House of Impact Talent Solutions (HOI) successfully placed a senior research leader at a rapidly growing climate tech research house. As the founders completed their Series A funding, they needed a leader to drive research excellence, build a high-performing team, and represent the company as a thought leader in the climate tech sector. This summary outlines the opportunity, HOI's approach, and the outcome, highlighting our expertise in executive search for mission-driven, climate-focused organizations.

Building Research Leadership for a Climate Tech Scale-Up

The climate tech research house's mission is to help organizations measure, manage, and reduce carbon emissions with precision and transparency. Their subscription intelligence platform provides actionable insights to investors, corporates, and governments, supporting the deployment of climate tech solutions and the transition to a net zero economy.

With new Series A funding, the founders identified a critical need for a senior leader to expand and guide their research function. The ideal candidate would:

• Demonstrate deep expertise in climate tech areas such as industrial decarbonization, energy transition, carbon capture, batteries, or mining and metals.
• Lead and develop a team of analysts, fostering both technical excellence and professional growth.
• Design and implement robust research methodologies to ensure data accuracy and relevance.
• Translate complex research into actionable insights for a range of audiences, including investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.
• Represent the organization at conferences and events, strengthening its position as a leading source of climate tech intelligence.
• Show strong commercial acumen and understand the economic implications of climate innovation.

The search required a unique combination of technical depth, leadership capability, and communication skills. These qualities were essential for scaling the organization's impact in a fast-changing market.

HOI's Targeted Executive Search Approach

HOI developed a comprehensive search strategy, mapping the talent landscape across several sectors:

• Sell-side research at banks and boutiques
• Investment managers
• Data providers
• Consultancies with climate-focused teams
• Academia, NGOs, and think tanks

We prioritized candidates with a proven record in climate technology research, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement. The process included:

• Rigorous screening for subject matter expertise in key climate tech sectors.
• Assessment of leadership experience, especially in building and managing research teams.
• Evaluation of communication skills, both written and verbal, through work samples and scenario-based interviews.
• Analysis of candidates' ability to synthesize complex data into actionable frameworks for commercial and policy audiences.
• Consideration of cultural fit and passion for climate tech innovation.

Shortlisted candidates included professionals from leading research organizations, consultancies, and investment firms. Each candidate brought unique strengths, but all demonstrated the core competencies required: technical expertise, analytical rigor, leadership, and the ability to drive thought leadership in the climate tech space.

Placing a Transformational Research Leader

After a competitive process, the placed candidate was selected. Their profile matched the five key qualifying criteria:

1. Technical Expertise: The placed candidate brought deep knowledge in industrial decarbonization, energy transition, and emerging climate technologies. They had a history of producing influential research in these areas
2. Research Leadership: The placed candidate had led multidisciplinary teams, developed research methodologies, and managed complex projects across multiple climate tech sectors.
3. Analytical and Communication Skills: Their work showed exceptional analytical depth and a talent for translating complex findings into clear, actionable insights for investors, corporates, and policymakers.
4. Stakeholder Engagement: The placed candidate was a recognized thought leader, frequently presenting at industry events and engaging with clients, partners, and the broader climate tech ecosystem.
5. Commercial Acumen: The placed candidate understood the economic and market implications of climate innovation, which allowed them to align research outputs with the organization's commercial objectives and client needs.

Their appointment enabled the climate tech research house to:

• Expand its research capacity and coverage across critical climate tech sectors.
• Enhance the quality and impact of its market intelligence and analytics.
• Strengthen its reputation as a trusted source of climate tech insights for investors, corporates, and governments.
• Accelerate the development of new research products and methodologies, supporting clients' decarbonization journeys.