SHIP and External Relations Lead Aspen Global Institute

Position description

Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance global change science and solutions. AGCI seeks to improve our understanding of human and Earth systems, catalyze solutions at speed and scale, and nurture integrated communities across research and practice. We convene events, conduct research, provide advice to decision-makers, and develop innovative initiatives for implementation through a wide network of partners.

Running through AGCI’s DNA is a strong institutional commitment to excellence in science that is actionable and accessible. For more information visit agci.org.

Founded in 1989, AGCI is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organization that supports staff and partners working to implement a mission that is international in scope yet grounded in local contexts and problem domains. As an "Institute Without Walls", AGCI staff and consultants are based in a variety of locations across the United States.

During this critical period for people and the planet, AGCI is launching a new initiative: the Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project (SHIP). SHIP is a field‑building initiative designed to safeguard and modernize the climate capacity needed for scaled global action. Born from a moment of profound disruption, SHIP is building a durable community of strategically placed climate experts to sustain critical work across data, science, policy, implementation, and frontline communities, with an eye towards reimagining how knowledge, talent, and institutions coordinate on climate action.

By embedding talent in high‑leverage roles and connecting those roles through a responsive learning and coordination network, SHIP is helping rebuild a climate ecosystem that is more resilient, distributed, and built to last.

We’re looking for builders, connectors, and systems thinkers eager to design new models of collaboration and accelerate climate impact at scale.

BUILDING THE TEAM

SHIP is building a lean, six‑person management team to steward this work over the next three years, supported by a network of consultants and coalition partners. Together, this team will shape strategy, recruit and place talent across career stages and disciplines, build partnerships with advisors and host institutions, manage grantmaking, and strengthen coalition learning to deliver on SHIP’s vision: enabling climate action now while building more innovative, resilient climate action infrastructure in the future, by investing in the people and the coordination of expertise that make it all possible.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Full‑Time

Location
:
The position can be remote anywhere within the continental United States.

Travel Requirements
: up to 5–8 trips within the U.S.; and up to 1‒2 trips overseas per year.

Position Title
:
Advancement and External Relations Lead, Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project

AGCI is seeking up to three innovative, collaborative professionals to provide strategic leadership over a diverse portfolio of work supported by the Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project (SHIP). Each Lead will take primary responsibility for one of three distinct areas of SHIP’s work, while collaborating closely with the SHIP Executive Director and the rest of the team to set direction, coordinate partners, and deliver impact:

Network Manager and Learning

Designs SHIP’s community and learning ecosystem, convenes practitioners across institutions and sectors, and builds synthesis products that turn on‐ground insights into actionable knowledge. Makes SHIP more than a fellowship network by building a lasting community of practice capable of accelerating impact far beyond any single placement.

Advancement and External Relations

Leads donor stewardship, advancement, reporting, and aligned funding coordination with external partners. Supports partners in co-creating strategic communications. Positions SHIP as one of the most compelling climate infrastructure investments of this decade — shaping the narrative, securing funding, and cultivating the relationships that sustain SHIP’s talent and coordination engine.

Portfolio and Strategy

Building on foundational responsibilities of grantmaking…