Strategist, Climate Displacement & Migration, Adaptation and Resilience

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. 

Job Summary

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. 

Essential Tasks 

The Strategist, Climate-Related Displacement and Migration will lead ClimateWorks’ emergent work on CRDM, contributing to the development and implementation of the Adaptation and Resilience program’s strategy specifically focused on migration as a key strategic pillar. They will crystalize and hone our grantmaking strategy and shape our strategic relationships and help the philanthropic ecosystem have a deeper understanding of the topic. The Strategist will be in charge of strategy development, ideation and initiation of grants and partnerships, pushing forward innovative approaches that need to be backed and piloted, building our network and contacts, and ensuring our work is grounded in deep expertise and real-world experiences. This role will be supported by ClimateWorks grantmaking infrastructure and the Adaptation and Resilience team, and be able to tap into ClimateWorks’ deep networks in the climate space, including through the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for funders (ARC).

Key areas of work taken on by the Strategist will include:

• Helping lead and manage the strategy of our grantmaking portfolio related to displacement and migration, collaborating where applicable with colleagues working across extreme heat and other climate hazards.
• Initiating work and relationships with potential ClimateWorks partners/grantees.
• Exploring opportunities for tentpole moments and broader international political mobilization.
• Facilitating learning and coordination sessions with the ARC funder coalition.
• Liaising with and staying connected to the funder community focused on CRDM in the US, UK, and Europe.
• Supporting development of key performance indicators for reporting back to funders on programmatic progress.
• Inputting to the development of concept notes, slide decks, meeting agendas, and monitoring and evaluation parameters for these parts of the strategy.
• Introducing ClimateWorks to new grantees, funders, partners, and networks.
• Representing ClimateWorks at events and meetings as appropriate.
• Co-authoring, reviewing, and participating in ClimateWorks communications materials and outside media opportunities, including papers, blogs, op-eds, and interviews on climate finance and international sustainable development issues as needed.
• Occasional travel to meet with partners.
• Attending internal virtual and in-person meetings with the ClimateWorks team as needed.
• Attending relevant ARC events and convenings.

The Strategist will be a key member of the ClimateWorks Adaptation and Resilience team, bringing valuable expertise and perspective on a topic area that has importance no matter the specific climate hazard focus of the pooled fund.

Location

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location).

Salary Range (Bay Area / NYC): $190,000 - $200,000 annually

Salary Range (Other US): $180,000 - $190,000 annually

Commitment to Racial and Social Justice

At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. We aim to foster an inclusive workplace that values diverse lived experiences and emphasizes the voices of marginalized people — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and whose voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial to winning the climate fight.

To ensure that we are making meaningful progress, we have made a set of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across all dimensions of our work to further our mission and realize our vision. For more information, please visit: Fostering Racial and Social Justice in Pursuit of our Mission

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. The deadline to apply is May 18, 2025.

This position will remain open until filled.

Employment at the ClimateWorks Foundation is at-will.