Senior Program Manager, Clean Cooling Collaborative

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, over $2 billion in grants to more than 850 organizations working to advance 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 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.

Experienced 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 our Clean Cooling Collaborative Program

ClimateWorks Foundation’s Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC) program works to: a) reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the cooling sector (e.g., space cooling and refrigeration) and b) protect people from the risks associated with extreme heat. Cooling is on track to cause 10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions annually in the future. This is due to a combination of rising temperatures, increasing urbanization rates, and growing middle classes. Together these factors are driving demand for new cooling equipment, with an estimated 3 billion additional air conditioners predicted to be deployed by 2050.

Use of this mechanical cooling equipment results in indirect emissions from the fossil fuel based power plants used to generate the electricity that is needed for their operation, and direct emissions caused by leakage/release of the refrigerants they contain into the atmosphere.  These refrigerants today are mainly HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons or F-gases for short), a class of super pollutants with a global warming potential (GWP) that can be up to 2000 times greater than CO2. 

Our program is organized around three major activity areas: 

• Driving global action to scale clean cooling and mobilizing additional investments
• Transforming markets for clean cooling solutions, and
• Increasing cooling access for heat vulnerable communities. 

Our funding supports a network of advocates, researchers, policymakers, consumers, businesses, and other stakeholders who are working together to transform the cooling sector. 

Besides GHG emission reductions, our work helps take stress off the grid thereby reducing the frequency of power outages, lowers users’ utility bills, improves people’s quality of life, and helps prevent heat related illnesses and fatalities. 

For more information visit CCC’s website at: https://www.cleancoolingcollaborative.org/

Job Summary

The CCC Program Manager will primarily support the portfolio of activities that relate to CCC’s work in India, and also support other crosscutting CCC projects. Some of the cross cutting focal areas may include supporting CCC’s work on super-efficient cooling appliances, and advancing access to cooling.

The Program Manager will work in close coordination with the India Cooling Lead to support prioritization and development of new grants in India in support of CCC’s programmatic goals. In addition, the Program Manager will seek opportunities for South-to-South learning by both taking India’s successful work/learnings to others and bringing innovative ideas from other parts of the Global South/Southeast Asia to India.

In particular, the Program Manager will support on the following priority portfolio areas of our work:

 In India:

• Raise the efficiency of cooling equipment sold in India, through updated Minimum Energy Performance Standards, energy use labels and other interventions.
• Increase awareness around the combined risks of high heat and humidity levels, and help drive governmental action and investments to help mitigate them.
• Support the commercialization and sales of innovative, next-generation efficient cooling technologies.
• Encourage the deployment of passive building techniques.
• Develop programs that protect urban low-income populations from extreme heat.
• Accelerate the phasedown of HFC refrigerants used in new cooling equipment.
• Help advance the adoption of demand response programs by utilities to help shift load during extreme heat events and help avoid brownouts and blackouts.
• Work with our finance experts on mechanisms to make cooling equipment more affordable/ accessible for low-income customers.

Globally:

• Scope and support opportunities to drive market transformation towards high-efficiency cooling appliances in key geographies.
• Support programs that protect urban low-income populations from extreme heat.

Essential Tasks 

• Work in close coordination with the India Cooling Lead to support prioritization and development of new grants in India in support of CCC’s programmatic goals.
• Provide as needed support to other CCC program initiatives.
• As needed coordination with India based grantee and stakeholders, including but not limited to managing or supporting grantees’ work, and review of grantee reports and/or relevant materials.
• Track and report key developments in India that are relevant to CCC’s programmatic goals.
• Help cultivate relationships with partners/ collaborators in India, including but not limited to identifying potential grantees, to advance CCC’s programmatic goals.
• Scope and support opportunities for South-to-South learning by both taking India’s successful work/learnings to others and bringing innovative ideas from other parts of the Global South/Southeast Asia to India.
• Represent CWF and/or CCC at appropriate forums.
• Conduct research and analysis to help scope opportunities that advance CCC’s portfolio of activities.
• Engage in activities to help advance CCC’s portfolio of activities, such as but not limited to organizing and hosting meetings, developing written materials such as presentations or articles.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in relevant field such as policy, environmental science, economics, engineering, architecture, etc.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience working on at least one of the following areas: a) appliance efficiency, or b) energy efficient built environment, or c) climate/ extreme heat adaptation, or d) climate finance. Experience in multiple areas is a strong plus –i.e., a range of skill that apply to CCC's cooling portfolio including appliance efficiency, passive buildings, heat adaptation and access to cooling.
• Good understanding of India’s political economy, climate issues, and familiarity with key stakeholder landscape. On the ground experience in India is a strong plus.
• Has knowledge of best practices in the context of cooling and related emission reduction, and familiarity with the broader underlying concepts.
• Demonstrates strong project management skills with proven ability to meet deadlines, and handle and prioritize simultaneous requests.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent relationship management.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently (both virtually and in-person) with minimal supervision.
• Resourcefulness, good judgement, and a commitment to excellence and integrity.
• Ability to handle and prioritize simultaneous requests and manage assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability and willingness to travel for work (up to 20% of time), including ability to work a flex schedule to accommodate multiple time zones and international calls.
• Commitment to the mission and values of ClimateWorks Foundation and 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).

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 preferably based in India. Geographic differential will be applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to equal employment principles. We strive to find ways to attract, develop, and retain the talent needed to meet business objectives, and to recruit and employ highly qualified individuals representing the diverse communities in which we live. 

Our employment policies and decisions on employment and promotion are based on merit, qualifications, performance, and business needs. We make the decisions and criteria governing the employment relationship with all employees in a nondiscriminatory manner, without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, sex (including childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), pregnancy, uniform service member and veteran status, citizenship status, disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Support and belief in this principle is a basic responsibility of all employees. 

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.  

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.