Senior Associate, Corporate Engagement - Third Derivative

Job Description:

Senior Associate, Corporate Engagement - Third Derivative

We highly encourage individuals of underrepresented groups to apply!

Program Overview   

You’ll be part of RMI’s Third Derivative program - 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 $4.2T market cap of corporate partners, $12B AUM of investor partners (across five continents), and 198 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 Senior Associate for Corporate Engagement to join us in our mission.

Position Overview

Third Derivative (“D3”) is seeking a Senior Associate, Corporate Engagement, to serve as the relationship manager for D3 corporate partners and to work with cohort startups to catalyze commercial and funding deals. This position sits within the Corporate Engagement team, working closely with Startup Services members under the leadership of the Corporate Engagement Principal.

The primary objectives of the position include: tracking, cultivating, and managing relationships with D3’s existing corporate partners; identifying and facilitating commercial deal and investment opportunities with cohort startups and partners, creating strategies to facilitate engagement across corporate teams and supporting corporations’ decarbonization strategies through access to D3 resources, virtual programming and in person events. Key results of this position include corporate net promoter score (NPS) and providing tangible, scalable, measurable pathways to increasing exposure to corporate leaders for D3 startups.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with high-level, c-suite, and operational stakeholders within corporate entities
• Identify potential deal opportunities between cohort startups and corporate partners based upon sectoral/ geographic area alignment, startups readiness levels, etc.
• Facilitate startup preparation and introductory conversations between startups and corporates, work closely with both parties to clarify engagement goals and intermediate milestones
• Continually gather feedback from corporate partners and cohort startups to enhance engagement opportunities and program offerings
• Coordinate with D3’s Business Development Manager, D3’s Startup Success team, D3’s Research and Diligence team and RMI’s Development team

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 5+ years of direct relevant experience e.g working at a large corporation, ideally within the innovation, sustainability, and/or ventures teams or managing corporate partnerships for an accelerator or non-profit
• Bachelor's degree in business, sustainability, environment, economics, engineering, or related discipline
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Extremely detail oriented and organized

Preferred Qualifications

• Climate champion with demonstrated track record of building or supporting climate decarbonization strategies
• Experience managing complex project portfolios
• Master’s level degree, equivalent, or higher, in sustainability, environment, economics, engineering, business or related discipline
• Experience working at a startup and/or experience working directly with early-stage startup
• Experience developing and executing commercial deals (including purchasing contracts, joint development agreements, supplier contracts, etc.)

We encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply, regardless of whether you feel you meet 100% of the qualifications. The top candidates will bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds from a variety of industries along with many but not necessarily all the skills listed above. We offer professional learning and training opportunities to help you develop the skills you may not have had the opportunity to cultivate yet.

Location   

We are a remote-ready organization 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. This role can be located from anywhere in the continental United States. 

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.

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, a new Senior Associate joins at the minimum to mid salary range of $84,170 - $103,740. You would also have an additional 5% bonus target!

Benefits: 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:    

• 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
• Generous paid time off and sick leave
• Parental leave   
• Flexible working hours
• Commuter and work from home stipends

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion     

At RMI, our mission is to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future for all. For this to happen, every single person needs to be a stakeholder in the energy transition. Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve is critical to our success. We need the widest range of perspectives to understand the systems we are trying to change. That doesn’t just mean bringing a diverse team to the table; it also means working proactively to give all job seekers and employees equitable experiences. Visit our DEI page for more information on our DEI initiatives and commitments.

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, non-partisan, nonprofit organization of experts across disciplines working to accelerate the clean energy transition and improve lives. Since our founding in 1982 by Amory Lovins, RMI’s chairman emeritus, we continue to grow and have a global reach and reputation.

For 40 years, RMI has utilized our unique techno-economic expertise and whole-systems thinking to publish groundbreaking research and analysis. We bring together collaborations of rare reach, range, and expertise—creating unconventional partnerships and mobilizing action to drive change on the massive scale needed to combat the climate crisis.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.