Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Demand Manager - Climate-Aligned Industries

Job Description:

Do you love solving challenging problems, thinking about dynamic systems, and working collaboratively in groups? Do you have the self-motivation, curiosity, creativity, and ability to guide others toward meaningful results? Do you have a passion for making the world a better place? If yes, then join our growing team!

Program Overview

RMI’s Climate Aligned Industries (CAI) program works to decarbonize heavy industry and transport. We collaborate with a global network of businesses, financial institutions, and policymakers to facilitate and scale emissions reductions in these industrial sectors.

The Aviation team within CAI works to accelerate the transition to net-zero air travel through catalyzing production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and developing market infrastructure that enables and scales SAF demand within the aviation value chain.

Position Overview

RMI is seeking a motivated, enthusiastic, and collaborative professional to join us as a manager in our Aviation team to help maximize growing demand and supply for high-integrity Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). This position sits within the Climate Aligned Industries team and will report to the Aviation Principal.

The SAF Demand Manager will develop and provide subject matter expertise to enable the success of RMI’s work to catalyze emissions reductions along industrial supply chains through market mechanism design in collaboration with our partners in industry and civil society. This person will actively contribute to:

• RMI’s work in the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) to scale investment in SAF certificates (SAFc) – a tool to help speed up SAF deployment with corporate support.
• RMI’s wider work to accelerate the market for high-integrity SAF and decarbonize aviation

Day-to-day, this individual will support and communicate our efforts to scale book and claim systems for SAF in aviation and provide research and analysis support for these efforts. You will also collaborate with other programs within RMI (e.g., other sector teams in the Climate Aligned Industries program, and accounting experts within our Climate Intelligence program) given the cross-cutting application of book and claim systems.

Specific tasks may include:

• Supporting stakeholder engagement with the aviation industry and corporate value chain
• Summarizing and integrating stakeholder feedback and independent research
• Helping coordinate the development of market infrastructure with other RMI teams’ efforts to influence other sectors and use cases

We invite candidates with a variety of skillsets and educational and work backgrounds to apply!

Key Responsibilities

• Support outreach and business development with potential new SABA members
• Support established relationships with existing industry and corporate stakeholders
• Prepare communications and materials for SABA, design meeting content, support event planning, and coordinate activities with program colleagues
• Represent RMI on SABA calls and at events, and be able to speak on the Aviation team’s work, with a goal of expanding the network and cultivate new prospects
• Engage with external experts via meetings, emails, interviews, and conferences
• Create creative problem-solving approaches to drive project insight

• Synthesize complex technical considerations and recommendations into clear and compelling presentations and written reports
• Work collaboratively with RMI’s corporate engagement, program teams and operational teams, such as Communications, Legal, Accounting, and Finance to successfully manage corporate relationships.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience
• Understanding of emissions accounting methods and climate disclosure frameworks
• Familiarity with energy systems, basics of climate science and decarbonization challenges for aviation and heavy industry
• Experience working with corporations and sustainability teams (preferably with heavy industry & hard-to-abate sectors)
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• International experience desired but not required
• Comfort engaging directly with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including non-profit leadership and high-level corporate executives

Preferred Qualification

• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for RMI’s mission and objectives as well as the principles and practices of non-profit organizations.
• Familiarity with emissions accounting and ESG reporting (i.e. SBTi disclosure)
• Prior experience with fuel and commodity markets and/or industrial supply chains
• Prior experience with carbon or energy attribute certificate (i.e. REC) markets and associated procurement mechanisms
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Project management skills
• Ability to navigate and understand a complex environment with the flexibility to change course quickly with a positive attitude.

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado. This role can be located from anywhere in the continental United States.

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

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. The salary range for this role is $105,000-$129,000.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package adjusted to regional norms, including (for U.S. employment):

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 403b retirement options (up to 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
• Work from home and commuter allowance

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.

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 attainment or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization. This ensures that we:

• Have the different 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.

RMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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.