Director, Energy Technology & Innovation

Position Overview To stay within a climate-safe future that delivers prosperity and well-being to all, the Rockefeller Foundation is redoubling efforts to expand reliable, clean, productive-use energy access across the planet while also ensuring that it can accelerate the decarbonization of our energy system. In 2021 the Rockefeller Foundation drove the establishment of The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), a groundbreaking new platform comprising preeminent philanthropic, government, donor, MDB, DFI, and private sector partners. GEAPP aims to accelerate an equitable energy transition in emerging and developing economies, enabling hundreds of millions of people to gain new or improved access to renewable electricity, creating millions of green jobs, and averting billions of tons of carbon. While driving GEAPP’s success is a core focus for the Power team, they are also developing aligned solutions to strengthen the energy access and transition ecosystem. This includes, but is not limited to, vital institutional capacity building for global energy transitions; accelerated coal decommissioning; and leveraging frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence for energy transition planning.

Despite the tremendous cost reductions witnessed across energy technologies, developing countries and vulnerable communities are being left behind. The traditional approach to scaling mature technologies in developing markets only once we are at the bottom of the cost curve will not achieve our energy access and transition objectives in the timescale necessary. Frontier technologies across the energy value chain could change this equation. However, without deliberate efforts to focus research, application, and product development in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), the impacts of new technologies on the communities that could most benefit from them will be left unrealized. The Rockefeller Foundation is uniquely positioned to lead the development of large-scale, innovative partnerships that break down the silos between innovators, funders, governments, and other actors to develop technologies most relevant to LMICs and with the greatest opportunity to unlock energy access.

The Director, Energy Technology & Innovation will be a sector expert with deep technical knowledge and experience. The Director will drive the development and execution of core technology and innovation initiatives and investments, such as Artificial Intelligence-informed energy transition planning, advanced data analytics for energy access, and other frontier technology investments. The Director will serve as an internal expert and resource to evaluate new technologies and guide our technology strategy, and serve as an expert advisor to GEAPP in building new solutions and developing existing solutions. The Director will also manage the Rockefeller Foundation’s Frontier Technology Coalition, made up of sector experts from around the globe, and serve as a technical resource to GEAPP’s Global Leadership Council (GLC). This position will lead relationships with key partners in the technology and innovation ecosystem and work to make connections between innovation and the Power team’s broader portfolio and grantee community. The Director will report to the Managing Director, Strategy and Results.

Pay Range: $172,051 – $226,569. This represents the present low and high end of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.

Work Schedule: This role is on a hybrid work schedule, and required to be in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as an internal technical advisor to raise knowledge and awareness among senior leadership, colleagues, and partners, including GEAPP, on frontier technology applications and opportunities, as well as choices related to data and technology
• Lead the portfolio of technology innovation grants and investments, from design through execution stages, with oversight and partnership from the Managing Director, Strategy and Senior Vice President
• Establish an implementation plan and identify funding partnerships required to advance nascent concepts, including using technical partners, convening other funders, and raising awareness and interest in key opportunities
• Assess new opportunities and make choices based on alignment to the strategy, potential for impact on the poor and vulnerable we seek to serve, and execution ability of partners
• Evaluate and lead all aspects of technology concepts generated by the President’s Office or key partners, including technical design, partnership development, fundraising, communications, and other areas
• Work with other Foundation teams (e.g. innovation team, innovative finance, communications, President’s Office) in order to use expertise from across the Foundation to advance key priorities; provide technical advice or landscaping on data, research methodologies, and outputs to team members to inform investment decisions, strengthen analytical understandings, and inform project design
• Partner with other Power team members to design, produce, and commission analytical products to inform thought leadership and establish the Foundation as the leading philanthropy in the energy innovation space
• Establish a strong network across the sector and act as the Foundation’s senior representative for technology & data; build and maintain the Foundation’s thought leadership through publications and speaking opportunities

Education, Experience, And Skills

• At least 10 years of work experience in a related capacity (e.g., frontier technology, energy systems, deploying technologies most relevant to distributed energy electrification and renewable energy systems)
• Advanced technical degree relevant to energy transitions (e.g. data science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, energy systems engineering or similar) or equivalent experience in technology design and innovation relevant to energy transitions
• Strong understanding of various frontier technologies, such as artificial intelligence, long-duration energy storage, and advanced nuclear and nuclear fusion, and application in LMICs
• Experience in the development and application of technology solutions in emerging markets contexts, especially to support low-income communities.
• Strong understanding of the decentralized / distributed energy sector an advantage.
• Excellent project management capabilities with the ability to independently manage complex projects, prioritize conflicting demands and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated passion for the mission and values of The Rockefeller Foundation, reflected in professional history
• Outstanding teammate and people person with a “can do” attitude
• Willingness to travel as necessary

Qualifications And Competencies

• Balances Stakeholders: Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Develops Talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
• Directs Work: Provides direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.
• Manages Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives and commits to inclusion, equity, and diversity in every aspect of work.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at http://rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.

The Rockefeller Foundation offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes health insurance programs, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment, a generous 401K, parental leave, and various forms of paid time off, all to help our employees feel energized, cared for, and engaged.

As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything that we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without our team members’ diverse perspectives and experiences. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.

The Rockefeller 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. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status.

The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.