[Hiring] Senior Fellows @Multiplier

Role Description

As coastal cities face intensifying climate impacts, many of the federal systems they rely on — for resilience, data, permitting, disaster recovery, coastal management, environmental justice, and more — are being actively dismantled, weakened, or eroded. Despite this, cities, often working alongside states and regional partners, remain the most durable and ambitious engines of climate leadership. Senior Fellows will focus on the systems, programs, and institutional conditions that shape urban climate resilience and adaptation in coastal cities in the United States.

UOL’s theory of change rests on two principles:

• Local action is where climate solutions take root. Municipal and state climate leaders need support to continue advancing climate initiatives while navigating the funding, regulatory, and data gaps.
• Governance systems must evolve — structurally, programmatically, and culturally — so they meaningfully support local climate leadership, even during times of political change or federal retrenchment.

The fellowship is designed to generate visionary, strategic, and implementable ideas, tools, and pathways that strengthen coastal and urban climate resilience, supporting near-term progress while also informing longer-term systems change at the local, state, and federal level. The project proposal should be grounded in real-world conditions and may focus on one or more of the following interconnected areas:

• Strengthening urban climate resilience delivery under instability
• Creating durable frameworks, tools, or platforms that help cities become more resilient to climate impacts, such as flooding, heat, storms, or infrastructure stress
• Identifying pathways to influence climate priorities across levels of government that affect urban resilience outcomes
• Reimagining governance and partnerships for coastal resilience
• Building coalitions, networks, or governance innovations that advance coastal and urban climate programs
• Rebuilding climate programs and functions critical to coastal communities
• Mapping or prototyping next-generation climate program functions such as resilient funding infrastructure, modernized data systems, or new mission areas

These examples are illustrative, not limiting. We welcome any ambitious idea that strengthens how climate programs and policies are implemented in coastal cities.

Qualifications

• Direct experience working in or with cities, states, tribal governments, or coastal communities — including local implementation, resilience planning, or community-driven climate work
• Insight into how government systems affect local action, including where they succeed, where they fail, and how recent federal changes impact cities and frontline communities
• A track record of producing rigorous policy, strategy, or systems-level work
• Creativity, independence, and strong execution ability
• Ability to engage diverse partners across government, community organizations, and other partners

Requirements

• Problem + Opportunity: A sharp, locally grounded problem statement.
• The Idea: A compelling vision for the program, system, or delivery approach you aim to strengthen or reimagine.
• Plan of Work (12 months): A clear, phased roadmap with engagement and early value creation.
• Partnerships + Impact: How the work gains traction and scales.
• Qualifications: Why you are well-positioned to lead this work.
• Project-Related Expenses: A brief estimate of anticipated project costs (excluding compensation).
• Additional Materials: Optional writing samples or alternate project ideas, two references, resume.

Benefits

• Up to 12 months of full-time compensation and benefits, with a salary range between $100-150K commensurate with experience
• Limited funding for project-related expenses, including travel, convenings, research assistance, or technical needs
• Strategic partnership and collaboration with UOL’s leadership and policy team
• Connections across UOL’s network, including city leaders, federal partners, researchers, and community organizations
• Visibility and amplification for fellowship outputs through UOL communications, convenings, as well as broader press and media partnerships, and public-facing events

Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of March 27, 2026. We aim to announce fellows selected by May 2026.

Informational Webinar: A recording of the informational webinar can be found here . Passcode: Ja#e1%%U