Operations Lead – Third Derivative

Program Overview   

Tackling the climate crisis is a once-in-a-generation, trillion-dollar economic opportunity, and the world needs a healthy global innovation engine to identify and massively scale new climate technology solutions that will speed up the clean energy transition.

Founded for this purpose, Third Derivative (D3) – a program of RMI –  is a global climate technology startup accelerator aimed at accelerating the rate of climate innovation. Our mission is to build an inclusive ecosystem that rapidly finds, funds, and scales climate tech innovation globally. 

We’ve built a vertically-integrated model that unites investors, corporates, experts, and startups to work together to increase the success and speed to market for climate innovation. 

Since our launch in December 2020, our ecosystem includes $4T market cap of corporate partners, $7B AUM of investor partners (across five continents), and 126 startups reflecting climate innovations solving for all major emissions sectors.

Now, our high-performance team of climate enthusiasts is growing, and we’re seeking a Program Operations Lead to join us in our mission.

Position Overview  

D3 is seeking a Program Operations Lead (POL) who will play a key role in driving operational effectiveness and efficiency.  The POL has demonstrated exceptional organizational, analytical, and communication skills, and will support the development, improvement, and execution of all organizational processes, including finance, HR, IT, and legal.  The ideal candidate is a problem solver and structured thinker who is extraordinarily detail-oriented while also keeping an eye on the bigger picture and what matters most.

Your Key Responsibilities   

Finance:   

• Support D3 annual budget creation and reforecasting on a monthly and quarterly basis.   
• Maintain a consistent, in-depth understanding of program finances and develop monthly financial summaries for leadership. 
• Act as a liaison between Development and the program team to accurately track funding opportunities, maintaining a high-level view of the funding pipeline and potential funding gaps.
• Coordination with Accounting around invoicing for multiple revenue streams. 
• Facilitate and manage the monitoring and reporting against all requirements in the program’s grant and contract agreements  
• Submit vendor bills correctly and in a timely manner.   

People:   

• Support program team with full-cycle recruitment, including working with leadership to update and deliver on hiring targets and staff utilization. 
• Provide onboarding support for new hires.   
• Ensure that team members are participating in relevant trainings and utilizing their learning and development budgets.   
• Serve as point person for the program team on travel safety procedures and guidelines.   
• Coordinate the planning and execution of team engagement culture-building activities including virtual social hours and in-person retreats.

Contracting & Procurement

• Facilitate and manage procurement processes for the program
• Support contract development, execution, and storage and track upcoming contract expirations and renewals.  

IT:   

• Serve as the first line of support for all team IT issues with D3 platforms
• Serve as the general administrator for key D3 platforms, ensuring proper organization, usage, access, and settings.
• Act as a liaison between IT and the program team
• Assist in system transitions

Project management:   

• Ensure all team members are properly planned in project management software.  
• Maintain project structures (including budget and project-specific data) and create new projects when needed in project management software.  
• Review and approve timesheets and expense reports for the program.   
• Track RMI-standard KPIs and compile results, generating actionable plans for improvement for leadership review.   
• Maintain the program’s SharePoint homepages and file structure. 

Internal (intra-institute) coordination:   

• Serve as liaison between D3 and RMI’s operations departments, with a focus on efficiency and effectiveness. 
• Support operations in implementation of process improvements and RMI standards for program success.  
• Support Metrics & Evaluation, corporate engagement, and equity leads in developing templates, processes, and SharePoint structures.    
• Work with leaders to ensure consistent processes and tools are utilized across the program.   
• Facilitate internal coordination with other programs and operations on shared resources, providing frequent updates to leadership   
• Drive intra-institute coordination efforts in partnership with the Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation Manager and the Program MD, proactively making recommendations on best practices and procedures   

Other/ miscellaneous: Additional responsibilities, as required   

Qualifications   

• Up to 5 years of progressively responsible administrative, finance, operations, project management or related experience   
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience 
• Proven organization skills and flexibility when it comes to balancing priorities   
• Strong team and interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently   
• Proficient budgeting, finance, and project management skills   
• Ability to effectively multitask   
• Strong verbal and written communications skills   
• Experience working with complex budgets and funders, a plus   
• Ability to manage stakeholder relationships   
• Demonstrable problem-solving skills   
• Good judgment and strong decision-making ability   
• Attention to detail and exceptional accuracy   
• Grant and proposal writing and management, a plus   

Location   

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado.    

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.   

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.   

Important Note: As a U.S. federal contractor, RMI must comply with requirements outlined in Executive Order Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This Executive Order requires that all federal contractors and subcontractors mandate and verify that all U.S. based employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are based in the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of full vaccination status as a condition of employment. You may request an accommodation for medical or religious reasons. If you are based outside of the U.S., this requirement does not apply.   

Compensation   

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. Typically, new Program Operations Leads based in the U.S. join at the minimum to mid-salary range of $67,000 - $82,000. You would also have an additional 5% bonus target! 

Benefits: 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package adjusted to regional norms, including (for U.S. employment): 

• Medical, dental, vision insurance    

• 403b retirement options (up to 5% match immediately)    
• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability    
• Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)    
• Generous paid time off   
• Parental leave    

• Work from home and commuter allowance 

Diversity  

Individuals of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply!  

Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.  

We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic class, educational attainment or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization. This ensures that we:  

Have the different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.  

Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported and valued.  

Effectively connect, communicate and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders and constituents within diverse communities.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

About RMI  

RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.  

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