About Climate Central:

Climate Central is an independent group of scientists and science translators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives. We use science and tech to generate thousands of local storylines and compelling visuals that make climate change relevant and show what can be done about it. We address climate science, sea level rise, extreme weather, energy, and related topics. We collaborate with journalists, TV meteorologists, and other respected messengers, reaching broad audiences through local voices in the US and 150 nations. Our research and visuals appear in thousands of TV spots and tens of thousands of other news stories each year, and our impact is growing.

About the Role:

This is a foundational product manager position reporting to the Director of Product Management, Technology. Product, as a function within the Technology department, is responsible for developing and maintaining various external and internal data tools and feeds in conjunction with the needs of Climate Central’s programs, fundraising staff, and leadership. The person who fills this role will have the chance to develop product management skills working with developers (both in-house and contract), designers (same), scientists, communications & media specialists, and other internal stakeholders; launch products and product features for Climate Central’s trusted-messenger users; and contribute to the generation and communication of scientific knowledge about climate science and climate change.

The below reflects the intended set of responsibilities after about 1 year. Depending on background, you may grow into additional responsibility more or less quickly within this role.

Key Responsibilities

Product ownership

• Owns (sets and executes) short-term product strategy, direction, and priorities (subject to program and department requirements), including maintaining product backlogs and roadmaps, for product features and software projects
• Interprets expressions of program desires according to principles of product design
• Generates, harvests, and/or filters ideas for feature development
• Communicates internally about products and product features (socializes products), including writing and maintaining product documentation when needed

Requirements negotiation and ticket-writing

• Negotiates project/feature requirements among stakeholders, developers, and other contributors
• Documents and/or ensures documenting of requirements, tracks changes to requirements as necessary
• Gathers labor estimates for features as needed
• Collaborates with Engineering to modify or adjust designs as necessary

Project management

• Ensures project participants understand the goal(s) and their role in the project
• Monitors design and development progress, communicates adjustments as necessary
• Manages stakeholder expectations and needs, including ensuring standards set by the Science Department are met in generation and presentation of data
• Facilitates sharing of information and collaboration between project participants
• Ensures that software ships and meets requirements—including managing deadlines and solving problems resourcefully as necessary

User interest representation

• Cultivates a deep understanding of who the most important users are, and who they could be
• Conducts activities to learn what users want and need from the product (e.g., data analysis, user research)
• Integrates discovered user needs into product designs and roadmaps

Product performance monitoring and improvement

• Tracks product performance post-launch
• Considers user behavior observations, tests, or interviews alongside intended product use
• Shares findings with program leaders and other stakeholders as input for new planning

Note that the fast-changing landscapes of software development (especially as a result of generative artificial intelligence), climate science, and media, means that this role could alternatively look different in a year as a result of Climate Central’s adaptation to this landscape, in ways that can’t currently be predicted. These duties could change, perhaps even at the initiative of this person.

Required Skills and Experience: 

• Experience with software development processes, particularly web applications and large-data–processing ETLs
• Experience with product or project management, including demonstrated track record of leading a project to completion/launch.
• Superior organizational and communication skills, including a strong ability to detect and resolve ambiguity and exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to empathize with and understand diverse colleagues, users, and stakeholders, including developers, scientists, and media
• Leadership, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence—ability and desire to relate to, motivate. and inspire others
• Commitment to Climate Central’s mission

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Proactivity—willingness to take action to identify and address needs and problems, rather than waiting to be told what to do
• Quick detail-to-big-picture switching—ability to zoom into small details and zoom out to higher levels of abstraction, in areas of software, UX, strategy, and processes.
• Desire and ability to learn quickly
• Flexibility and adaptability—able to switch between and manage many different types of tasks, conversations, and activities
• Experience or familiarity with Agile software development processes and methodologies
• SQL, Python, JavaScript, HTML, or any other programming languages or experience, including AI-assisted programming
• Experience with qualitative or quantitative user research methodologies
• Scientific background or demonstrated ability to learn scientific concepts
• Clear and structured thinking, along with creativity in problem-solving
• Experience or familiarity with Web analytics or data analysis more broadly
• Business or managerial experience outside of technology/Product

Compensation: The expected base salary range for this position is $75,000-$90,000. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Climate Central offers generous benefits including:

• Medical benefits
• Dental/ Vision benefits
• More than 7 weeks of paid vacation and holidays available annually
• 12 weeks of paid family leave
• 401k with up to 12% matching
• Partial college tuition for children of employees who qualify

Location and employment eligibility:

This position can be mostly remote, in accordance with Climate Central organizational policy. Presence at headquarters or other U.S.-based locations is required for periodic team and organizational meetings, events and convenings. Climate Central’s headquarters are in Princeton, N.J. Candidates must be eligible for employment in the United States.

Equity and EEO language: Climate Central strongly encourages diverse candidates to apply. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and as such do not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee on the basis of race, color, religious creed, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws.

How To Apply: Please apply via this link. We are reviewing applications as they are received and may begin interviews before the posting closes. The position will close once we have reached a strong pool of candidates, so we encourage interested applicants to apply early and no later than February 6th at 5pm ET.

Please note that our application process requires the submission of a resume and the completion of 4 questions tailored to the position. We are intentionally not asking for a cover letter, so please do not include one with your application. 

When including your education history in your resume, please remove the name of your school from your resume. You may leave your degree (e.g., “B.A. Communication”), but please remove any undergraduate or graduate school names. This is one part of our effort to assess candidates against the essential qualifications for this role and to mitigate bias in the decision making process.

Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, Climate Central is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.