Director of Policy- Tech

WHO WE ARE

We know that our climate goals can only be met by rapidly reducing emissions and removing the carbon that already exists in our atmosphere. Carbon180 is a climate NGO with a vision to remove legacy carbon emissions from the atmosphere and create a livable climate in which current and future generations can thrive. Based in Washington, DC, we design and champion equitable, science-based policies that bring carbon removal solutions to gigaton scale.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Here at Carbon180, we believe there is no “perfect” candidate and want to encourage applying even if all the requirements listed aren’t met. Our goal is to build an authentic workplace by valuing diversity in our candidates. We are always looking to expand our growing team with dynamic and enthusiastic individuals. We look forward to receiving your application! 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Overview

Carbon180 is seeking a director of policy to lead our technological carbon dioxide removal (CDR) work. This individual will be responsible for developing and executing Carbon180’s federal tech policy strategy in partnership with the senior leadership team. The tech policy director will provide thought leadership internally and externally on policy solutions to scale tech CDR. This will include work on research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D), demand drivers, and infrastructure. It will also include building new and novel policies that result in real world deployment of CDR. They will manage and lead a team of policy experts to propose and draft new policy ideas, identify where Carbon180 can have the greatest impact, engage with coalitions, and perform direct outreach and advocacy to policymakers and agency leadership (including in-person attendance for Hill meetings, conferences, and networking events). This position requires that you live within two hours driving distance of Washington, D.C.

The Director of Policy will collaborate with the science and innovation team to ensure policy development is rooted in the best available science and addresses real-world barriers faced by on-the-ground practitioners; the environmental justice team to ensure policies are equitable and just; and the government affairs and communications teams to educate policymakers and other key audiences. 

This role is also responsible for developing and managing yearly and quarterly policy goals and an associated budget, and working with the development team to meet specified fundraising requirements. The Director of Policy will report to the Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs.

Major Roles + Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement Carbon180’s tech policy strategy with clear priorities aligned to Carbon180’s goals.
• Drive professional and organizational growth conversations.
• Bring bold vision and energy to inspire the team and the organization.

Team Management and Empowerment:

• Build and lead a high-performing tech policy team through hiring, mentoring, and support.
• Delegate effectively and foster an environment where team members thrive.

Campaign and Policy Execution:

• Plan and execute innovative tech policy campaigns and policy ideas.
• Lead coalition building, outreach efforts, and other external policy engagement.
• Coordinate with the communications team to develop content, engage with reporters, and leverage social media.

Fundraising and Resource Development:

• Lead tech-related fundraising efforts in coordination with the director of development and executive director.
• Build relationships with funders and create compelling funding proposals.
• Bring energy and enthusiasm for fundraising as a key organizational need.

Representation and Relationship Building:

• Represent Carbon180 in events, media engagements, and stakeholder conversations.
• Build high-level relationships across key audiences with organizational resources and other support.
• Share ideas confidently, stand firm when needed, and remain open to learning.

Project and Budget Management:

• Oversee the tech policy program budget and manage related grants.
• Ensure projects align with organizational goals and forecast support needs across teams.

Culture and Cross-Team Collaboration:

• Promote transparency, inclusivity, and open feedback.
• Drive collaboration across teams to support seamless execution of tech policy initiatives.
• Adapt to dynamic environments, anticipating challenges and solutions.

Alignment with Organizational Values:

• Support growth conversations as a professional and for the organization.
• Embrace culture fit and demonstrate resilience in complex environments.

WHO YOU ARE

Our ideal Director of Policy- Tech believes deeply in our mission. Beyond that:

• You actively seek opportunities to dismantle inequitable systems and other harmful corporate norms, and are eager to learn and grow your DEIBJ literacy. 
• You’re a driver of results. You've demonstrated the ability to set ambitious goals and achieve them, and you combine your exceptional strategic, analytical, visionary and critical thinking skills with your penchant to make data-informed decisions for impressive outcomes.
• You inspire and motivate others to action. You build trusting relationships quickly and deftly and engage your storytelling skills to elevate the impact of our work.
• You effectively collaborate to get things done. A relationship-builder at heart, you work with people to get things done in a mutually beneficial, non-transactional way. You are both warm and motivated. You do the things you say you will do, hold others to account, and support others’ pursuit of shared goals. 
• CRM is your favorite set of letters. You juggle dozens of active relationships by staying organized, transparent, and communicative, internally and externally. You rarely drop balls, and others would describe you as someone who follows up with them to follow up with you.
• Creative problem solving fires you up. When faced with a mountain, you know there are plenty of ways to climb it. You’re not dissuaded by challenges, but energized, and can build structure out of chaos.

