Climate and Nature Director (Remote, Global)

THE ROLE

As Director of Climate and Nature, you will be responsible for co-designing and implementing a “climate-through-all” strategy, advancing the Global Alliance strategic priorities in close partnership with Global Alliance members, the Secretariat, and external partners. You will engage on a range of related intersectional issues, including the climate-food-energy nexus, biodiversity, aquatic foods, agroecology, food justice, food sovereignty and food security in global fora (UNFCCC, CBD, etc.) and beyond, in collaboration with members and partners to help shape the global conversation about climate and food systems transformation with a deep understanding of the climate diplomacy and political landscape. Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Director of Climate and Nature will lead a diverse portfolio of initiatives, leveraging the strengths of the GA member organizations. This person will bring a creative and collaborative work ethic to our nimble and versatile team, working in close partnership with the organization’s membership, partners, and Secretariat.

WHO WE ARE

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food (GA) is a strategic alliance of philanthropic foundations working together and with others for collective action on food systems transformation grounded in a vision of food systems that are renewable, resilient, equitable, healthy, diverse, inclusive, and interconnected. At the heart of our work are our members and a global Secretariat team who collaborate with our Allied Initiatives, partners in civil society, funder affinity groups and intermediaries, governments and the private sector, and engage with global fora such as the climate and biodiversity conventions.

 Our mission is to leverage our collective resources and networks to help shift food and agriculture systems toward greater sustainability, security, and equity. We believe in the urgency of transforming global food systems and in the power of working together and with others to effect positive change.

The Global Alliance works at the intersections of climate, public health, biodiversity, human and Indigenous rights, cultural diversity, and community well-being. We catalyze food system transformation through three core strategies:

• Convening: Bringing together philanthropic foundations, funders, investors, civil society organizations, businesses, and social movements to align efforts around food systems transformation.
• Forging Insights: Developing research and tools, based on diverse knowledge and evidence, to help explore and expose interrelationships, risks, trade-offs, and synergies in food systems transformation.
• Inciting Action: Connecting global and local perspectives, knowledge, and understandings across geographies to collectively accelerate effective action on the ground recognizing that change must be sensitive to context.

After more than 10 years, we are even more convinced of the potential for bold philanthropic leadership, in partnership with allies around the world, for profound food systems change. Our Secretariat team of 13 people is passionate about our mission and we believe our philanthropic foundation members, along with other partners, provide a powerful force for our calls to action for food system transformation. For more information, please visit www.futureoffood.org.

The Global Alliance is a project of the Meridian Institute, our fiscal sponsor.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Co-design and implement a comprehensive “climate-through-all” strategy in close collaboration with Global Alliance membership and Secretariat.

• Co-lead the creation of strategic priorities to shape the global conversation about climate and food systems transformation in line with GA’s mission, principles, values, and priorities.
• Develop and implement partnerships, convenings, research, engagement opportunities, and collective action on a range of cross-cutting issues related to the climate-nature-food nexus.
• Adapt strategy through close monitoring of on-going discussions and identification of emerging issues, research questions, policies, and trends.
• Oversee day-to-day programmatic operations, including supervision of 1-2 Program Coordinators and external consultants.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams inclusive of Operations, Communications, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Collaborate with the team to measure, monitor, and communicate impact and carry out learning, evaluation, and capacity-building activities.
• Support research and analysis needs, including leading the development of commissioned research, analysis, and/or other products for the Global Alliance.
• Bring a deep equity and inclusion lens to inform all aspects of programmatic work.
• Actively contribute to GA’s culture of being strategic, targeted, collaborative, integrated, iterative, and participatory.

Convene, engage, and activate Global Alliance’s membership base of 25 and philanthropic foundations.

• In collaboration with the 10-member Climate Working Group, provide day-to-day direction on strategic initiatives, tactics, and deliverables.
• Facilitate Working Group members to identify priority initiatives and projects and their strategic objectives within these initiatives, leveraging opportunity for impact.
• Identify and develop connections and synergies between GA priorities, members, and partners.
• Support the development of Alliance-wide convenings and meetings such as the Annual Members Meeting and other global convenings.

Strengthen and expand GA’s networks, partnerships, and overall “sphere of influence.”

• Proactively make connections across issues, people, ideas, and practice in order to stimulate local and global action and interaction.
• Navigate different political interests, tensions, and identify opportunities for alignment.
• Elevate the work of frontline leaders to help shape narratives, attend major forums (e.g., COP, Global Fora), and influence the philanthropic community and beyond.
• Take a leading role in the cultivation of collaborative funding / co-investing opportunities in partnership with participating foundations and other non-GA member foundations.
• Provide thought-leadership on issues related to food systems broadly and GA’s priority initiatives specifically.
• Represent GA at convenings, meetings, conferences, and events as needed.

Requirements

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The Global Alliance is looking for a leader with a record of success leading climate, biodiversity and aligned programs and initiatives and an understanding of climate/nature and food systems transformation. The Director of Climate and Nature should be collaborative, excited to partner with a dynamic team, and able to both lead and do—setting strategy and executing work within a small team. Some qualifications we’re looking for include:

• 10+ years of professional experience in program management, with an emphasis on developing and executing strategies related to movement building, philanthropy, non-profit, food and/or climate organizations, global fora, and/or international development.
• Deep understanding of the relationships between food systems, climate, biodiversity, and health; and a connection to global climate, nature, and food systems agendas and processes.
• Understanding of movement building, campaigns strategy, and communications, with the ability to translate complex information for a variety of audiences.
• Experience in a managerial role, leading teams and managing budgets, with a preference for those familiar with an entrepreneurial and remote work environment.
• A commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice, with an equity lens and multifaceted understanding of power dynamics;
• Openness to diverse points of view and skill in collaboration, conflict resolution, and inclusive decision-making.
• Experience facilitating, guiding, negotiating different perspectives and positions, and managing collaboration and strategic networks with expertise in managing group dynamics.
• Experience managing trusting relationships with senior-level stakeholders in the public, private, and/or nonprofit sectors; existing relationships and networks in relevant areas.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects concurrently to tight deadlines.
• Flexible schedule and ability to travel, with a minimum of four international trips per year.
• A university graduate with a degree in a relevant field such as environmental studies/science, geography, political science, international development. Relevant experience will be considered in lieu of education.
• Fluent in written and spoken English; bilingual or multilingual candidates are appreciated.
• Passion for food systems transformation and climate justice.

The following qualifications are strongly desired, but not required:

• Lived experience in the Global South and/or someone who understands the perspective of the Global South/Global Majority.
• Familiarity with global fora, multilateral process in climate and biodiversity and global cooperation.
• Experience with philanthropy and interacting directly with funders.
• Experience working with a member-based organization. 

Benefits

Compensation: $125,000 USD FTE, commensurate with experience.