Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF) is seeking a Science Director.

QCF’s mission is to unlock the critical solutions needed to avert and manage the worst climate impacts.Our objective is to remove the bottlenecks to these solutions through urgent, unbureaucratic, and pragmatic distribution of funds to global partners who are doing world-changing work.

QCF is funded solely by Quadrature Capital, a quantitative investment fund that uses algorithms to predict and trade global financial markets. Quadrature Capital was founded by Greg Skinner and Suneil Setiya, with an ambition to collaborate with kind and talented people. The founders were struck by the urgency of the climate crisis and its role in exacerbating social injustice. They recognised the need for additional funding to be directed into addressing the drivers and impacts of climate change, and the need for solutions involving wholesale and systemic change. In 2019, they formed QCF to help contribute to solving these challenges.

Since inception, QCF has taken an innovative, experimental approach in granting to organisations dedicated to shifting the current global climate trajectory. QCF has scaled quickly, granting almost £500m to over 200 initiatives globally in just three years. This includes grants that have seeded new institutions, to those scaling existing ones, across research, policy advocacy, communications and campaigns, international diplomacy and legal strategies.

QCF came under new leadership in 2023 and is entering the next phase of maturity. Our new strategy is focused on seeking out and addressing the bottlenecks to scaling neglected climate opportunities, across decarbonisation, greenhouse gas removal, and critical non-GhG gases. We are also looking at using our philanthropic capital creatively, across both traditional grants and innovative capital investments into new technologies.

The Role

The Science Director will report to the Chief Science Officer. The role will be a part of the “Science and Evidence team” which supports the organisation in:

·     ensuring science-based and non-ideological programme design and delivery;

·     providing in-house expertise, as well as extended scientific networks, to ensure QCF’s strategies and progammes are impactful and driven by evidence; and

·     leading QCF’s engagement in the climate tech/innovation space.

Working with the Chief Science Officer and Program Directors, the Science Director will coordinate the science input to the program ideation and design process, will manage a portfolio of mission-oriented research projects, and will perform a constant survey on the emerging trends in climate technologies and the scientific literature on topics relevant for QCF.

Responsibilities

·     Coordinate the support to the Programs team on specific analyses or assessment of knowledge gaps and identify how to resolve them.

·     Coordinate a network of research fellows in universities whose research will serve to inform QCF’s strategic thinking.

·     Research technical fields, and put recent developments in perspective for the QCF team to determine how important they are for ongoing and future programs.

·     Build and animate a network of researchers, technologists, thought-leaders in order to develop roadmaps highlighting critical gaps in the development and deployment of climate solutions.

·     Organize workshops/meetings (both externally and internally) to foster new ideas, with the aim to go beyond traditional strategies.

·     Support the program team through due diligence and stress testing of programs.

·     Manage a portfolio of mission-oriented research grants with a particular focus on closing critical gaps for the development of climate solutions and the development of open-source tools and databases.

·     Line management of Science Leads within the team aiming at empowering people in their role and facilitating their development.

·     Hold an approver role on specific grants at a level defined within QCF’s delegations scheme

·     Build and maintain your expertise on the issues you are leading on, to enable QCF to ensure our strategy and programmes remain relevant, “cutting edge” and high impact.

·     Proactively build and maintain your networks with climate communities, philanthropy, industry, entrepreneurial and functional experts to help forge a common agenda and leverage impact across QCF priorities.

QCF operates in a highly collaborative manner - this role is an ambassador for QCF’s culture and ways of working.

Required experience

·      Experience in research and analysis of cutting-edge topics and technologies.

·      PhD in e.g., climate and/or atmospheric science, clean energy or greenhouse gas removal.

·      >10 years experience in a research/scientific environment and a coordinating role.

·      Proven track record in managing multiple projects or initiatives including demonstrable time management and prioritisation skills, and project/budget management.

·      A network across the climate or sphere with a track record of managing multiple internal and external relationships to achieve outcomes.

·      Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present complex ideas clearly in different formats including high quality PowerPoint, Word and Excel skills.

·      Experience in the writing of technical documentations and data analysis.

Person specification

·     A demonstrated commitment to climate impact.

·     A real team player who thrives in a collaborative environment oriented towards impact.

·     Able to “think outside the box” and take a broad outside view on a topic.

·     A strong commitment to a safe, supportive and positive working culture, and a generous “coaching mindset” in service to problem solving and the development of others.

·     Able to travel internationally and work flexible hours when required.

Location

Strong preference for UK base, ideally London. Other locations may be considered for exceptional candidates who are willing and able to travel to London on a regular basis within a reasonable carbon budget.