Deputy Director, Aggregate

About Renaissance Philanthropy Renaissance Philanthropy is a nonprofit with a mission to fuel a 21st-century renaissance by increasing the ambition of philanthropists, scientists and innovators. The organization builds time-bound, thesis-driven philanthropic funds to support ideas that advance entire fields. Renaissance Philanthropy has a proven track record of partnerships with global funders and organizations across the private and public sectors, including The Walton Family Foundation, Coefficient Giving, the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), and Germany’s SPRIND. In its first two years, it has catalyzed $533M for science, innovation, and technology, including $268M in funding raised for initiatives housed at Renaissance Philanthropy and $265M of funding unlocked directly for other organizations. About the Aggregate Fund Aggregate helps commercialize low-carbon cement and concrete at scale by clearing the interlocking barriers that stall market adoption. It is a global philanthropic fund at Renaissance Philanthropy, anchored by Builders Vision Philanthropy. Cement accounts for roughly 7–8% of global CO₂ emissions. Many technologies and strategies already exist to cut cement and concrete emissions without sacrificing performance, but they are not reaching the market fast enough. The barriers come down to market formation, and they are interlocking: no single actor can clear them alone, and they don't look the same in every market. Aggregate concentrates on four levers: Codes and standards: Standards and specifications are adopted market by market, so a performance-based standard approved in one geography rarely carries over to the next. Demand aggregation: Demand for low-carbon cement is scattered across buyers and regions, and has yet to add up to the clear, sustained signal producers need before investing in new supply. Financing: Low-carbon cement facilities require large, long-term investment that neither public nor private capital is currently structured to supply at the pace the transition needs. Testing and technical capacity: Specifiers won't approve a material they can't verify, and testing capacity and performance data for low-carbon products remain limited and difficult to access across stakeholders. Because cement is produced and sold in regional markets that are highly sensitive to local regulations, norms, and standards, Aggregate is developing regional accelerators that coordinate action on all four levers at once in a single market. The first three regional accelerators in the United States will launch in the first quarter of 2027, expanding to six worldwide. The Cement Platform holds the work together by convening the sector, engaging technical experts, and publishing results, so that a market solution in one region becomes a template for the next. Aggregate's strategy was informed by an 18-month scoping process, including end-to-end market and ecosystem analysis, deep dives into specific technologies, and interviews with more than 50 experts across industry, philanthropy, policy, and finance. We are now hiring a Deputy Director to help take the program from design to delivery. Role Overview The Deputy Director will be Aggregate's senior technical and operational leader, responsible for helping to design, launch, and manage Aggregate's regional accelerators. Reporting to the Director, the Deputy Director will oversee on-the-ground delivery in the first three U.S. accelerators and will shape how the model expands to additional markets worldwide. The Deputy Director will also help steer Aggregate's work on codes and standards, which are foundational to creating a pathway for market adoption and scale of low-carbon cement and concrete across regions. This is an opportunity to build something that doesn't yet exist: coordinated, region-by-region market infrastructure that moves proven low-carbon cement and concrete from technical readiness to standard practice. The role calls for deep technical fluency in cement and concrete, credibility with buyers, project developers, suppliers, specifiers, and public agencies, and the ability to align stakeholders across a fragmented value chain around shared goals. Role and Responsibilities Regional Accelerators (primary focus, ~50%) - Help design and then manage the overall operations of Aggregate's first three regional accelerators in the United States, beginning in the first quarter of 2027, and help shape the pathway to six accelerators worldwide. - Lead market selection for new accelerators, evaluating supply-side readiness (available products, planned capacity, supplier and producer interest) and demand-side tailwinds (procurement mechanisms, buyer commitments, regulatory environment) across candidate geographies. - Develop and implement market-specific portfolios of interventions across all four levers: codes and standards, demand aggregation, financing, and testing and technical capacity. - Identify and support embedded government champions (e.g., within a Governor's Office or state transportation or economic development agency) and technical partners to anchor each accelerator. - Oversee each accelerator's four central responsibilities: leading tailored market interventions, convening stakeholders to coordinate and drive progress, evaluating progress against deployment targets, and sharing insights across the field. - Engage producers, suppliers, ready-mix companies, contractors, and designers alongside technical partners to advance market readiness and support public and private sector procurement. - Build the monitoring