Assistant Director, Extreme Heat Initiative

Overview of the role

The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (AARFRC) is focused on building individual and community resilience to climate impacts, particularly for vulnerable communities. We have pledged to reach One Billion People with resilience solutions to climate change by 2030.

The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (AARFRC) is one of the newest centers at the Atlantic Council with a different model than your average Think Tank center. We are bringing solutions to vulnerable people, meeting them where they are, to improve their resilience to major disruptions caused by climate change. We focus our efforts on people, communities, governments, and institutions to help them better prepare for, navigate and recover from the multiple shocks and stresses people all over the world face every day.

AARFRC brings on-the-ground solutions for vulnerable people and communities – from macro-level tools like global policy initiatives including the Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance, appointing Chief Heat Officers, and quantifying the economic and social consequences of extreme heat as well as community level work such as our Community Resilience Pods in Miami and designing community-led financial solutions for cities.

The Assistant Director, Extreme Heat Initiative is an integral member of the AARFRC extreme heat team, focusing on project management, team management, technical advisory, team workflow, and representing AARFRC to external audiences. The Assistant Director, Extreme Heat Initiative will serve as a collaborative teammate to leadership, development, and operations staff both within AARFRC and the broader organization. The successful candidate will have a professional background that includes relevant subject matter expertise, finance knowledge, development experience, and team workflow applications. Passionate about process improvement and clear communications, the preferred candidate will be a self-starter who can work independently, adapt readily, and enjoy multitasking, demonstrate an affinity for technology and working with numbers, and be committed and dedicated to the Adrienne Arsht Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center’s mission and goals.

The role can be hybrid based at our Washington, DC headquarters, or fully remote for the right candidate.

Job Responsibilities:

• Author and provide research and logistical support to program staff in the development of reports and publications, drafting background memos, proofreading content, and ensuring timely, high- quality products.
• Coordinate select projects, including the planning and execution of events, meetings, and other activities.
• Draft correspondence and partnership proposals — both programmatic and financial.
• Provide research support to help shape the direction of the project by developing new ideas for high-impact activities and then helping advance new initiatives.
• Manage daily work of junior staff, YGPs, and, as needed, contractors.
• Assist with/coordinate complex proposal development projects including proofreading, concept development, and partner outreach.
• Identify and produce research and research summaries of topics relevant to heat.
• Represent AARFRC at partner meetings and to external audiences.
• Other tasks as assigned, including attending events, meetings, etc.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• 2 years in a relevant environment, or comparable experience.
• Proven track record in coordinating and executing multiple projects simultaneously and demonstrated ability to work efficiently and collaboratively with both junior- and senior-level colleagues.
• A growth mindset and desire to deepen skillsets and understanding.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships at all levels of an organization and work successfully across them.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written), including the ability to identify and work through challenges, underscored by strong judgment and emotional intelligence.
• Strong analytical, planning, time management, and organizational skills required.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently.
• Skilled in clear, persuasive, and effective communications with various stakeholders including excellent written skills, and some experience presenting to high-level audiences.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship management skills, including the ability to identify and work through challenges, underscored by strong judgment and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on multi-step, detail-oriented projects in a fluid environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite.