Program Assistant, Award Selection (On Behalf of Climate Breakthrough)

About Us

Climate Breakthrough is a global philanthropy supporting extraordinary climate leaders to pursue ambitious and transformative climate endeavors through the Climate Breakthrough Award: a multi-million-dollar, multi-year, flexible grant. Our mission is to make an outsized impact in resolving the climate crisis by freeing leaders to translate their boldest ideas into transformative climate action that swiftly and justly closes the gap between the world today and a sustainable future.

Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Climate Breakthrough is funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, The Lemelson Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Oceankind, and Vere Initiatives. For more information, visit www.ClimateBreakthrough.org.

About the Role

Climate Breakthrough’s Selection team is responsible for the timely, rigorous, and equitable selection of awardees and manages all aspects of the candidate process from sourcing through due diligence. This includes working with a network of partner organizations and contractors, conducting research and interviews, and ensuring a clear and organized process. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Award Selection, the Program Assistant will support the Selection team’s day-to-day candidate management processes and conduct research to support due diligence and emergent needs, with the opportunity to grow into candidate evaluation. 

This is a great opportunity for an organized, proactive, early-career individual who is passionate about research, ensuring efficient processes, and has some knowledge of climate and international affairs.

The Program Assistant, Award Selection’s work will be divided into the following areas:

Support the day-to-day operations of the candidate process including:

• Support the management of candidate data, including input and upkeep of candidates into internal processes through the use of the CRM.
• Support the Selection team in the timely movement of candidates through the evaluation process, working closely with the Project Manager, Award Selection.
• Support the creation of candidate materials for different stages of the evaluation process (e.g., briefs, presentations, informational guides, and templates) as needed.

Conduct research into topics such as:

• Early due diligence on all candidates recommended to the Climate Breakthrough program.
• Emergent climate topics.
• Support ongoing research and learning projects.

Candidate evaluation:

• In addition to early due diligence, there is the opportunity to grow into deeper candidate vetting, such as conducting reference checks.

This role will also provide ad hoc scheduling and coordination needs with internal and external stakeholders, or other logistical support as needed.

Qualifications

Successful applicants will have most of the following qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent skills gained through alternative routes, and around 1 year of relevant work experience, including internships and fellowships. Please note this is an entry level position. Qualified candidates will have between 1-3 years of experience.
• Content knowledge and professional interest in climate change mitigation, global climate affairs, and/or systems of power and systemic change.
• Experience conducting research, with proficiency in qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, expert consultation, case studies), and a willingness to look beyond the most accessible sources for credible information.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work independently and proactively.
• Strong writing and communication skills and ability to communicate professionally with high-level stakeholders.
• A desire to work with a small, collaborative team.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced and changeable organization. 
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Ability to approach situations with creativity and openness – we’re in the business of considering untested, innovative, and improbable ideas.
• Commitment to and enthusiasm for the mission of Climate Breakthrough.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and awareness and commitment to justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Written and verbal fluency in English required, additional language skills a plus.
• Comfort working across time zones, occasionally outside of normal business hours.

Position Details

This role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, with a commitment to come into our San Francisco office one day per week. Additionally, attendance is expected at twice annual team on-sites in San Francisco. Please note that Full Time at Climate Breakthrough is 35 hours/week; we also have a 31.5 hour/week option (90% time), for which salary is adjusted accordingly.

The desired start date for this position is February 1, 2026.

The salary for this role is $75,000. To advance our commitment to internal equity the salary for this position has been set at our highest and best offer within our established compensation framework and is not subject to negotiation. Climate Breakthrough offers a generous benefits package that includes the following:

• 35-hour workweek, with a reduced hour workweek (31.5 hrs/wk) option available
• Medical (PPO and HMO), Dental, and Vision plans with 100% employee coverage and >50% coverage for dependents
• 20 days paid vacation per year, with 25 days after two years
• 11 days paid sick leave per year
• All federal holidays observed, plus Christmas Eve and the day after Thanksgiving, as well as two floating holidays and birthday off
• 401k plan with 6% employer contribution
• Long-term disability and life insurance
• Stipend support for professional development, home office, and business travel

To Apply

CEA Recruiting is assisting Climate Breakthrough with this search. To be considered for this position, interested candidates should use the link below to submit an application, including a resume and thoughtful cover letter. Preference will be given to applications received before November 30, 2025, but the position will remain posted until filled. 

Each application is personally reviewed by our hiring team — no automated filters or AI reviewers. Please write your application with authenticity, in your own words, so we can read your perspective. We typically reach out to candidates selected to advance in our process within 3-4 weeks from when the application is submitted. Only candidates selected to advance will be contacted prior to the successful completion of this search. All candidates will be notified when the search has closed.

For questions about completing the application form or technical concerns, you may contact tamara@ceaconsulting.com. We regret that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are not able to provide individual responses on the status of your application or feedback to candidates who do not advance to interviews. To ensure your application is reviewed and you receive notifications about the process, please use only the career portal below to submit your application materials.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWPuPZhRFQPsH7SfEhgyD_0ix2B9AnyfVH0Jft-jlGhJ76MQ/viewform

We’re Hiring Four New Roles

As Climate Breakthrough enters its tenth year of selecting and supporting visionary climate leaders to pursue their boldest breakthrough strategies to address the climate crisis, we are building out our own organizational capacity to match the ambition of our program. We will be hiring four entry level assistant roles across the organization’s program and operations, including Grants Assistant; Operations Assistant; Programs Assistant, Awardee Support; and Program Assistant, Awardee Selection. If you or someone you know are passionate about combatting the climate crisis, are aligned with our Mission and Guiding Values, and are excited to get involved, we encourage you to review and share our open positions. Please visit ceaconsulting.com/jobs to learn more about these opportunities as they become available.

Climate Breakthrough is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

 

Climate Breakthrough is a values driven organization with a strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We regularly assess our practices and make adjustments to pursue our commitments and values, and drive our mission. Our team works together closely to set and uphold the high standards to which we hold our work and ourselves. Read our Guiding Values here.

 

CEA Recruiting works with leading environmental nonprofits, foundations, and businesses to recruit top talent and design effective organizational staffing strategies. For more information, visit www.cearecruiting.com.