and evaluation framework for the accelerators, tracking milestones such as revised codes and specifications, new procurement commitments, testing capacity, and product deployment by geography. Codes and Standards (~20%) - Guide Aggregate's strategy to harmonize codes and standards, advancing performance-based frameworks (e.g., ASTM C1157, ISO 22965) over prescriptive rules that exclude lower-carbon formulations, so products proven in one market can advance more quickly in the next. - Engage standards and codes bodies and anchor partners to align on priorities and contributions. - Support harmonization of carbon-intensity measurement, including Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) methodologies and thresholds. - Engage public and private buyers (e.g., Buy Clean states, state DOTs, Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance, Mission Possible Partnership, First Movers Coalition, Concrete Zero members, among others) to adopt harmonized definitions and standards, and track progress on product-level emissions data and adoption. Cement Platform and Field-Building (~15%) - Help shape the Cement Platform as coordination infrastructure for the sector, engaging technical experts and publishing insights for policymakers, procurement leads, contractors, design professionals, and other key stakeholders. - Translate accelerator results into templates and guidance that other regions and institutions can adopt, supporting Aggregate's goal of transferring what works to institutions that can carry it further. - Represent Aggregate at key meetings and convenings with industry, policymakers, technical partners, and potential collaborators, and originate new initiatives based on emerging regulatory, technical, and market opportunities. Leadership, Strategy, and Fundraising (~15%) - Serve as a thought partner to the Director on strategy and help refine Aggregate’s theory of change as markets evolve. - Manage relationships with grantees and partners, as well as assist the Director with program budget and grant portfolio oversight. - Support fundraising and funder engagement, including developing materials and presenting the technical case for Aggregate's approach to prospective funders and investors. Required Qualifications - 10+ years of experience in the cement, concrete, or construction materials industry, or in closely related technical roles, with deep knowledge of industry dynamics, supply chains, and key players. - Strong technical fluency in cement and concrete materials science, including supplementary cementitious materials and clinker substitution, as well as deep knowledge of industry practices and specifications for low-carbon cement and concrete products. - Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder programs or market transformation efforts from design through execution, including managing partners, budgets, and teams. - Credibility and relationships with producers, specifiers, standards bodies, and government stakeholders, and the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences. - Ability to prioritize, organize, and deliver in a fast-paced, ambitious, and uncertain environment. Preferred Qualifications - Degree in civil, structural, or chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree or Professional Engineer (PE) license a plus. - Experience working with or within standards-development organizations (e.g., ASTM International, ISO, CEN) or codes bodies (e.g., International Code Council, AASHTO). - Experience with public procurement, Buy Clean initiatives, state DOTs, or state and national government engagement on climate or infrastructure policy. - Familiarity with project finance or offtake structures for industrial facilities. - Track record of building or scaling regional or international programs across multiple geographies. Values You will thrive within our team, if you: - Have strong mission and vision alignment: You believe that clearing market barriers, region by region, can unlock low-carbon cement and concrete at scale. - Exhibit high agency: You can move mountains and break perceived constraints. - Inspire others and are highly collaborative: You can motivate others to join your mission and goals. You understand the value of going further by working with others. - Value exceptional talent and the power of networks: You can spot or nurture exceptional talent and believe in the value of building networks and the power law of talent. - Are comfortable working in fast-moving and ambitious teams: You are not afraid of ambiguity and enjoy working at pace. Location and travel: Remote (U.S.), with travel of up to 30% to accelerator regions and key convenings. Salary: The salary range for this position is $150,000–$170,000, along with an extensive benefits package, including health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), retirement plan options with employer matching, unlimited paid time off, and additional stipends for wellness, transportation, and telecommunications. Benefits may vary based on location and employment status. Diversity We encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply, regardless of whether you feel you meet 100% of the qualifications. The top candidates will bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds from a variety of industries along with many but not necessarily all the skills listed above. Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce is critical to our success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Renaissance Philanthropy is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Next Steps