Open Positions

Executive Director, Master of Climate Solutions 
Rausser College of Natural Resources, Energy & Resources Group ERG
University of California at Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

Open date: Sept 14, 2024
Initial review date: Sept 28, 2024
Final date: Oct 16, 2024

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.
Please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf) and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy (https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination).

Position description: The Rausser College of Natural Resources (RCNR) at the University of California, Berkeley invites applications for the Executive Director of the Master of Climate Solutions (MCS). We are seeking a seasoned professional with a proven track record in leading climate and sustainability initiatives across various sectors as well as demonstrated intellectual leadership in the field. The ideal candidate will have a strong network among senior climate and sustainability leaders in the private sector, government, and/or NGOs, coupled with a proven ability to secure substantial funding for projects from investors, government bodies, or other relevant entities, as well as a deep commitment to just climate transitions. Moreover, they must be deeply committed to educating and nurturing the next generation of climate leaders within the UC Berkeley community. We are looking for a candidate who embodies practical problem solving, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, ready to roll up their sleeves to launch and lead this dynamic program during its startup phase. The successful candidate will be expected to drive the advancement of climate solutions by expanding the program and strategically placing its graduates. We value someone who is scrappy, nimble, and willing to learn—someone who is eager to contribute to the success of the program in every possible way.

Many of the UC’s undergraduate programs train future climate leaders and advocates, while our Ph.D. programs train climate experts who create future solutions. The MCS, on the other hand, is dedicated to training professionals who identify and implement climate solutions today. This aligns directly with the University’s mission “to serve society as a center of higher learning, providing long-term societal benefits through transmitting advanced knowledge.”

Program and Partnership Development
Under the oversight of the MCS Executive Committee and the Faculty Directors, the Executive Director will:

• Participate in program management, including strategic decision-making, collaborating with the RCNR dean’s office staff, and leading the recruitment and admissions activities.
• Develop and maintain external engagements, including fundraising, capstone client partnerships, colloquium speaker identification, and employer engagements for job placements and career opportunities for MCS graduates.

Teaching, Educational Leadership and Support

• In partnership with the MCS faculty directors and the curriculum team, lead the training of the next generation of climate solvers.
• Teach capstone and colloquium courses, identify capstone clients, define project scopes and deliverables, and provide guidance and feedback to students to ensure successful completion of each project that meets the UC Berkeley standard.
• Lead students to learn through live projects with an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach.
• Support students to undertake a professional practicum to gain real-world skills.

Professional and Creative/Research Activity
The incumbent is expected to engage in independent scholarly/creative activity as an intellectual leader in the broader domain of climate solutions. While we have not defined a specific subject matter or output mechanisms, we expect the candidate to develop a public profile and become known and recognized for their contributions to climate solutions not just in the program, but also outside the University. Areas of intellectual output may include, but are not limited to:

• Analyzing and disseminating findings about current challenges and top priorities for corporate decarbonization across industrial sectors;
• Analyzing and disseminating findings about current governance gaps for regulating greenhouse gasses and incentivizing innovation;
• Analyzing and disseminating findings about civil society strategies to advance climate solutions that consider justice and equity;
• Writing case studies on innovative climate solutions;
• Conducting “community-engaged” research with community groups, startups, etc.
• Convening climate solution stakeholders or producing “listening forums” on key challenges and opportunities, and disseminating findings.

Career Development Support

• Liaise with the external entities, especially in the private sector, to develop capstone projects and career opportunities.
• Develop a recruitment pipeline and mentorship program, aimed at bolstering job placement and professional growth opportunities for MCS students and graduates.
• Support individual students to enhance their personal growth and develop leadership skills.

This appointment will be made in the Adjunct Professor title series. Candidates for appointment in this series should have or exhibit clear potential to develop an excellent record in teaching, research and creative work, professional competence and activity, and service. The proposed rank will be determined based on the candidate’s record.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Master’s degree or equivalent international degree by time of application

Preferred qualifications
Preference will be given to those holding an advanced degree (e.g., MS, MA, PhD, MBA, JD, or equivalent international degree) in a field related to climate solutions such as business, engineering, climate and environmental policy, law, natural sciences, economics, environmental health, or sociology, with preference for significant multi-disciplinary work. Minimum of ten years of leadership experience, including a record of creative contributions to developing/advancing climate solutions. Other preferred qualifications include supervisory experience, experience with fundraising or budget management, and experience in teaching or training in sustainability and climate-related fields to professionals in a university setting.

• Networked in the corporate sector and demonstrated understanding of current climate solutions
• Extensive Professional Experience
• Strategic Thinking and Visionary Leadership
• Exceptional Communication Skills
• Ethics and Integrity
• Advanced Networking Skills
• Leadership Qualities
• Superior Adaptability and Crisis Management
• Innovation and Creativity

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality (https://apo.berkeley.edu/ucb-confidentiality-policy) prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Position overview Salary: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/oct-2024-scales/t1.pdf. The current salary range for this position is $78,200-$163,000 (9-month academic year salary). However, off-scale salary and other components of pay, which would yield compensation that is higher than this range, are offered to meet competitive conditions. During the summer, academic-year faculty may earn up to a maximum of one-third of the nine-month academic year base salary as additional compensation.

Anticipated start:  As soon as January 2025

To Apply 
Please submit a resume by 10/16/24 via the Apply Now button below. All submissions will be held in the strictest confidence.

This position may be posted on our website beyond the application due date. We welcome your application however other candidates might be further along in the hiring process for this position. We look forward to reviewing your resume.

Please note that, later in the process, FINALIST candidates will be asked to submit further details through the UC Berkeley application portal via this link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04530

This information is required at a later stage for finalist candidates only. 

• Resume/CV, including list of publications if any – Your most recently updated resume/CV.
• Cover Letter
• Statement on Contributions to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at Berkeley (for additional information go to https://ofew.berkeley.edu/academic-recruitment/faculty-contributions-advancing-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging.
• Reference requirements -3 required (contact information only) – Applicants should include the names and contact information of three references. Letters of reference will be requested of finalists.