Biological Methane Removal Senior Fellow

One-Year Part-Time Hourly Appointment • Programs, Methane Removal

‍Please note: This is a part-time, hourly role for one year. There is also a one-year, full-time position posted for this same role,  We will hire one person—part-time or full-time—across these two positions.

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Applications submitted by April 26th will receive priority consideration, but the job will remain open until filled.

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About Spark

We are a science-driven, philanthropically funded nonprofit that accelerates progress on unsolved climate challenges. Our goal is to enable a safer climate by filling targeted gaps in current climate action. We look around the corner at the key blind spots that pose big climate risks or offer big climate opportunities—like major sources of unabated emissions—then work to speed up development of the fields needed to address those challenges. Rather than betting on individual pathways, we work to grow fields as a whole so the most effective science and solutions can be surfaced and scaled. We use a large suite of field-building tools to support new research, markets, policies, and talent development, through both in-house initiatives and broader coalitions. We are currently focused on super pollutants from agriculture, warming-induced greenhouse gas emissions, and methane removal.

About the Methane Removal Program

Methane emissions account for roughly 30% of current global warming, and even with aggressive reductions, atmospheric concentrations are expected to remain elevated due to hard-to-abate sources—including warming-induced emissions from permafrost and wetlands. Methane removal has emerged as a potential strategy to help manage this risk by accelerating the natural breakdown of atmospheric methane, but the field is at an early stage and in need of foundational research, coordination, and rigorous assessment of different potential pathways. Spark's Methane Removal program accelerates the assessment of the viability of methane removal to inform the broader climate solutions portfolio. We work across science, engagement, funding, and governance to help determine—more quickly than would otherwise be possible—whether methane removal can be a viable option for reducing climate risk.

Position Summary

This position is a unique opportunity to explore and advance the very early-stage field of biological methane removal approaches, by identifying and ideating potential novel climate mitigation approaches, and prioritizing and advancing key scientific work needed to test these ideas.

The first six months will focus on a comprehensive literature review and relationship-building across the biological methane removal research community to identify Spark’s highest-leverage entry points. The second six months will translate those findings into action—developing a funding solicitation and seeing it through the full grants process to award. This position reports directly to Methane Removal Program Director Megan Melamed.

Position Goals

Months 1–6: Landscape Assessment

• Lead a rigorous literature review of biological methane removal, with a focus on methanotrophs, synthesizing the state of the science, key knowledge gaps, and most
  promising research directions.
• Draw on existing scientific relationships and networks to ground the assessment in current research practice and community thinking.
• Identify Spark’s highest-leverage entry point for biological approaches—where targeted investment could most meaningfully advance the field.
• Produce a clear written assessment to guide internal strategy and inform external communications.

Months 7–12: Solicitation Development and Grants

• Lead development of a funding solicitation based on the landscape assessment findings, including scientific framing, eligibility criteria, and evaluation rubric.
• Manage the full solicitation process: outreach, proposal review, scientific evaluation, and grant awards.
• Contribute to program communications summarizing findings and grantmaking outcomes for internal and external audiences.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scientific Guidance and Research

• Provide expert scientific guidance on biological methane removal to the Program Director and program team.
• Lead the landscape review and synthesize findings into high-quality written outputs, including assessment reports and solicitation materials.
• Evaluate grant proposals for scientific merit, strategic alignment, and contribution to the broader field.

Knowledge Integration and Field Building

• Leverage established relationships across the research community to strengthen Spark’s understanding of current practice and emerging directions.
• Contribute to thought leadership outputs such as perspective pieces, white papers, and field assessments.
• Support engagement with key scientific stakeholders and partners to advance foundational research on biological methane removal.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in microbiology, biochemistry, environmental science, or a closely related field.
• 15+ years of combined professional and research experience; deep expertise in biological methane cycling, methanotrophs, or closely related systems.
• Track record of scientific leadership, including high-quality publications, reports, or applied research outputs.
• Ability to synthesize large bodies of literature and engage effectively with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Creativity and openness in exploring new potential climate solution pathways
• Experience working across disciplines, institutions, or sectors; genuine interest in applying scientific expertise to field-building or policy-relevant research.

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Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience in a scientific advisory, consulting, or part-time capacity with a nonprofit, government agency, or foundation.
• Established relationships within the biological methane removal, microbiology, or related research communities.
• Experience with grant-making processes, solicitation design, or research program development.
• Ability to evaluate scientific approaches through the lens of scalability, cost-effectiveness, and deployment feasibility — not just scientific merit.

Why Join Us

Spark Climate Solutions is a nimble, impact-focused nonprofit driving urgent progress on underinvested climate solutions. You’ll join a team of scientists, strategists, and systems thinkers working to shift the trajectory of global climate mitigation. This role offers the chance to make a material difference on some of the world’s most potent and overlooked emissions sources.

Location

As with all positions at Spark Climate Solutions, this will be 100% remote. Employees can work anywhere within the United States, or internationally with approval. Travel expectations are minimal and will be discussed with candidates based on scope and availability.

Compensation & Benefits

$80 - $110 an hour

For part-time employees, Spark offers pro-rated PTO based on hours worked, sick time, and 401k matching

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*We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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