About Valhalla Impact & Valhalla Foundation
Valhalla Impact (“Valhalla”) is the philanthropic organization of Scott Cook (co-founder of Intuit) and Signe Ostby. Valhalla invests in and supports innovative organizations aligned with its mission to drive measurable, meaningful improvement in outcomes that matter. Valhalla is a mission-driven organization that strategically integrates philanthropic funding, impact investing, and advocacy to achieve impact, primarily through the Valhalla Foundation.
Valhalla’s four focus areas are K-12 Education, Early Childhood Development, Environmental Innovation, and Medical Research and Talent. Valhalla also engages in collaborative philanthropy through The Audacious Project, Blue Meridian Partners, and NextLadder Ventures.
Valhalla applies a rigorous, data-driven approach to philanthropy and supports organizations beyond funding, helping them scale their impact. Learn more at www.valhalla.org.
About the Environmental Innovation Portfolio
Valhalla’s Environmental Innovation Portfolio is driven by a north star goal to protect people and nature by cutting global methane pollution.
Methane is a powerful pollutant. Pound-for-pound, it traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over twenty years. Unlike carbon dioxide, methane breaks down relatively quickly – in about 12 years. This means that cutting methane pollution today can produce tangible, measurable results fast. Practical, cost-effective methane reduction solutions already exist. Despite its outsized impact, methane is often overlooked, receiving only a fraction of the attention and funding that goes toward other pollutants.
We have three investment priorities:
- Improve methane data: We invest in data platforms that make methane visible and help businesses, governments, and communities identify sources, track progress, and focus effort where it matters most.
- Reduce oil and gas methane: The oil and gas sector is the second-largest source of human-caused methane (~20% of total), but ~75% of the sector’s methane pollution could be mitigated through existing, well-known technologies, many of which can be implemented at no net cost. We support efforts that help operators put these solutions to work at scale.
- Reduce livestock methane: There are relatively few cost-effective solutions for methane from livestock, which is the largest source of human-caused methane (~30% of total). We fund scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs developing the new solutions necessary to meet our longer-term goals.
Beyond methane, we also selectively invest in high-leverage environmental opportunities that help people and nature thrive.
Responsibilities of the Role
The Director will help build and manage Valhalla’s Environmental Innovation portfolio. Reporting to and supporting the Managing Director, Environmental Innovation, this individual will develop and refine investment theses, identify high-leverage opportunities, and make and manage investments (grants, impact investments, etc.) that deliver measurable outcomes, in close collaboration with colleagues, investees, policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and fellow funders.
What you will do:
- Shape, build, and manage a portfolio of investments designed to drive measurable reductions in methane pollution. This includes scoping portfolio strategy, sourcing, evaluating, recommending, and executing new investments, and managing and supporting investments toward success.
- Engage and influence field leaders and co-investors in service of greater impact, and represent Valhalla externally with credibility and influence.
- Contribute to Valhalla’s collaborative culture through thought partnership and collective problem solving.
Candidate Profile
You are energized by the challenge of cutting methane pollution and possess these critical capabilities and experience:
- Experienced leader: 10+ years relevant experience, with 5+ years of experience in the environment field; experience in methane measurement/data, oil and gas, livestock, environmental policy, or environmental finance is strongly preferred, as is a background in strategic philanthropy, impact investing, or consulting.
- Proactive do-er: demonstrates initiative, tenacity, and creative thinking in the face of complex challenges; oriented around solving problems and delivering results.
- Critical thinker: delivers data-driven analysis and strategic judgement of risks and opportunities; discerns what is most important to achieve results; brings skepticism when needed; identifies tradeoffs; makes logical recommendations.
- Exceptional communicator and writer: synthesizes complexity and conveys ideas with clarity and precision, articulating and standing behind an evidence-based point of view.
- Influencer: builds and manages a diverse network of relationships with exceptional interpersonal skill, earning trust through thoughtful handling of power dynamics.
- Mission-driven collaborator: intrinsically motivated to make positive change through inclusive behaviors and open dialogue; seeks feedback; considers diverse perspectives and lived experience of others; contributes to positive organization culture.
Compensation
Valhalla conducted a comprehensive compensation study to develop transparent salary bands and promotion criteria for each role. The salary range for this position is $208,000 to $313,000. New hires’ salaries are typically between the range minimum and midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process. Valhalla also offers a generous and competitive benefits package.
Location
This role is based in the Bay Area, with approximately 25% travel (including air travel) for grantee engagement, convenings, and other field collaboration. Our team works from Valhalla’s Woodside, CA office a minimum of two days/week, with the option to work remotely for the remainder of the week when in-person collaboration is not required. We provide a modest commute stipend for staff who live more than 25 miles from our office.
Valhalla’s EEO Statement
Valhalla is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring and developing a team that brings diversity of voices, ideas, and approaches to the complex societal challenges we tackle. We strive to be an organization that reflects the perspectives of our partners and the communities we seek to serve and we encourage all interested candidates to apply. All applicants and those who join us as employees will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.
To Be Considered
Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter (one page or less) via the “Become a Candidate” button on GoodCitizen’s website.
Your cover letter should cover two things: your interest in the role, and — in 250 words or less — one environmental or climate solution you believe is underfunded or underappreciated relative to its potential impact. For the latter, tell us what the solution is, why you find it compelling, and what evidence or reasoning gives you confidence in it. The solution does not need to relate to methane; draw from wherever your own experience is deepest. We are less interested in the topic you choose than in how you think about impact, evidence, and where philanthropy can make a difference. No outside research is expected; we’re looking for your own thinking.
For additional questions, please reach out to: valhalla-impact@goodcitizen.com.
