Research Team Manager Third Derivative

Location: Remote, but commuting distance to an RMI office is preferred.

Are you passionate about harnessing innovative technologies, business models, and catalytic capital to fight climate change? Do you love solving challenging problems, thinking in numbers, and working in groups? Are you interested in being a part of a team that is quickly growing and is laser-focused about making the world a better place? If yes, then join our growing team!

Individuals of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply!

Third Derivative Overview

Third Derivative is seeking a Manager to join our Research team. Founded by RMI and New Energy Nexus, Third Derivative (D3) is accelerating the rate of climate innovation through our inclusive ecosystem approach, which rapidly finds, funds, and scales climate tech globally.

By uniting and aligning committed investors, large corporates, and market and policy experts with the world’s most promising climate tech startups, D3 bridges finance and resource gaps to increase speed to market. Our flexible and highly curated accelerator program enables startups to focus on their unique needs and opportunities.

Today D3’s collaborative ecosystem includes $4T market cap of corporate partners, $6B AUM of investor partners (across five continents), and over 125 startups addressing climate challenges across all major emissions sectors. Together, we are moving markets to achieve a brighter, more equitable climate future.

Now, our high-performance team of climate enthusiasts is growing, and we’re seeking a highly motivated Manager to join us in our mission.

Position Overview

Your work will center around building a knowledge base of impactful climate-tech innovations and undertaking a robust due diligence process that is also aligned with interests of our capital and asset partners. You will gain broad experience with a wide range of new technologies and business models as well as use your research to publish insights that is relevant to our partners and broader climate-tech ecosystem.

The Research Manager is both an individual contributor as well as a coach and teacher for junior staff such as Associates and Interns. The Manager will help with planning and oversight of major workstreams while contributing to strategy discussions. The Manager should be comfortable interacting independently with stakeholders from across the Third Derivative ecosystem, including startups, corporates, investors, mentors, academic institutions, and governments—always focused on building D3’s ecosystem and connecting the dots to drive innovation.

Your Responsibilities As a Manager Include

• Conducting/managing research and diligence on impactful climate-tech startups within heavy industry (e.g., hydrogen, steel, industrial heat), buildings (e.g., cooling, insulation, heat pumps), electricity (e.g., power electronics, energy storage), and/or transportation (e.g., electric mobility, charging infrastructure, motors). The research includes understanding what is unique about a startup’s technology and business model, what are the market trends and drivers, who are the competitors, and the climate impact of scaling these materials in different sectors.
• Leading the development of investment hypotheses on key technology areas and presenting these investment theses to D3’s corporate and investor partners
• Helping to do outreach to promising startups from around the world to apply to the D3 program.
• Supporting the preparation of proposals and pitch decks for specific business development opportunities
• Support and collaborate with Third Derivative partners, including VC funds, corporates, and utilities as well as RMI and external experts. Engage and nurture Third Derivative’s community of technical experts and mentors.
• Collaboratively write blogs, articles, reports, and thought leadership collaterals on the research to help the investment community commercialize impactful climate technologies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in an applicable field such as science, engineering, and/or business with focus on energy and sustainability
• Ability and willingness to engage with technical material, and provide qualitative and quantitative evaluation/assessment
• Project and people management experience
• 4+ years of relevant work experience
• Outstanding quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, detail-oriented, organized, proactive, and self-motivated
• Outstanding communication skills for working effectively on teams and clearly communicating results and key takeaways.
• Strong creative problem-solving skills. Comfort working with uncertainty and unfamiliar disciplines
• Experience working among diverse groups with varying perspectives

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to perform techno-economic analysis in excel, to determine if new technologies can be cost competitive
• Subject matter expertise for decarbonizing some aspect of a critical sector such as the electricity grid, buildings, transportation, industry
• Entrepreneurship/startup experience
• New technology commercialization or investment experience
• Relevant network for finding or supporting climate technology innovation

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 403b retirement options (5% match immediately)
• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• Commuter and wellness benefits
• Casual work environment

Third Derivative is a great place to gain broad exposure while also building some specific areas of expertise within climate technology innovation. We work with most talented and visionary entrepreneurs commercializing the most interesting and impactful innovations from around the world. We collaborate with leading VC funds, corporations, Universities, and Labs. This is a great place to expand from a technical or sustainability background while learning about finance and entrepreneurship or vice versa.

Location

This position will be remote. Although it is preferred but not required that this position will be located near one of RMI’s US offices.

Important Note: As a U.S. federal contractor, RMI must comply with requirements outlined in Executive Order Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This Executive Order requires that all federal contractors and subcontractors mandate and verify that all U.S.-based employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are based in the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of full vaccination status as a condition of employment. You may request accommodation for medical or religious reasons. If you are based outside of the U.S., this requirement does not apply.

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, new Managers based in the U.S. join at the minimum to mid salary range of $103,000-$125,000. The role will have an additional 10% bonus target!

Diversity    

Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas, and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.

This Ensures That We

We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic class, educational institution, or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization.

• Have a diverse array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
• Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported, and valued.
• Effectively connect, communicate, and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders, and constituents within diverse communities.

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 nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

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