic program portfolio focused on reducing super pollutants globally. This role is centered on identifying opportunities for strategic grantmaking, rapidly understanding and mapping the relevant fields, and designing interventions that drive meaningful impact. The Program Strategist will combine rigorous analytical thinking, curiosity about science and technology, and systems-level insight to inform strategy, identify leverage points for change, and measure outcomes.

The new Program Strategist will bring a strong analytical and consulting mindset, with the ability to quickly grasp new scientific and technological contexts, identify emerging opportunities, and translate field insights into effective grantmaking strategies. They will cultivate authentic partnerships, engage diverse stakeholders with cultural humility, and contribute to a continuous learning culture, helping to shape and grow a portfolio of organizations that deliver tangible global environmental progress.

Profile

The ideal candidate will be relentlessly curious about impact, data, and solutions, with a deep drive to fundamentally understand the science and technologies behind promising interventions. Skilled at systems-level thinking and strategy, the Program Strategist can see how individual components interconnect and identify leverage points for change. They bring a builder mindset, comfortable moving from concept to execution, prototyping, iterating, and creating practical solutions in environments of uncertainty and constraint. This individual will hold relationship-building and impact in equal regard, recognizing that meaningful change requires both technical excellence and authentic partnerships. They are self-reflective and aware of their own limitations with an attitude of continuous improvement, remaining open to both receiving and giving feedback. With excellent written and verbal communication skills, they effectively engage diverse stakeholders across contexts. Ideally, they bring significant experience living and/or working in the Global South, which informs their perspective, bringing cultural humility and contextual understanding to their approach.

Primary responsibilities

Philanthropic strategy and portfolio development

• Develop new and assess existing strategies that can have the greatest impact on reducing super pollutant emissions across regions, sectors, and pollutants.
• Develop and manage a new portfolio of grants within SPAA’s theory of change, with a particular focus on developing strategies in underdeveloped areas of super pollutant action.
• Build deep technical and policy expertise across super pollutant mitigation pathways, serving as an internal thought partner and external voice to advance the field and identify emerging opportunities.

Portfolio Management

• Lead the due diligence process, including reviewing proposals, using SPAA’s diligence framework, and supporting the Executive Director in preparing recommendations for the Steering Committee.
• Implement, track, and adapt strategies with partner and grantee organizations over time.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Operations and Impact to support and monitor grantee progress, learning, and reporting.

Grantee and field engagement

• Proactively identify and cultivate relationships with stakeholders and potential grantees to advance SPAA’s philanthropic strategies and catalyze the super pollutant field as a whole.
• Synthesize and champion evidence-based insights from grantees, partners, and research to inform strategic decision-making and elevate promising approaches across the super pollutant ecosystem.
• Build trust-based partnerships that foster collaboration, innovation, and shared learning.
• Serve as a visible and accessible representative of SPAA.
• Coordinate with the Director of Operations and Impact to grow and advance the goals of SPAA’s Funder Alliance.

Cross-functional collaboration

• Actively contribute to building the culture and practices of SPAA as a new organization including by participating in organizational planning and cross-functional projects.
• Collaborate closely with other SPAA staff to share knowledge and coordinate efforts.

Experience

• 5+ years of relevant experience, including developing new strategies, technical and policy expertise, or theories of change with a focus on social impact.
• Experience working in ambiguous or novel work environments such as startups, consultancies, new programs, or entrepreneurial roles.
• Experience working in the field of climate mitigation, and/or air pollution reduction, ideally with some experience in super pollutant reduction or in sectors that are major sources of super pollutants–namely food and agriculture, fossil fuel supply, waste, industry, buildings, or transportation.
• Academic training in a technical field (e.g., chemistry, engineering) and/or demonstrated ability to deeply understand and accurately synthesize the state of a scientific or technical field.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders and crafting and implementing a strategy developed from their needs and impact.
• Experience working in early stage, highly iterative, or innovation focused environments.
• Advanced active listening, writing, and communications capacity in a hybrid environment.
• Experience working or living in the Global South is highly prioritized, particularly experience working or living in major economies in Latin America, sub–Saharan Africa, and Asia.
• Experience working internationally within a region or across regions.
• Demonstrated capacity to connect across cultural differences.

Terms and conditions

This position is based in our Washington D.C. office (2 days per week in person). A hybrid option is possible in a time zone with at least a 4-hour overlap with 9 am - 5 pm EST and 4 working days per month in our Washington D.C. office. This role may travel up 25% of the time.

SPAA is an independent operating project of Multiplier, a nationally recognized nonprofit that accelerates impact for sustainability-focused initiatives.

Reporting to:  Executive Director

About Multiplier

Multiplier accelerates impact for innovative projects focused on protecting and fostering a healthy, sustainable, resilient and equitable world. At Multiplier, program teams can turn game-changing ideas into planet-saving impact, and they can do it faster and better than they otherwise could.

Multiplier celebrates diversity and is committed to building teams and partnerships that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Multiplier is also committed to providing an environment of mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment. Multiplier prohibits discrimination in its governance, programs, and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from public assistance, or for any other factor that is not based on merit.  

Benefits

SPAA and Multiplier offer a comprehensive compensation package that includes a competitive annual salary ranging from $130,000 to $160,000, which represents the lower and upper bounds of the salary range for this position. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications. The package also includes excellent medical and dental benefits, retirement savings options, and a generous vacation and sick leave policy.

To apply for this role, please submit your CV/resume along with a cover letter that describes your interest in the position and demonstrates how your experience aligns with the requirements outlined in this announcement. You will also be asked to respond to a brief set of questions as part of the application process. Please click on the link below to begin your application.

If you have any questions about the role or organization and would like an informal chat ahead of submitting a formal application, please reach out to Ruth Gardner. To note: in order to keep your application safe and ensure your data is GDPR compliant, applications will not be accepted via email.

∙ The deadline for applications is Monday 23rd February, 9:00 am CET ∙

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Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability, or sexual orientation.