Program Director, Buildings

Rainier Climate is a new philanthropic organization focused on addressing climate change. Co-founded by Sam Ballmer, Connie Ballmer, and Steve Ballmer in 2024, Rainier Climate will focus on providing philanthropic funding to non-government organizations pursuing strategies that operate at the speed and scale needed to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions.

As it scales to become one of the largest climate philanthropies globally, Rainier anticipates supporting work in many parts of the world and on a range of strategies such as forests and land use, clean energy, clean transportation, industrial decarbonization, energy efficiency, and super pollutants. The organization also anticipates supporting work in climate cross-cutting areas such as strategic communications, climate finance, legal, movement building, advocacy, and public policy.

The Opportunity

Rainier Climate is seeking a Program Director, Buildings to join its world class team in Bellevue, Washington.

The Program Director roles represent a rare and unique opportunity to join a philanthropic organization in the early stages of shaping its strategic trajectory, culture, and programmatic aims in climate. Working in close partnership with the President, and alongside the cofounders, who collectively have decades of philanthropic experience and insights, the Program Directors are instrumental in operationalizing Rainier’s ambitious grantmaking objectives in the coming years and will help to further define its vision and strategy for innovative and urgent action in the climate sector.

Initially reporting to the President, the Program Directors are expected to be senior leaders in their respective fields, with deep and extensive knowledge of the many opportunities, challenges, and strategic approaches that Rainier might consider when addressing its broader priorities for work in climate. Externally, the Program Directors serve as leaders, thought partners, and collaborators within the ecosystem of funder, nonprofit, government, and business communities in climate.

They monitor progress of existing strategies and approaches and develop new strategies as appropriate for consideration and approval.

In order for Rainier to remain agile and entrepreneurial, the Program Directors will at times act as complementary generalists for the entire portfolio of work at the organization. This means being able to contribute to or even pivot to new focus areas in the future. Working as a team, the Program Directors will be active, supporting members across all program areas, and will work collaboratively with the President and cofounders in the planning and implementation of Rainier’s strategy.

Program Director — Buildings

Buildings account for a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions and represent one of the most critical—and complex—frontiers for decarbonization. Rapid progress will require both the widespread retrofit of existing residential and commercial structures and the construction of new buildings that are efficient, resilient, and low- or zero-emissions from the outset. These efforts intersect with a range of systems challenges, including electricity grid capacity, urbanization patterns, housing affordability, workforce development, and supply chains.

The Program Director, Buildings will lead the development of a globally informed strategy to accelerate emissions reductions across the built environment. This includes shaping integrated philanthropic approaches that span national, regional, and local policy; market transformation; and on-the-ground implementation. The Program Director will work across geographies to identify high-impact opportunities, support campaigns and initiatives that advance building electrification and…