Project Manager, Operations

About the Role

ClimateWorks Foundation seeks an experienced, thoughtful, and collaborative Project Manager to oversee priority projects across the organization. Initially, there will be a focus on coordinating the continued implementation of the organization's Organizational Development and Change Management (ODCM) initiative. The Manager will report to the Senior Director for Operations and Planning and work closely with leaders, managers, workstream owners, subject matter experts, and staff across ClimateWorks on emerging projects. The initial major project for this role, the ODCM initiative, is designed to strengthen how ClimateWorks makes decisions, supports people managers, plans and improves work, and uses systems and tools. This role will provide the dedicated internal leadership and coordination needed to sustain momentum, connect related efforts, and support implementation and continuous improvement through 2028 and beyond. The Manager will maintain the portfolio roadmap; coordinate governance and stakeholder engagement; facilitate cross-functional forums, develop communications, training, and implementation materials; track risks, progress, and dependencies; and help ensure changes are practical, well sequenced, and supported across the organization.

Department Summary

The Operations and Planning department designs and implements processes that support inclusive, effective decision-making and help teams prioritize, collaborate, and achieve their goals. The team manages the annual planning process to align priorities, activities, available funding, and the strategic plan. The department also supports ClimateWorks’ hybrid work model by stewarding ways of working and related policies, and leads organization-wide initiatives focused on organizational health, leadership, strategy implementation, risk readiness and response, and project management practices.

How you will contribute

• Provide project management, change management, and delivery support for organizational initiatives as needed. 
• Manage the organization-wide ODCM portfolio and implementation roadmap, coordinating milestones, timelines, owners, dependencies, risks, and decisions across the four current ODCM focus areas: Decision Pathways and Leadership Alignment; People Manager Effectiveness; Organizational Planning and Processes; and Systems and Tools, as well as support the evolution of the portfolio as organizational priorities and needs change
• Partner with Managers, Owners, Helpers, and subject matter experts to drive forward workstreams ensuring clear project plans, deliverables, roles, and next steps.
• Plan and facilitate project meetings and other execution-focused forums that surface progress, dependencies, barriers, decisions, and support needs and enable timely cross-workstream problem-solving.
• Design and facilitate stakeholder conversations with the Executive Team, Leadership Group, Leadership Group Steering Committee, people managers, staff, and other groups to gather input, build alignment, clarify expectations, and support adoption of new practices.
• Develop and maintain high-quality implementation materials, including roadmaps, project plans, status updates, decision and discussion materials, run-of-show documents, facilitation guides, presentations, FAQs, toolkits, playbooks, and communications for staff and leaders.
• Coordinate the sequencing and communication of organization-wide changes so staff understand what is changing, why it matters, when it will occur, who is affected, and what support is available.
• Support leaders and managers in their roles as change stewards by developing practical guidance, resources, engagement opportunities, and feedback loops that reinforce accountability and consistent behaviors.
• Track implementation progress and organizational impact from relevant projects, synthesize themes from meetings, surveys, pilots, focus groups, and other feedback channels, and recommend adjustments that strengthen adoption and sustainability.
• Identify and address project risks, capacity constraints, and competing demands, escalating issues and decision needs to the appropriate leaders and helping teams coordinate solutions.
• Partner closely with Human Resources, Information Systems and Technology, Finance, Marketing and Communications, Justice and Equity, the Executive Team, the Leadership Group, and program and departmental teams to align project implementation with related organizational priorities and calendars.
• Help embed durable organizational development and change management practices within ClimateWorks, including approaches to stakeholder engagement, implementation planning, learning, and continuous improvement.

Required qualifications

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience, including leading or coordinating complex project management, organizational development, change management, or cross-functional implementation efforts.
• Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of interdependent projects with shared milestones, dependencies, risks, and decision points.
• Strong collaborative project management skills, including experience developing and executing shared goals, deliverables, workplans, and timelines with contributors who are not direct reports.
• Experience designing and facilitating meetings, workshops, focus groups, and leadership discussions that gather input, build alignment, and move work toward decisions and action.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate complex work into clear presentations, guidance, updates, tools, and messages for different audiences.
• Sound judgment and political acumen, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, competing priorities, organizational dynamics, and sensitive conversations with discretion.
• Experience supporting organization-wide change through stakeholder engagement, communications, training, feedback, adoption, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated understanding of nonprofit operations and experience collaborating with leadership, human resources, technology, finance, communications, and programmatic teams.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative information, identify themes and risks, and translate findings into practical recommendations.

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible. Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

Compensation

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location).

For US-based position the salary range is as follows:

Tier 1: $120,000 to $130,000 (SF Bay Area/NYC)

Tier 2: $110,000 to $120,000 (Other US locations)

Benefits

ClimateWorks provides employees with a competitive benefits package, including: 

·       100% healthcare coverage plans (medical, dental, and vision). 

·       20 days of paid time off for first-year employees, with incremental paid time off in subsequent years; 14 paid holidays annually; and paid sabbatical leave for qualifying employees. 

·       401(k) plan with contributions from ClimateWorks and matching employee contributions.

·       Life insurance and disability (short-term and long-term) coverage.

·       Support for families, including fertility, child, elder, and pet care.

·       Access to physical wellness benefits (e.g., gym memberships, fitness equipment), financial wellness (e.g., financial planning services), and mental wellness (e.g., therapy and coaching).  

Culture

ClimateWorks’ culture is rooted in our core values: collaboration, humility, curiosity, learning, and risk-taking. We come together around shared goals, draw strength from diverse perspectives, and face challenges with an open mind. We grow through experience and boldly experiment to drive meaningful impact in climate philanthropy. Together, we turn ambition into action—spotting big opportunities, convening people, and helping scale bold solutions.

As a globally distributed organization, ClimateWorks offers multiple opportunities each year for staff to meet in person, foster relationships, and enhance collaboration. Staff are expected to attend an in-town week in San Francisco, an all-staff retreat, and a department retreat annually.

About ClimateWorks Foundation

ClimateWorks Foundation is a catalyst for accelerating climate progress, driving bold solutions that benefit people and the planet. We connect funders and implementing organizations worldwide to identify and scale transformative solutions across sectors and geographies, achieving faster, greater impact together. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working with over 80 funders.

ClimateWorks Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. We make decisions about all aspects of our employment practices, without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, sex (including childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), pregnancy, uniform service member and veteran status, citizenship status, disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. 

As part of our commitment to centering diverse people and perspectives and providing equal opportunities, we ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please note that in your application. 

How to apply

Follow the link below to apply for this position. Please note that ClimateWorks will never request applicants’ credit card or financial information during the interview process. Should you receive a message requesting this information, please report it to ClimateWorks. All current job openings are listed on our careers page: www.climateworks.org/careers.