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Director of Communications

Climate Leadership Initiative

Climate Leadership Initiative | Director of Communications

The Climate Leadership Initiative (CLI or the Initiative) is a new organization funded and launched by some of the largest donors to climate-focused philanthropy. Its mission is to increase the philanthropic resources dedicated to solving climate change. The Initiative does this by connecting potential donors—whether individuals, families, or established foundations—to peer climate donors, climate experts, and solutions in need of support. We also work with existing climate donors to reach out to their networks and make it simple to learn more about climate solutions and philanthropy. The founding CLI funders include Oak Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, SeaChange Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). We work closely with Chris Hohn, Nat Simons, Kristian Parker and others to engage new philanthropists, including those with primary philanthropic goals outside of climate but who wish to learn more about this area.

Since CLI does not raise money for itself, the Initiative will work with and across organizational lines in a manner that is focused on impact, but not tied to one way or organization achieving it. This model frees CLI to provide trusted and objective advice for philanthropists. CLI has knowledge of and access to the full suite of existing, cutting-edge work, making it capable of working with donors in ways tailored to their specific interests. CLI will foster new forms of partnership with an array of organizations, including environmental, health, and regional NGOs and other entities capable of executing global climate solutions; facilitate entry for donors who are new to climate-focused philanthropy; and promote learning and sharing among donors.

About the Organization

Climate Leadership Initiative | Director of Communications

The Opportunity

CLI is seeking a Director of Communications to develop and implement bold, cutting edge communications strategies for this unique and innovative initiative. Reporting to the President, the Director will be responsible for setting CLI’s overall communications strategy, while also executing against that strategy in tangible and meaningful ways, thus requiring a hands-on approach and strong results-orientation. While the Communications team is expected to grow over time, this person must bring the sort of entrepreneurial spirit needed to successfully operate in a start-up environment.

This exciting new role will be responsible for helping to establish the communications function, strategy, infrastructure, and processes required to build the brand and profile for this newly formed initiative, and also support the team’s efforts to engage highly sophisticated and global external stakeholders. This includes working with content experts to develop a compelling library of philanthropic interventions that drive solutions towards the ambitious effort to address the climate crisis. The Director will translate complex content about the climate challenge and risk of a hothouse earth into relatable and compelling narratives that pull high net worth individuals, families, and foundations to a solutions-oriented set of giving options.

The Director will cultivate key relationships both inside and outside of the organization, collaborating with and learning from sector experts and peer communications professionals in partner organizations. The Director will navigate the complexity of an initiative that prioritizes the successes of the field as whole. As such, the Director will present prospective donors with distinct, tailored opportunities to catalyze philanthropic investment in the field.

Key Priorities

Strategy

Given CLI’s start-up nature, this position will be part of the team brainstorming CLI’s key strategies for how it accomplishes its mission. Collaborating closely with the President and other senior leaders within CLI, the Director will participate in key organizational conversations about strategy and overall direction. The Director will play a pivotal role in defining and building the brand and awareness of CLI with targeted high profile audiences. As the team iterates on strategies, this role will also iterate on the communications tools needed to support the organization’s work. In doing so, the Director will ultimately be responsible for fostering alignment and consistency across CLI with regard to content, messaging, and branding.

Content Development

Leveraging the work of colleagues focused on content curation and convening sector experts, the Director will be responsible for creating compelling and clear narratives about the issue of climate change, while also building a playbook of talking points and case studies to share with prospective donors in an approachable and inspiring manner. In doing so, the Director will synthesize and translate information from sector experts to develop content, data-driven visual pieces, and presentation materials to articulate a holistic picture of not only the challenge at hand, but potential pathways and avenues towards large scale, philanthropic impact. As needed, this person will also work closely with CLI fundraisers to co-create the necessary materials for proposals and meetings. This person will be expected to make recommendations on how to build capacity to serve these needs, whether through external consulting contracts, firms, independent writers and designers, or via internal support.

Climate Leadership Initiative | Director of Communications

Ideal Candidate Profile

The Director of Communications will have a deep and genuine connection to CLI’s mission and approach to supporting solutions to the climate crisis. While domain and content expertise in the climate field is not required, candidates must demonstrate the intellectual horsepower to ramp up quickly and learn the issue area, landscape, and relevant stakeholders in order to effectively lead communications efforts for the organization. Candidates will ideally bring deep experience with issues-based communications in mission-driven organizations.

The Director will play a key role in advancing CLI’s strategy by creating a clear communications vision to amplify its endeavors and engage partners and prospective donors. This requires candidates to bring a strong track record of taking incredibly complex and technical information and turning it into inspiring, persuasive content that can be applied across a variety of contexts. Leading with their expertise in storytelling across a myriad of platforms and channels, this person will excel at creating appropriately tailored content for a range of audiences. Given the collaborative nature of CLI, this person must also be savvy about partners’ needs and understand what is required to successfully navigate complex, highly interconnected relationships.

The ideal candidate will be results-oriented and have the motivation to pursue innovative approaches to managing communications for a start-up, entrepreneurial organization. This person will need to be an experimental thinker who understands how to translate ideas into a concrete course of action. The ability to be agile, adaptable, and flexible in an environment that shifts quickly in order to be responsive to requests and needs is essential.

External Partnerships

While the Director will oversee communications efforts for CLI, the collaborative nature of this initiative will require this person to liaise with communications professionals at partner organizations and founding funders to produce content, coordinate messaging, and support the overall movement to increase philanthropic support for the most promising climate solutions. The Director will play an integral role in crafting the appropriate strategies for engagement and coordination for joint messaging and storytelling in a manner that ensures alignment and consistency.

Climate Leadership Initiative | Director of Communications

The Climate Leadership Initiative is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply. To be considered, please submit your resume and cover letter expressing your interest and fit for the role via Waldron’s Candidate Portal.

The search for a Director of Communications for the Climate Leadership Initiative is being assisted by a team from Waldron:

Candidates must possess a minimum of ten years of professional organizational communications experience. Specific expertise in issues and mission-related communications is essential. Relevant experience in public relations, media relations, public affairs, policy communications, or cause marketing will also be considered.

Some knowledge of climate change and environmental issues is a plus. Experience in philanthropy and social impact organizations is strongly preferred.

This position must be based in San Francisco, California.

Alison Kaneko Search Director

Direct: 415.678.5001

alison@waldronhr.com

Jeff Waldron Principal

Direct: 415.529.2150

jeff@waldronhr.com

Heather Mohler Engagement Manager

Direct: 415.529.2150

heatherm@waldronhr.com

Minimum Qualifications

To Be Considered

waldronhr.com

Waldron is honored to work with the Climate Leadership Initiative in the search for their Director of Communi-

cations. We believe in and support the work of the Climate Leadership Initiative, and we are doing our best to

recruit a talented leader who will accelerate this mission. As the consulting partner strategic leaders choose to

help attract, engage, and inspire effective leaders, Waldron provides a unique combination of executive search,

leadership development, and career transition services across sectors and industries. Our passion is helping

people and organizations realize their full potential and increase their impact.

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