Managing Director, Natural Climate Solutions

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us 
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, and to creating solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.
For more information on the school, click here.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment works to advance global sustainability through new knowledge and practical, fair solutions to pressing environmental challenges. As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Woods Institute provides an interdisciplinary research hub for scholars from all seven schools at Stanford. Offering targeted research incentives as well as convening, education, and leadership programs, the Woods Institute supports faculty, researchers, and students as they investigate and advance solutions to critical climate, environment, and sustainability challenges. Working on campus and around the globe, the Woods Institute and its hosted centers and programs combine cutting edge scholarship, diverse partnerships, and deep engagement across sectors and disciplines to advance just, practical solutions for people and the planet.

Job Description
The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment is seeking a Managing Director for the Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) program. The purpose of the Managing Director is to provide leadership and management for all aspects of the program. The position will report to the faculty director and this role will act as a subject matter expert between faculty and their research ideas. The Managing Director will shape and implement strategy, develop and manage activities and staff, and provide vision and leadership. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage with several projects, including work focused on developing robust standards for monitoring, reporting, and verification of GHG removals and emissions reductions in all ecosystems (including forests, grasslands, croplands, coasts, and oceans); developing high-integrity carbon offset standards for all ecosystems; understanding and protecting background carbon sinks; integrating carbon sequestration with other ecosystem benefits; and managing wildfire risk. All projects will be designed around two big ideas. The first is to test the hypothesis that natural climate solutions can be meaningful contributors to limiting climate change, but only if they are well-designed, carefully monitored, and embedded in a broad framework for managing risks. The second is to test the hypothesis that natural climate solutions can play an important role in ecosystem protection and enhancement, independent of their consequences for carbon balance, and that effective natural climate solutions will integrate across carbon and other benefits, including benefits for rural and indigenous communities.   

CORE DUTIES:

• Oversee work focused on developing robust standards for monitoring, reporting, and verification of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) removals; emissions reductions in all ecosystems; developing high-integrity carbon offset standards for all ecosystems; understanding and protecting background carbon sinks; integrating carbon sequestration with other ecosystem benefits; and managing wildfire risk.
• With the faculty director, develop the overarching goals and deliverables of the program for Natural Climate Solutions. Independently, translate the overarching goals/deliverables into an operating plan for the program. The operating plan should include strategies, deliverables, and timelines for staff hiring, proposal development, partnership development, and programmatic events.
• Using climate solutions subject matter expertise, supplement and complement PI knowledge, skills, and relationships. Translate PI research objectives into research plans and timelines for individual projects run through the program. Individual research operational plans should include schedules of major research activities, logistics for fieldwork and equipment, collaboration with partner organizations, staffing, and oversight of reporting.
• Under general direction of the faculty director, provide leadership for research projects to ensure project objectives are met. Lead work in designing both individual experiments and multi-threaded research programs, exercising independent initiative and judgment on activities such as defining variables, formulating hypotheses, selecting sources of information, or planning and coordinating experimental protocols.
• Analyze, synthesize, and interpret data using scientific or statistical techniques.
• Lead short- and long-term strategic planning for the Natural Climate Solutions program that drive goal-setting, infrastructure, and operations.
• Manage annual program-wide progress reviews including evaluation of programs, evaluation of research plans and progress, and assessment of outcomes.
• Serve as subject matter expert between faculty and their research ideas on natural climate solutions such as GHG removal, emissions reduction, carbon offsets, and wildfire risk.
• Represent the program for Natural Climate Solutions to the Woods Institute and Stanford Doerr School Advisory Councils as well as to the scientific community (at meetings like the AGU) and the public.
• Lead the development of calls for competitive proposals, coordinate proposal review, and oversee progress on funded proposals.
• In collaboration with the faculty director, develop and manage a sophisticated internal and external communication and outreach strategy across multiple media that positions the program as a vital hub for knowledge, research, and collaboration in natural climate solutions.
• Lead or co-lead preparation of research publications and regulatory reports as needed. Serve as primary or supporting author on one or more program-based publications per year.
• Work with the DFO to ensure appropriate budgeting, financial management, and oversight for all NCS projects and develop and oversee strategic financial planning and sustainability for the program/entity, as needed; monitor performance and ensure appropriate controls.
• Lead work in coaching and mentoring program staff. Assist with mentoring students working on projects under the program. Ensure all work across the program is aligned, cohesive, and supportive of overarching goals. Develop program staffing plans and manage hiring, training, professional development, and retention.

- The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.