Position Overview

The International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (the “OA Alliance”) is an initiative which brings together governments and organizations from across the globe dedicated to taking urgent action to protect coastal communities and livelihoods from the threat of ocean acidification (OA) and other climate- ocean impacts.

Together, members work to: Elevate urgency and ambition for climate action. Integrate ocean actions across climate commitments and frameworks. Translate knowledge into policy actions and investments.

As of 2023, the OA Alliance has more than 130 members across 25 countries representing a diverse range of national, state, municipal, and sovereign tribal, indigenous, and First Nation governments along with many dedicated affiliate partners like NGOs, seafood industry leaders, and local academia. The initiative’s strategic plan for 2023-2025 includes the following objectives: Support the Development of Government Led OA Action Plans and Integrated Climate-Ocean Policies at National and Subnational Levels. Increase Ambition for International Climate Commitments and Inspire Climate-Ocean Leadership. Grow Impact Through Targeted Partnerships and Communications Efforts. Strengthen Initiative’s Durability and Governance Structure.

For more information on the on the Alliance, please visit https://www.oaalliance.org/

The Executive Director oversees the OA Alliance secretariat, which provides strategic, convening, analytical and other functions to support Alliance members in making progress on development of practicable and implementable adaptation and resiliency strategies. This organization and large coalition have grown and evolved substantially in its first six years and is at an important inflection point – focusing on delivering on programming and strengthen organizational durability between 2023-2025, including increasing ambition for international climate commitments and inspire climate-ocean leadership.

The Executive Director of the OA Alliance administratively reports to the UN Foundation’s Strategic Planning & Incubation Department and substantively to the OA Alliance Executive Committee. The Executive Director is supported by the Strategic Planning & Incubation team.

This position is based in Washington, D.C.

Essential Functions

• Collaborate with the OA Alliance Executive Committee to set and carry-out the strategic direction of the initiative.
• Develop the annual work plan and budget.
• Develop and implements annual programming activities.
• Establish, maintain, and utilize partnerships across a wide variety of disciplines and coalitions.
• Support members in the development of practicable and implementable adaptation and resiliency strategies through the creation of OA Action Plans.
• Propose and oversee the execution of high-level events, engagements, and workshops to implement the work plan and support strategic objectives of the initiative.
• Oversee recruitment of new members, both government and affiliate members.
• Oversee communications efforts including product development.
• Oversee day-to-day operations which include all interactions and correspondence with members and partners.
• Oversee the drafting of scope of work and proposal of sub-contracts or additional staff positions based upon work plan needs and budget.
• Pursue grants and additional funding to carry out the annual work plan and strategic goals of the initiative.
• Identify, document, and report any potential or actual conflict of interests between the Executive Director, Executive Team and initiative host or fiscal sponsor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 15 years’ professional experience in climate policy, with significant experience working with governments or other political figures.
• Thinks strategically in order to influence decision-makers and outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse members to create and execute a vision for collective action.
• Conducting complex and iterative strategic planning efforts with multiple stakeholders.
• Political acumen both in terms of situational awareness and understanding how and when to engage busy political leaders.
• Strong network of climate policy experts, philanthropies, Congress, and senior officials in the federal government.
• Experience coordinating multi-state processes and decision making and actually enjoys coalition building, which requires lots of conversations to get meaningful collective action.
• Skilled, dependable spokesperson who is able to learn material quickly, stay on point even when asked difficult questions, and represent the diversity of the Alliance while presenting a cohesive and compelling message.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex organizational budgets.
• Extreme personal discretion with sensitive information.
• Capable of travelling domestically and internationally for high priority meetings and events.
• Ability to work independently as well as member of a team; and ability to take initiative.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience managing a growing organization preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of state politics and state climate policy preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple, competing priorities in a fast-paced environment within limited timeframes preferred.
• Diplomatic and able to work effectively with leaders across a range of government, private sector, academia, and non-profits preferred.
• Proficiency in or ability to learn Square Space, Word Press, or other website management software preferred.
• Demonstrated use of social media to effectively communicate climate policy preferred.

Benefits & Compensation

For full-time, benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:

• a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• flexible spending accounts
• 403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contribution
• group term and supplemental life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• health club discounts
• commuter subsidy
• back-up care
• employee assistance program

Additionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.

The United Nations Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative-action employer. The United Nations Foundation provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.