Policy and Advocacy, Industrial Decarbonization

Policy and Advocacy, Industrial Decarbonization - Temporary

Breakthrough Energy

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY

Established in 2015 by Bill Gates and a coalition of private investors concerned about the impacts of accelerating climate change, Breakthrough Energy supports the innovations that will lead the world to net-zero emissions. We are building on the proven model of public-private partnerships that Gates has already used to transform health, education, and public welfare around the world. Breakthrough Energy is a network of entities and initiatives, including investment funds, nonprofit and philanthropic programs, and policy efforts linked by a common commitment to scale the technologies we need to achieve a path to net zero emissions by 2050. We are encouraging the development of new net-zero energy technologies, championing policies that speed innovation from lab to market, and bringing together governments, research institutions, private companies, and investors to expand and enhance clean-energy investment.

Breakthrough Energy embraces diversity and recognize our responsibility to provide a diverse and inclusive work environment. We value the benefits that arise from a diverse organization and are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion where employees of all backgrounds can collaboratively work and serve Breakthrough Energy's mission. This is extended to all areas of the employee lifecycle and experience, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotions, career development programs, and benefits. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. We encourage diverse candidates to apply.

JOB DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW

Breakthrough Energy has a growing and important portfolio of work in developing policy and advocacy strategies to advance industrial and building sector decarbonization at the federal, state, and local levels, including passing Buy Clean policies, implementing embodied carbon building codes and standards, leveraging corporate procurement, ensuring adequate RD&D funding and financial incentives, supporting technological and policy pathways for clean steel and cement/concrete, and developing clean product standards. In addition to the expanding industrial and building sector portfolio, Breakthrough Energy also has established work areas on power sector decarbonization, transportation and clean fuels, and clean energy RD&D.

The Policy and Advocacy Manager will serve as a critical, short-term role on the U.S. Policy and Advocacy team in managing the organization's strategy for advancing our priority initiatives in industrial decarbonization and embodied carbon over the next 6 months or so. Primary responsibilities of this role include maintaining strategies for engagement and impact, engaging with key external partners, overseeing grantmaking, and working with the organization's government affairs, political engagement, and communications departments to implement effective advocacy for Breakthrough Energy's industrial sector and embodied carbon priorities. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record working to design and advance industrial sector and embodied carbon legislative and administrative actions (with a preference for federal policy experience); strong existing relationships with NGOs and companies in the industrial and embodied carbon space; an understanding of key stakeholders in Congress, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Government Services Administration, and the White House; and excellent interpersonal and communication skills. In addition to being the primary expert and driver of Breakthrough Energy's industrial decarbonization policy strategy, the Manager will also take on a secondary role in supporting other BE policy priorities for decarbonization, including direct air capture, advanced manufacturing, and others, as needed. The Manager reports to the Director of Policy and Advocacy.

Core Responsibilities

Lead Breakthrough Energy's policy strategies in industrial decarbonization and embodied carbon, including designing policy proposals and identifying key legislative and administrative opportunities

Collaborate across the broader U.S. Policy and Advocacy team to ensure alignment of advocacy efforts to advance key legislative and administrative priorities. Coordination responsibilities include supporting the Government Relations team in providing technical assistance and education to policymakers, identifying strategic communications opportunities for the Communications and Digital teams, and advising the Political Engagement team on political strategies to advance policy priorities

Manage relationships with think tanks/NGOs, businesses, trade associations, universities, and other stakeholders who are aligned with our interests in the industrial sector and embodied carbon

Oversee a substantial portfolio of grants and contracts with partners, which includes identifying potential opportunities consistent with Breakthrough Energy's industrial decarbonization strategy, working with partners to develop proposals, coordinating across the organization to secure approvals and execute new agreements, and managing ongoing work to ensure timely and effective delivery of grant/contract objectives. Interface with other Breakthrough Energy programs to provide industrial sector policy and technical expertise and coordinate policy strategies with broader organization goals

Guide Breakthrough Energy's policy work on direct air capture and advanced manufacturing and support key projects that help advance Breakthrough Energy's overall policy priorities as needed, such as power sector decarbonization, RD&D, clean fuels, or others that arise.

Represent Breakthrough Energy in external policy-focused convenings and forums, as needed

Skills and Expectations

Bachelor's degree required

Expertise in climate/energy policy, with several years of substantive professional work experience in industrial decarbonization and/or embodied carbon preferred

Familiarity with the range of policies to advance industrial decarbonization and building decarbonization through embodied carbon, including Buy Clean, procurement, codes and standards, RD&D, tax credits, and other financial incentives. Knowledge of policies to support direct air capture and advanced manufacturing

Understanding of emerging technologies for industrial decarbonization, especially for steel, cement/concrete, and chemicals, as well as direct air capture

Knowledge of federal politics, legislative strategy/process, and administrative actions on climate and energy. Ability to identify viable legislative or administrative pathways for policy priorities, and develop effective strategies to utilize those paths.

Exceptional ability to develop and maintain relationships with a broad variety of stakeholders, and bring together multiple perspectives into a cohesive effort

Strong writing, critical thinking, and analytic ability. Able to produce excellent written communications for internal and external audiences.

Expertise in PowerPoint; proficient in using MS Outlook, Word, OneNote, and Excel.

Ability to work in a collaborative, inclusive workplace with matrix management

Comfort with being flexible as the organization grows, individual roles shift, and decision processes evolve. Able to adjust and adapt to a fast-moving and changing environment

Breakthrough Energy will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Craig Staples at craig@breakthroughenergy.org.