Climate Policy Radar is on a mission to help people access and understand long climate documents. Nearly 350,000 users from over 100 countries already use our open databases and AI-based research tools to search through 500,000+ pages of climate documents from around the world.

We care deeply about creating trustworthy tools that have a real impact on climate decisions. Our exciting, impactful work is right at the cutting edge of AI, and at the epicentre of global climate action. In 2025, we are bringing in and structuring even more climate documents, improving our search and synthesis functionality, and making it easier for people to make sense of the evidence they need for better, faster climate decisions.

We are a not-for-profit startup, with a team of ~30 technologists and climate policy experts who care a lot about the ‘how’ (our values and culture) as well as the ‘what’. As part of that, we have embraced a flexible, hybrid approach to work, including a 4 day workweek.

We are seeking a hands-on Chief Operating Officer to join our senior leadership team. You will play a pivotal part in shaping processes that support organisational growth, resilience, and well being.

• Operational Excellence: Work closely with the CEO and senior leadership to align operations with strategic priorities. Drive and refine operational processes. Oversee a complex delivery schedule involving cross-functional teams, optimise reporting mechanisms, ensure strong business continuity and disaster response plans. Maintain engagement with the Board of Directors, providing updates on operational performance and strategic initiatives.

• Finance: Oversee financial planning, management, and reporting in collaboration with the fractional CFO. Ensure robust budgeting processes, financial modelling, and scenario planning to support strategic decision-making. Manage grant funding, commercial revenue streams, and expenditure to ensure financial sustainability. Maintain strong financial controls, risk management, and compliance with regulatory and funder requirements.

• Revenue Streams and commercial strategy: CPR is actively diversifying its revenue model (currently almost entirely grant-funding) primarily through the development of SaaS offering. The COO will lead the evolution of CPR’s commercial strategy, ensuring robust structures for sustainable revenue generation. This includes overseeing revenue stream relationship management, defining CPR’s standards, licenses and IP protections and establishing a structured partnership programme and operational frameworks to strengthen financial resilience.

• Team Leadership: Manage and develop our small People and Ops team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.

• People Growth and Talent Acquisition: Oversee the Head of People, in maintaining inclusive processes. Facilitate a thriving work environment by ensuring smooth onboarding, professional development, and wellbeing initiatives Ensure operational policies empower teams and enable seamless collaboration.

• Compliance and Information Security: Ensure strict adherence to all relevant laws, regulations, and contractual obligations, including data protection and impact assessments. Serve as CPR’s Data Controller, oversee ISO27001 accreditation, and manage internal information security and IP protection.

• Risk Management: Own CPR’s risk management framework, covering legal and IP protection, financial, reputational, operational, and brand risks. Establish clear incident management processes (non-tech) and ensure continuous risk assessment and mitigation.

• Resource and Vendor Management: Oversee the strategic allocation of budgets, personnel, and technology. Lead SaaS and vendor management, ensuring efficient procurement and contract oversight. Manage facilities, including office infrastructure and equipment.

• Demonstrated experience in senior leadership roles in tech, with a track record of making clear, well-communicated decisions and ensuring alignment across teams.

• Comfortable working in a small, hands-on team—willing and able to execute and implement, not just ideate and delegate.

• Proven ability to scale operations in early-stage startups, taking ownership of complex processes and driving them forward with confidence.

• Strong financial literacy, with experience in financial planning, budgeting, risk management, and implementation of commercial strategy. Ability to oversee revenue diversification and long-term financial sustainability.

• Exceptional organisational skills, with a strong ability to balance strategic priorities, manage dependencies, and provide clarity on deliverables and timelines.

• A proactive and structured approach to leadership, ensuring transparent communication, accountability, and follow-through across all areas of responsibility.

• Experience managing hybrid/remote teams with clear and effective internal communications, enabling strong asynchronous collaboration.

• A steadfast commitment to open science, data democratisation, collaboration, transparency, and justice, ensuring fair and structured decision-making in hiring and operations.

• The ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-growth environment, demonstrating both adaptability and decisive leadership.

• An understanding of (or strong desire to work within) a Community Interest Company (CIC) and not-for-profit environment, with the ability to translate mission-driven objectives into actionable, scalable, sustainable strategies.

• A passion for contributing to global climate and nature action.

• Salary ranging from £100k to £125k depending on experience

• A strong commitment to employee wellbeing, including policies such as 4 day workweek and generous leave

• A vibrant, collaborative, and empathetic work culture that thrives on innovation and the impact of our work

• A hybrid work environment in our fantastic workspace, offering views of the river in London’s County Hall Building (two-day a week office required).

• Learn more about our values here. We care about them deeply.

We know that applying for a new job can be full of uncertainties - and we aim to reduce those by communicating clearly. Our process is made of several stages (see below). After each stage, we’ll contact you as soon as we can and no longer than 3 working days, to let you know if you will be progressing to the next stage.

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the process of application and selection, please let us know.

Process:

• Introductory interview with CEO and Head of People 60-90 min

• Interview with other members of senior leadership team and Head of People 60 min

• Interview with Board 45-60 min

• References

• Final interview with CEO

• Opportunity to informally meet other team members

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to sponsor work visas. Only applicants legally authorised to work in the UK will be considered.

At Climate Policy Radar, We are committed to fostering a workplace that is inclusive and equitable. Climate Policy Radar welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and does not tolerate discrimination in any aspect of employment. We actively work to ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of heritage, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, relationship choices, or criminal history, in line with legal requirements. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, in line with legal requirements.

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation in the process of application and selection, please let us know.