Managing Director | Co-founder

Climate Refarm is looking for a Managing Director to join our team of co-founders. Link to application. 

Climate Refarm is a public benefit startup that leverages carbon markets to accelerate the transition toward a plant-based food system. We’re developing the first carbon offset program for plant-based food procurement, which will incentivize large food providers—such as schools, universities and hospitals—to transition away from animal products and adopt more plant-based alternatives. This is made possible by our crediting methodology (in progress), which applies the best available food system research to quantify the avoided emissions and environmental co-benefits caused by shifts in food consumption. We’re planning to launch our first pilot projects with schools starting in Q4, 2022, and are looking for a Managing Director to help lead that effort and others.

Our diverse founding team members have backgrounds in law, economics, and computer science, and we are strongly committed to an intersectional approach to food system change that considers the effects on people, climate, and animals.

Job Purpose

The Managing Director will be responsible for overseeing and executing the everyday operations of Climate Refarm. As a co-founder, you’ll have substantial responsibilities and discretion to shape the company’s trajectory. We're looking for someone who is entrepreneurial and eager to put their imprint on an exciting social impact company.

As our first hire, the Managing Director will play a critical role in developing our program for food procuring institutions. You’ll lead pilot projects with food procurement institutions from customer discovery through implementation and monitoring. This will involve working alongside partner nonprofit organizations to secure plant-based menu commitments from food procuring institutions, and coordinating with menu design and kitchen operations consultants to carry out project implementation. You’ll also help us set up outreach and sales processes for carbon credit purchasers, who provide the up-front funding needed to make projects happen.  Most importantly, you’ll help us translate what we learn from customer discovery and pilot project implementation into an approach that can scale to thousands of institutions and billions of meals.

The managing director will work closely with the other members of the founding team, who are currently working part-time and will focus on fundraising, public relations, carbon accounting and the carbon crediting methodology development. Additional responsibilities, such as hiring new team members, are likely to arise as our company grows and adapts to fast-changing circumstances.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead customer discovery and project implementation with food procuring institutions and partner organizations.
• Lead outreach and sales for the carbon credits we generate through food procurement projects.
• Refine our monitoring procedure and ensure its proper implementation for each of our projects.
• Work alongside the founding team to plan and execute our startup’s growth strategy, including efforts to fundraise, hire, and scale our carbon crediting methodology.
• Organize, refine, and delegate tasks that leverage the technical expertise of other executive team members.

Required qualifications and experience

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as business/marketing, environmental science, economics, food policy, nutrition, and/or agriculture.
• Strong communication skills and experience with customer discovery or outreach. Oral and written fluency in English is a must.
• Experience with quantitative, evidence-based decision-making, ideally in the realm of environmental policy. Those with strong interest and relevant backgrounds will also be considered.
• Strong commitment to farmed animal welfare and addressing climate change.
• Highly self-motivated, resourceful, and comfortable working in unstructured environments.

Preferred qualifications and experience

• Experience working in an early-stage company or non-profit organization.
• Familiarity with the carbon crediting ecosystem.
• Experience working in or adjacent to the food industry, especially working with large-scale kitchen operations such as restaurants, dining halls, or cafeterias.
• Proficiency in other widely-spoken languages, such as Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin), or French.
• An advanced degree (masters or PhD) in a relevant field, such as business administration, marketing, environmental studies, environmental science, food policy, environmental economics, or a related field.

Please don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet all of the required or preferred qualifications! We're looking for someone who is mission-aligned and can complement the experience of our founding team, and take a holistic view beyond these criteria.

Working Conditions, Salary, and Benefits

• This role is a full-time commitment in an early-stage start-up. This will entail working at least 40 hours per week.
• The position will be remote, and there is a preference for candidates located in the United States.
• Salary will be a combination of monetary compensation and company equity. 
• Starting salary of $50,000, with the possibility of a higher salary based on experience.
• Generous equity package that is similar to other co-founders. It may be possible to negotiate a lower salary for greater equity.

Climate Refarm is deeply committed to hiring the best candidates and ensuring an inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We especially welcome applicants from traditionally underrepresented identities and communities.

We ask that interested candidates apply by completing this form. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with preference given to earlier submissions. The deadline for submitting an application is July 22, 2022 at 11:59PM ET.

Please direct any questions to careers@climaterefarm.com.