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How much do director climate change jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for director climate change in the United States is $70,462.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,000.00 and $90,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Director of Climate Change do?

A Director of Climate Change leads an organization's strategy to address climate-related challenges and opportunities. They develop policies, implement sustainability initiatives, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Their role often involves overseeing carbon reduction efforts, climate risk assessments, and stakeholder engagement. They collaborate with government agencies, industry groups, and internal teams to promote climate resilience and sustainable practices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Director Climate Change position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Climate Change, you need advanced expertise in environmental science, climate policy, and sustainability strategy, often supported by a relevant graduate degree and significant leadership experience. Familiarity with greenhouse gas accounting tools, climate modeling software, and certifications such as LEED or PMP are commonly expected. Strong communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving abilities set top candidates apart in this role. These skills ensure effective oversight of climate initiatives, impactful cross-functional collaboration, and the successful advancement of organizational sustainability goals.

What are some typical challenges a Director Climate Change may face in this role?

Directors of Climate Change often face the challenge of aligning diverse stakeholders on ambitious sustainability goals, which can involve navigating regulatory uncertainty and balancing organizational priorities with environmental commitments. They may also encounter difficulties in accessing or interpreting complex climate data, securing adequate resources for initiatives, and measuring the real-world impact of climate strategies. Effective Directors proactively manage these challenges by fostering cross-departmental collaboration, leveraging robust data analytics, and staying updated on evolving industry standards. Overcoming these hurdles is key to driving organizational progress toward climate resilience and long-term sustainability.

More about Director Climate Change jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Climate Change jobs? Cities with the most Director Climate Change job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Climate Change jobs? The most popular types of Climate Change jobs are:
What states have the most Director Climate Change jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Climate Change jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Climate Change job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $70,462 per year, or $33.9 per hour.
Senior Director, Clean Energy and Climate Diplomacy

Senior Director, Clean Energy and Climate Diplomacy

The Ocean Conservancy Inc

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site

$170K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

POSITION TITLE:

Senior Director of Clean Energy and Climate Diplomacy

DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM:

Conservation

REPORTS TO:

Vice President, Climate

STATUS:

Regular, Full Time, Exempt

LOCATION:

Remote or Hybrid from AK, CA, DC, FL, MD, OR, TX, VA, WA, WV


ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Clean Energy and Climate reports directly to the Vice President of Climate and provides strategic leadership to implement the institutionโ€™s climate mitigation, clean energy, and conservation impact priorities. This Senior Director manages a team and is responsible for implementing the portion of the institutionโ€™s climate strategy regarding decarbonizing the ocean energy sector in the United States and internationally.

The Senior Director serves as a key representative of the institution in domestic and international policy and stakeholder engagements, including supporting high-level and ministerial meetings, and works collaboratively across teams to develop and implement effective climate and clean energy strategies. This position is focused exclusively on climate mitigation and clean energy advancement and does not include climate resilience work.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work with Vice President for Climate to develop and lead the implementation of the institutionโ€™s clean ocean energy and climate mitigation strategies and policy priorities, including establishing goals, desired outcomes and metrics to measure conservation impact.
  • Provide strategic guidance on ocean-related clean energy and climate issues, including developing new policy ideas to advance Ocean Conservancyโ€™s climate strategy and briefing Senior Leadership on relevant matters.
  • Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of approximately four staff members, while fostering a positive culture focused on excellence, innovation, collaboration and growth.
  • Collaborate across departments and programs to ensure alignment and integration of climate and clean energy initiatives throughout the institution.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international stakeholders, including policymakers, NGOs, industry representatives and partner organizations.
  • Represent the institution confidently and effectively at public forums, conferences, coalition meetings and government engagements, including conceptualizing and managing relevant events.
  • Monitor and remain up to date on analytical approaches, climate analysis and clean energy data to inform organizational strategy, advocacy and decision-making, including emerging trends, policies and opportunities related to climate mitigation and clean energy advancement.
  • Partner with the Vice President for Climate and Development team in achieving the institutionโ€™s fundraising goals for climate work and the organization as a whole.
  • Collaborate with the Strategic Communications Team to advance the institutionโ€™s external visibility and media presence.
  • Oversee and manage relevant budgets and resources in support of strategic priorities and organizational goals.

REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

  • Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in climate and clean energy policy, including demonstrated experience in both policy development and implementation.
  • A creative, open, and innovative approach to policy development, generating new ideas and solutions in this evolving field.
  • Strong leadership and management experience, including supervising teams and guiding cross-functional collaboration, with a solutions-orientated and collaborative approach.
  • Experience in developing and managing budgets.
  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across organizations and stakeholder groups, while maintaining professionalism and composure.
  • Established relationships within domestic and international climate and clean energy stakeholder communities.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and high-level representation experience.
  • Proven ability run public events and convenings in the U.S. and other counties, and to represent organizations in external engagements, including senior government level meetings.
  • Strong analytical background, including experience with climate analysis, clean energy data, or related strategic assessment tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, strategically, and effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Some travel required.
  • Strong passion for Ocean Conservancyโ€™s passion and values.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

  • Bachelor degree required, preferably in environmental policy, climate science, energy policy, public policy, marine policy, or a related field.
  • Advanced degree preferred, such as a Masterโ€™s degree in public policy, environmental management, energy, law, climate science, international affairs, or a related discipline.

COMPENSATION

Ocean Conservancy is committed to fair pay practices and posts expected salary ranges for each of its positions. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidateโ€™s specialty skills, years of experience, location, and unique background. The expected salary range for this role is $170,000 - $185,000 annually. We would welcome the opportunity to connect with potential candidates whose salary requirements may be outside of the expected range.

TO APPLY

If you think youโ€™d be a great fit for the job and are interested in joining Ocean Conservancyโ€™s team, please apply here. Please include a resume and cover letter in one file on your application.

HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT

Ocean Conservancy embraces a hybrid work environment, which allows our staff the flexibility to work virtually and in-person while building strong connections across the institution.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Ocean Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

We encourage applicants who have a diverse level and range of relevant skills and experiences to apply. A 100% match is not required. We want to support employeesโ€™ career growth and in return, our employees help Ocean Conservancy grow into a stronger, more inclusive institution.