Senior Program Director, Remove

Who We Are:

Ocean Visions is a nonprofit conservation organization pursuing bold solutions to counter and reverse climate impacts on ocean health. Working with a global network of partners, we explore, evaluate, and advance innovations to address climate-driven harm to the ocean. We work on system-level challenges where solutions are least developed, most complex, or politically difficult—but potentially transformative. Our work is grounded in robust science, and we continually seek to improve our understanding of the complexity of the challenges to the ocean posed by climate change.

Ocean Visions works on an interdependent four-part strategy to directly address the causes and impacts of climate disruption, from an ocean lens:

• REDUCE: Identify and advance high-leverage ocean-based opportunities for a just transition to a low carbon economy
• REMOVE: Identify and advance ocean-based pathways for cleaning up legacy carbon pollution from the air and ocean
• REPAIR: Identify and advance interventions to avoid catastrophic loss of critical marine ecosystems and passing of dangerous tipping points
• REACH: Support the growth of a global community to develop and advance innovative ocean-climate solutions

What is “REMOVE”?

Alongside decarbonization, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is an imperative tool to help stabilize and ultimately restore a safe climate. Scientists agree that we will need to remove billions of tons per year of legacy carbon dioxide pollution that otherwise will continue to overheat the planet and acidify the ocean. Fortunately, the ocean holds enormous potential to help in this massive carbon removal endeavor.

Over the past six years, Ocean Visions helped build the emerging field of marine CDR (mCDR), starting with comprehensive road maps assessing marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) technologies and identifying first-order priorities for advancing their development and testing. We then have worked to catalyze efforts to address those priorities, supported startups on the science and engineering behind their work, and published a wide range of resources to grow collective knowledge and action in mCDR.

The field has grown substantially since we began, but it still remains at an early stage with much to accomplish. This is a great opportunity for a creative thought and action leader to help drive maximum impact toward our overarching goal: advance the research, development, and demonstration of all viable mCDR approaches at scales sufficient to answer the fundamental question: Can they reach climate-relevant carbon removal at acceptable levels of impact to ecosystems and people?

This Role:

The Senior Program Director is the lead of Ocean Visions’ mCDR work, with responsibility for program strategy, day-to-day execution, external partnerships, and integration across the organization. This role also ensures alignment across Ocean Visions’ broader program portfolio and serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on priorities, risks, and opportunities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and lead the evolution of program strategy to ensure Ocean Visions’ efforts are contributing maximally to moving the field forward
• Drive execution of the key priorities across R&D, policy, field-building, and education efforts while establishing systems for monitoring, evaluation, learning, and consistent program performance
• Monitor and synthesize developments across science, policy, engineering, governance, and economics, translating insights into strategic recommendations for Ocean Visions
• Build and maintain relationships with a diverse set of partners across the mCDR ecosystem, including researchers, startups, funders, policymakers, and international partners
• Work collaboratively with the Launchpad Director to identify and support mCDR innovators in technical assistance
• Lead or contribute to the ideation and development of field-shaping tools, frameworks, roadmaps, and publications
• Represent Ocean Visions Remove program in relevant external forums, convenings, and partnerships
• Lead strategic fundraising efforts for the Remove program, in collaboration with Ocean Visions’ development team
• Contribute to overall organizational strategy and learning
• Lead and develop program staff

The Senior Program Director, Remove will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the Chief Scientist, the Launchpad Director, and cross-cutting teams.

Profile:

The ideal candidate is a strategic, creative, and collaborative leader with deep experience in ocean or climate science, policy, or technology and a passion for accelerating the responsible development of marine carbon dioxide removal. The person we seek will be bold and thoughtful, able to apply a rigorous analytical mind to complex problems, and is comfortable working across scientific, technical, and policy domains. This role requires excellent judgment, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a deep commitment to advancing responsible, science-based climate solutions.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in a related field (e.g., ocean science, environmental science, engineering, policy, or related discipline)
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience leading or managing programs that address complex environmental problems
• Deep familiarity with or ability to rapidly master the science, policy, and technology landscape of mCDR, and related governance, policy, and technical issues
• Demonstrated ability to identify high-leverage opportunities and bring together the needed partners and resources to advance them
• Ability to design, lead, and manage complex, multi-party projects and programs, with strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex topics to varied audiences
• Energy, enthusiasm, and passion for this work

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated thought leadership in this or adjacent spaces
• Familiarity with research, development, and demonstration of technology, preferably in the environmental space
• Familiarity with concepts related to CDR generally, mCDR specifically, ocean science and governance, and related topics
• Deep science literacy and experience working at the science and policy interface
• Experience with innovation and scaling of innovation

Location, Hours, and Travel:

This is a regular full-time remote position. Applicants must be U.S.-based, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and available to work standard business hours of a continental U.S. time zone. Must be willing and able to travel nationally and internationally, up to 20% time.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $140,000-$165,000, commensurate with the candidate’s specific skills, years of experience, and background. Salary ranges at Ocean Visions are determined through market analysis updated annually to ensure that Ocean Visions remains competitive and equitable. Ocean Visions offers a competitive benefits program including dental, vision, and health insurance; generous vacation and sick time; funds for home office maintenance; a 403(b) plan; parental leave; and more.

To Apply:

Please apply here by uploading your resume and cover letter. The cover letter should provide a clear and concise statement of why you are applying for this position and your match with the required and desired qualifications. Applications must be submitted by COB July 6th, 2026 to be considered. Candidate review will begin shortly thereafter, and virtual screening interviews will be scheduled in mid to late July. Finalists will be asked to provide names and contact information for professional references.

Equal Opportunity:

Ocean Visions is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Ocean Visions is continually seeking to diversify its staff, particularly to broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy.

Tagged as: Advocacy/Communications, Law/Policy, Science/Engineering