Learning and Impact Manager

Learning and Impact Manager

Department: Super Pollutant Action Alliance

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: SPAA - San Francisco, CA

Compensation: $110,000 - $130,000 / year

Description

Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Director of Operations and Impact, the Learning and Impact Manager will be responsible for implementing and refining the learning systems that enable SPAA to maximize its catalytic impact on the super pollutants field. The Manager of Learning and Impact will operationalize strategic learning processes across several critical functions, including gathering evidence according to SPAA's monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) system, analyzing gathered evidence to generate learning insights, and communicating and disseminating learnings to SPAA stakeholders and the wider field.

This is a unique opportunity to operationalize the learning infrastructure for a well-resourced philanthropic collaborative at a pivotal moment for climate action. You'll shape how a catalytic funder learns, adapts, and accelerates impact in an emerging field that could significantly reduce near-term global temperatures and save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Primary Responsibilities

Learning System Implementation & Facilitation

• Operationalizing the infrastructure and processes that enable organizational learning
• Support the Director of Operations and Impact in implementing SPAA's learning strategy and agenda
• Co-design measurement frameworks for our theory of change, including defining success indicators that balance short-term outputs with long-term ecosystem outcomes
• Develop methodologies, frameworks, and templates (e.g., evidence trackers) appropriate for different initiative types (grantmaking, campaigns, convenings) that make evidence accessible for program staff
• Collaborate with the operations team to define data requirements, reporting templates, and system features that support SPAA's learning needs
• Track indicators of SPAA's catalytic impact against its learning agenda, including co-funding secured, new strategies funded, and policy breakthroughs attributable to SPAA's work
• Design and facilitate learning reviews, grant portfolio reflections, and workshops that move the team from data to insights to action
• Stay current on best practices in MEL, adaptive management, and developmental evaluation, bringing new approaches to SPAA

Portfolio & Ecosystem Insight Generation

• Analyzing data and generating strategic insight to inform decision-making
• Work with program staff to ensure philanthropic strategies and grant opportunities contribute to evidence generation and learning throughout the grantmaking cycle, from strategy development through proposal review and partner engagement
• Conduct analysis to identify cross-cutting themes, emerging opportunities, implementation challenges, and recommend strategic pivots or course corrections
• Analyze ecosystem-level signals (funding flows, policy momentum, capacity growth, research uptake) to assess SPAA's contribution to field advancement and track early indicators from the learning agenda
• Synthesize insights from multiple sources-grantee reports, funder conversations, funder data gathering, convenings, field interactions-to inform SPAA's strategy and resource allocation

Funder Engagement, Strategic Reporting & Field Building

• Translating insights into influence - internally with leadership and externally with funders and the field
• Contribute actionable insights from SPAA's learning agenda for strategic funder engagement opportunities to catalyze co-funding and cross actor collaboration
• Contribute synthesis and narrative development for quarterly Steering Committee reports and executive briefings that translate complex data into clear strategic recommendations
• Design annual impact reports for funders and public audiences, in collaboration with the broader SPAA team, to ensure that findings and insights are accessible and meet multiple audience information needs
• Support the design and facilitation of ecosystem convenings (e.g., CCAC Annual Meeting) that accelerate field-wide learning and strengthen the super pollutants community
• Contribute thought leadership content (reports, white papers, blog posts, speaking opportunities) that advances super pollutants as a priority and shares SPAA's catalytic philanthropy approach

The Ideal Candidate

You are naturally curious about how change happens and energized by making sense of complex information. You synthesize insights from diverse sources-grantee reports, data, conversations, field trends-into clear "so what" and "now what" recommendations. You're comfortable with both numbers and narratives, balancing rigor with pragmatism to design learning approaches that inform strategy while remaining practical for a fast-moving team.

You are collaborative and excel at both facilitation and execution-designing learning conversations while also building systems. You're highly organized, managing multiple projects while working closely within the operations team to integrate learning throughout SPAA's work. You adapt your communication style effortlessly across audiences and thrive in ambiguity, comfortable building something new under guidance. You're self-reflective, hungry to grow professionally, and see this role as an opportunity to develop your strategic thinking and impact measurement expertise. Above all, you're mission-driven and view learning as a means to accelerate real-world climate impact.

Specific Experience Requested:
We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position, lending their flair to the trajectory of the Learning and Impact Manager role. We welcome diverse experiences and perspectives in our applicant pool, and will be looking for candidates who possess many, but not necessarily all, of the following qualifications and experience. Consider applying if you are driven to enable evidence-based impact and have at least 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL): Designing and implementing learning systems, developing theories of change, or leading evaluation projects for progressive social impact organizations
• Philanthropy & Grantmaking: Impact assessment, portfolio management, or learning functions within foundations, giving collaboratives, or philanthropic intermediaries
• Strategy Consulting: Helping organizations develop impact strategies, design measurement frameworks, or use data to inform strategic decisions
• Organizational Learning: Building knowledge management systems, facilitating strategic learning processes, or leading adaptive management initiatives
• Preferred but not required: Experience working in the Global South, in climate, environment, or energy sectors; familiarity with super pollutants or air quality issues; experience with philanthropic collaboratives or fiscal sponsorship models.

Additional Information:

• This will be a full-time (40 hours/week) role and will require some flexibility in order to collaborate with stakeholders across multiple time zones.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically or internationally ~25% time.
• Please note that the successful candidate will undergo reference checks prior to starting employment.

Workplace, Compensation & Application

Workplace & Travel: This position is based in either our San Francisco or Washington D.C. office (2 days per week in person). A remote option is possible in a time zone with at least a 4-hour overlap with 9am-5pm EST and 4 working days every other month in our San Francisco office.

Compensation: SPAA and Multiplier provide a comprehensive compensation package, including competitive salary ($110,000-$130,000 annual salary; actual pay will vary based on experience), excellent medical and dental benefits, retirement savings, and generous vacation and sick leave policy.

How to Apply: To apply, please visit our Applicant Portal. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received on or before Sunday, October 18, 2026. Please include:

• Your resume
• A ½ page cover letter explaining your interest in the role

We respectfully request no follow-up calls or emails.