Program Director – Carbon Capture

Location: Washington, DC

Organization Overview

ClearPath’s mission is to develop and advance policies that accelerate breakthrough innovations that reduce emissions in the energy and industrial sectors. To advance that mission, we develop cutting-edge policy and messaging, educate policymakers, and collaborate with academics and industry. Started in 2014 by entrepreneur Jay Faison, ClearPath engages in the direct education of policy makers within the White House, Congress, and Executive Agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ClearPath team members believe in small government, free markets, and American entrepreneurship. Those principles form the basis for how the team analyzes proposed clean energy and climate policy.

Job Summary

The Program Director will join ClearPath’s policy team, a group responsible for crafting organizational positions and recommendations across a diverse set of clean energy technologies that can significantly reduce carbon emissions on a global scale. The team member will develop ClearPath’s capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) portfolio, focusing on federal policies to accelerate development and promote it to key audiences in government and industry.

The portfolio encompasses a holistic set of policies, ranging from complementary federal technological innovation R&D programs, project finance such as the 45Q tax incentive and other CCUS-related financial policies, regulatory reform for project and infrastructure permitting, and international collaboration that could accelerate the deployment of CCUS technologies globally. The program director will also partner with the current carbon removal and direct air capture lead on the team.

The role will manage at least one policy analyst and may utilize some of the team’s other policy analysts, fellows, and interns to advance their initiatives. This work includes representing the portfolio at related trade associations and industry convenings like the Carbon Utilization and Research Council (CURC), the Carbon Capture Coalition, and the Global CCS Institute. It also includes managing the 501(c)3’s philanthropic support for CCUS initiatives.

This position will report directly to ClearPath’s Managing Director, Policy.

Job Description

Research & Advising (50%):

  • Make recommendations on how to improve federal carbon capture programs, such as the 45Q carbon capture tax credit, RD&D programs at the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and U.S. national laboratories like the National Energy Technology Laboratory;
  • Produce research insights and written products pertaining to ongoing carbon capture legislative, regulatory and innovation activities across the federal government;
  • Conduct market or techno-economic analyses of emerging technologies and companies;
  • Educate federal policymakers and key D.C. stakeholders about carbon capture opportunities and issues.

Strategy & Management (25%):

  • Prioritize, execute and raise the visibility of ClearPath’s policy agenda. This includes identifying the “white space” and leveraging it as an opportunity for growth;
  • Identify policy opportunities and help develop strategies alongside ClearPath Government Relations team for advocacy;
  • Exhibit superb critical thinking and problem-solving skills; the right candidate will have a proven ability to grasp “big picture” concepts as well as granular complexities;
  • Develop and manage energy policy-related philanthropy; and
  • Manage and direct time of policy analysts, fellows, and interns to advance projects within the carbon capture portfolio.

Communications, Relationship Building & Influencing (25%):

  • Peak to industry and policy trends with D.C. news and trade press to elevate clean energy debate;
  • Communicate complex ideas clearly, simply and convincingly, internally and externally to both technical (e.g. academic and trade conferences) and non-technical audiences;
  • Publish “thought leadership” pieces (i.e. blogs, white papers, op-eds);
  • Attract and cultivate collaborative relationships with key stakeholders; the team member will represent ClearPath in a credible manner and with ease; and
  • Network with carbon capture technology companies and other stakeholders to develop policies identify policy gaps and market trends.

Candidate requirements

Qualifications:

  • 6-10+ years of clean energy industry, economics, finance, and/or policy experience, with specific experience in carbon capture, heavy industry or fossil energy-related technologies and/or policy;
  • Excellent analytical and communication skills (verbal and written);
  • A professional and personal commitment to ClearPath’s mission and values;
  • Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time; and
  • Bachelor’s or Master degree in a related field.

Capabilities:

  • Abstract Reasoning Ability: Potential to solve problems and understand the logical relationships among concepts;
  • Idea Orientation: Preference for thinking creatively and generating new ways to solve problems.
  • Flexible: Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks with often overlapping deadlines.
  • Self-structure: Preference for independently determining work methods.
  • Thoroughness: Tendency to pay attention to detail.
  • Accommodation: Desire to help others.

Values:

  • Teamwork: Be fun, fast, collaborative, and supportive.
  • Dedication: Be here because you want to change the world.
  • Ownership: Think and act like an owner.
  • Adaptability: Be humble and agile.
  • Integrity: Believe individual and organizational credibility is everything.
  • Curiosity: Voracious learner eager to engage with the substantive details of our work.

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience
  • Annual bonus, historically awarded
  • Paid professional development opportunities
  • Comprehensive health, dental, life, disability insurance and 401(k)
  • No vacation policy – take what you need whenever workflow allows
  • Fully stocked office kitchen in newly renovated building on Capitol Hill

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Please send resume and writing samples to Andrea Steiner at steiner@clearpath.org

At ClearPath, we value a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe our team is the key to making an impact and fulfilling our mission. ClearPath is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.