Beyond that, you have:

• 8+ years of experience in federal policy within government and/or non-governmental organizations, with a focus on CDR, tech, climate, energy, and/or environment policy.
• Comprehensive understanding of authorizations, appropriations, and agency structures relevant to climate and energy policy.
• Expertise in tech-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) policies, approaches, and markets, with a deep commitment to integrating principles of justice, equity, and high accountability.
• Knowledge of key trends, challenges, and opportunities in tech-based CDR and the ability to identify impactful policy strategies.
• Proven success in developing and executing policy change strategies and campaigns that drive meaningful outcomes.
• Strong leadership skills, including experience managing teams, supervising employees, and fostering professional development in alignment with team objectives.
• Excellent communication skills, including comfort with public speaking, media engagement, and representing the organization in high-profile settings.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ), with a track record of applying these principles in climate and energy policy work.

WHAT WE OFFER

Carbon180 is deeply committed to providing market-leading compensation and robust benefits to our employees. Our salaries are in the 70th percentile of the Washington, DC market. We employ an external firm to conduct market analyses every three years, and we are committed to safeguarding internal salary equity. For those reasons, we have a non-negotiation policy on salaries.

The starting salary for this position will be between  $178,090 - $194,280, with opportunities for growth up to $242,850.

Carbon180 prides itself on offering benefits and perks to our employees that illustrate how we live our values, including:

• 36-hour workweeks (we close at 1 pm every Friday) and dedicated no-meeting time each week.
• A remote-first flexible work culture.
• Four weeks of PTO, three weeks of paid org-wide breaks including one week in the summer and two weeks in the winter, four weeks of sick leave, and five floating holidays/personal days.
• 100% company-covered insurance premiums for medical/dental/vision/long-term disability for you and your dependents.
• Quarterly health and wellness, book, and learning and development stipends.

TO APPLY

To apply for the role of Director of Policy- Tech, please submit an application.

On the application, you’ll be asked to

• answer some basic questions about your background and experiences,
• in place of a cover letter, answer a few written reflection questions to help us learn more about your interest in joining our team and in this role specifically, and
• attach your resume in the application form.

Interview process and timeline

• Applications are being accepted and reviewed through June 20, 2025. 
• There will be three rounds of interviews in June and July.
• We anticipate extending an offer in late July.

If you have any questions or issues submitting your application, please email us at hr@carbon180.org.

OUR VALUES

At C180, we believe in living by an internal set of core values, which we strive to embody and celebrate in moments big and small.

• One Boat. We work hard to ensure that we are rowing in one direction as a team, aligning our work and resources to shared goals..
• Pencil to Pen. We think critically, do our research, and weigh multiple options. Then, we commit to move to action.
• Win + Lose Together. When one of us succeeds, we all win. When we encounter challenges, we determine how best to redirect the energy and resources of the team to solve them.
• Person in the Professional. Our team is composed of real people with real passions, interests, and needs within and outside of work. We believe we need to care for ourselves and others to be our best and most productive selves at work. 
• Make Space, Share Space. We believe in making space for all voices to be heard, within our team and our broader work - particularly and especially voices historically disenfranchised and disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change.
• Be a Window, Not a Door. We’re committed to transparency, and to shining light on how and why decisions are made. We are honest with one another, ask for clarity, and operate with integrity to build a culture of trust.
• Grow the Braintrust. We are committed to constantly learning, and to staying up to speed on the science of our field. We work to grow our knowledge, sharpen our skills, and to bring great minds to the field of carbon removal.

We currently require that all employees who plan to enter a Carbon180 office or otherwise meet in person with coworkers or other third parties on Carbon180 business are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Accordingly, this role may require full COVID-19 vaccination (subject to any exemptions or accommodations due to medical or religious reasons).

Carbon180 is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Carbon180 continually seeks to enrich its staff and team culture. In particular, we’re dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy. We’re also committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely different backgrounds can thrive. We've adopted this commitment because we believe the inclusion of culturally diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and environmental outcomes for all, including historically disenfranchised communities.