External Affairs Lead

Overview

Reflective is a philanthropically-funded initiative to develop the necessary knowledge base and do the requisite technology research and development, urgently and responsibly.

Sunlight reflection may be the only available option, alongside dramatic emissions reductions, adaptation, and rapid scaling of carbon removal, to rapidly limit many climate impacts over the coming decades. But we don’t know nearly enough about it to make a scientifically-informed decision about potential deployment – and we’re not on a trajectory for rapid, legitimate decision making.

As Reflective’s External Affairs Lead, you’ll own the organization’s relationships and strategy at the intersection of science, policy, and public legitimacy. Your job is to build the trust, partnerships, and political and institutional foundations required for empirical research into SAI/SRM to proceed responsibly, and in a timely manner.

You’ll translate between our scientific and engineering teams, government partners, and external communities and institutions to ensure research proceeds transparently, and in the public interest. You’ll also shape the environment in which Reflective operates: building coalitions, managing external affairs partners, and coordinating communications and engagement priorities.

This is a senior, high-judgment role. You should be equally comfortable briefing a government minister, coordinating a community stakeholder workshop, or editing a sensitive press release. You’ll report to the CEO and work closely with the Heads of Research, Engineering, and Data, as well as external consultants and field partners. You will be expected to work independently at times, making important decisions and representing the organization and research community without much direct guidance.

• Identify and create opportunities to cultivate a core network of institutional allies—scientific, policy, and philanthropic—who can publicly and privately support responsible research.
• Develop processes to track and report on external engagement to Reflective leadership and the wider community.
• Coordinate with legal, governance, and field partners to map out permitting and policy pathways for a potential controlled, small-scale, outdoor experiment. Build relationships with relevant agencies, civil society organizations, and research bodies in candidate countries.
• Plan small, high-impact gatherings and closed-door briefings to align key voices.
• Manage our existing consultants and hire new consultants across external comms, government, and/or public affairs to support the mission of the organization.
• Translate internal milestones into external opportunities, and ensure stakeholders hear about Reflective’s work at the right time and through the right channels.
• Anticipate reputational and political risks. Prepare guidance, messaging, and contingency plans for sensitive topics or potential controversies.
• Represent Reflective at meetings, conferences, and in closed-door briefings with policymakers, funders, and peer organizations.

• 10+ years of experience in policy, external relations, philanthropy, or research-based advocacy.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-sector coalitions, stakeholder engagement, or government relations in a complex scientific or technology context.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion. You can navigate politically sensitive issues without losing sight of long-term strategy.
• Excellent writing and synthesis skills—you can distill complex scientific and policy material into crisp, credible prose.
• Deep curiosity about climate science, technology governance, and global research ecosystems.
• You’re proactive, self-directed, and outcome-oriented. You see around corners and work toward solutions before problems become visible.
• Low-ego collaborator who builds trust easily across disciplines and geographies.
• Ability and comfort travelling as needed, potentially to remote locations (We estimate approximately 25% of your time traveling, depending on working location).

• A strong professional network in climate, science policy, or global research philanthropy.
• Experience working with…