Director, Global Strategy & Partnerships, MethaneSAT

This position can be based in London, UK, New York, USA or remote East Coast USA.

Energy Program Overview

The goal of the EDF Energy Program is to bend the curve on greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production and use by 2030, while meeting the world’s energy needs cleanly and equitably. We are achieving this through a defined set of objectives targeted at 1) reducing emissions from oil and gas production, delivery, and use, and 2) reducing demand for oil and gas in power generation, transportation, buildings, and industry. To achieve our goal, we seek reforms in law, regulation, and/or business practice through a set of strategic corporate partnerships, direct engagement with policymakers, and mobilizing investor and public sentiment in favor of change. In achieving our objectives, we facilitate cutting-edge science, technical innovation, and rigorous economic and financial analysis to develop durable solutions.

EDF’s Energy program seeks to reduce oil and gas methane emissions 45% from 2012 levels by the end of 2025. Our long-term vision is that effective government policies and industry practices will virtually eliminate methane emissions from the global oil and gas industry, thereby reducing total anthropogenic methane emissions by approximately one-third. Our goal of reducing oil and gas methane emissions 45% by 2025 represents a first, critical step toward achieving this vision. The MethaneSAT project, run through EDF’s wholly owned subsidiary MethaneSAT LLC (MethaneSAT), will be able to locate, measure, and monitor global methane emissions and is an essential tool to win this fight. We will succeed only if we leverage data procured from MethaneSAT to secure meaningful emissions reductions from those with the power to act. To accomplish this, we have developed an advocacy strategy and are in search for a campaign director.

Overall Function

Under the direction of the Senior Vice President of EDF’s Energy Program, the Director of EDF’s MethaneSAT Advocacy Campaign (a campaign which is part of EDF and separate from MethaneSAT) will orchestrate a complex, multi-pronged advocacy campaign that brings together scientists, policy makers, technologists, investors, and philanthropists from around the world. Our data-to-action campaign is designed to educate and engage strategic partners and together use data obtained from MethaneSAT and shared with EDF to influence industry operators and policymakers. Strategic partners include major financial institutions and investors, the scientific community (and its funders), a range of advocacy groups and the international climate community. Additionally, we will work to cultivate leaders within the oil and gas industry and policy community directly, and work with them to use data compiled from MethaneSAT and shared with EDF to influence their peers. The campaign strategy will be carried out in three phases: (1) pre-launch, (2) early post-launch/pre-data, and (3) operational data streaming.

The Director will be a talented campaign manager who can oversee a cross-functional team, drawing robust support from expert consultants and will engage key partners to catalyze real, lasting, measurable change.  This individual — who will manage and liaise with project teams drawn from diverse organizations for each work stream — must possess sophisticated relationship management skills, diplomacy, and political savvy. The ideal candidate will also be personally motivated to play a role in the global effort to slow the rate of climate change.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead EDF’s MethaneSAT Advocacy Campaign strategy with the objective of leveraging data obtained from MethaneSAT and shared with EDF to secure meaningful emissions reductions from those with the power to act.
• Develop the necessary slate of teams (e.g. finance, communications, policy, etc.), composed of both internal staff and external partners and consultants, to ensure campaign is adequately staffed and resourced.  
• Ensure that teams are equipped to meet their deliverables on time.  Identify and address problems and roadblocks quickly, developing new strategies and contingency plans as needed to keep the project on track.  
• Engage strategic partners and leaders, including major financial institutions and investors, the scientific community, a range of advocacy groups within the international climate community, leaders with the oil and gas industry and policy community.
• Work directly with MethaneSAT, LLC team to ensure data products produced are well aligned with advocacy needs.
• Negotiate and execute contracts, subgrants, partnership agreements, and MOUs with all experts and partner organizations.  Manage relationships with these contributors.
• Develop and manage a complex project timeline, with multiple work streams, with an eye on achieving key milestones and completing campaign on time and on budget.  
• Oversee the project budget for MethaneSAT advocacy.  Maintain frequent communication with finance, operations and development staff to ensure smooth financial operations and sound budgetary reporting.
• Maintain ongoing, proactive communication with all key internal and external stakeholders.  This includes producing regular status reports for internal leadership, partners, donors, and board members.
• Represent the project externally to partners and other external stakeholders, with the media, and at international forums and scientific and policy relevant conferences.  Develop, write and deliver presentations, articles, and blogs.  Work with EDF’s communications professionals to develop appropriate strategies for stakeholder outreach, media relations, and launches at key phases in the project lifecycle.
• Work with EDF Chief Scientist to maintain a productive working relationship between the MethaneSAT project and other satellite companies and initiatives pursuing complimentary objectives.

Qualifications:

• 10 to 15 years of experience leading global projects/initiatives.
• Advanced degree preferred
• Experience in developing and marketing products and services for commercial or non-profit applications.
• Sufficient experience working with scientists or engineers to demonstrate an aptitude for working with highly technical content and with experts in diverse domains.  
• Experience managing diverse teams; demonstrated track record of working with diverse interests.
• Ability to present to and liaise with executives, board members, public officials, investors, the media, and other prominent stakeholders across industry, academia, and government with confidence and skill.
• Ability to maintain a calm in high-pressure situations and manage tight deadlines and competing priorities with a positive attitude.
• Experience negotiating complex contracts with global institutions and managing large, multi-stakeholder budgets.
• Experience writing proposals for campaigns or projects.
• A passion for applying science and technology in service of the public good. 
• Proficient in written and spoken English and at least one other official UN language.

Note: This position requires extensive domestic and international travel.

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.