Berkner Group

Startup hiring is always a challenge. Is 2024 shaping up to be even harder? Share your experience! #climatetechjobs, #climatetechhiring, #cleantechjobs

How do you create a job description that speaks directly to the climate tech leader or technical expert you need? Last week, we talked about defining your ideal candidate persona—getting clear on the skills, motivations, and values that make someone the perfect fit for your climate tech startup. Now, it's time to turn that persona into a message that grabs attention and inspires action. Think of it this way: you wouldn't miss the chance to wow a potential investor with a well-targeted pitch deck, right? The same goes for attracting top talent. You need to grab them from the start. So, how do you translate your ideal candidate persona into a job description that truly resonates? Let's break it down: 1. Lead with what matters most. What challenges do you need help solving, and what impact will that make? Make the candidate the hero. Paint a vivid picture of how this role will forward your mission. Show them how their work will contribute to a cleaner, greener future. The list of responsibilities and qualifications can wait until after you have their attention. 2. Speak their language: Use the keywords and phrases that matter to climate tech professionals. Think "sustainability," "renewable energy," “decarbonization,” and more. Tailor your language to their passion. 3. Highlight the growth potential: Climate tech is all about innovation and pushing boundaries. Show potential hires how your company will empower them to learn, grow, and make a real difference. 4. Infuse your culture: A few weeks ago, we talked about how to develop an EVP and work with your team to build and define your company’s culture. Let your company's personality shine through in the job description. Are you a team of outdoor enthusiasts? Are you curious, relentless or bold? Do you have a passion for freshwater restoration or sustainable farming? Let candidates know what it's really like to work with you. Remember, your job description isn't just about filling a position; it's about attracting the people who will help you change the world. Next week, we'll talk about using candidate personas to build a career page that showcases your company culture and attracts top talent. In the meantime, share your thoughts – what are your biggest challenges when it comes to writing job descriptions? Ready to hire your next team member? We're here to help - connect with Chris Berkner. #ClimateTechJobs #JobDescriptions #RecruitmentMarketing #GreenTechHiring #TalentAttraction

Our unique candidate scorecard process goes beyond traditional job descriptions to help climate tech startups find the right executive talent. Our collaborative approach empowers you to: -Clearly define your ideal candidate and company culture. -Attract top talent with a compelling and targeted search. -Leverage our expertise to refine your hiring strategy and achieve exceptional results. Partner with Berkner Group and build a leadership team that solves your biggest challenges. Reach out to schedule a scorecard session with Chris Berkner.

We understand that searching for exceptional climate tech talent can be challenging, but we work tirelessly until the position is filled because we genuinely care about our clients' success. Our clients are changing the world and moving us toward a more sustainable future. They deserve the best. How can we help you build your team? Subscribe to receive our reference check template, 5 essential interview questions and hiring tips. #executivesearch #climatetech #talentsearch #recruitment #startuphiring

Aether Fuels, a leader in sustainable fuels technology, sought a process engineer with a passion for scaling innovative solutions. We introduced them to Scott Tatro. Envisioning a net-zero world, Aether Fuels creates sustainable liquid fuels from low-cost and abundant waste carbon streams. Backed by AP Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, JetBlue Ventures, Foothill Ventures, TechEnergy Ventures, Doral Energy-Tech Ventures, CPD Ventures, Zeon Ventures Inc., and Xora Innovation, their solutions are making sustainable aviation and ocean shipping fuels more cost-effective. To refine their highly efficient Aurora technology—a unique process that innovates around third-party Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology, including 1. An electric tri-converter handling reverse water gas shift (RWGS), methane reforming and dry reforming, and 2. A novel FT product upgrader —they needed a senior process engineer with expertise in modeling, simulation, and optimization. Scott Tatro, a dedicated process engineer with Aspen HYSYS and RWGS reactors expertise and a proven track record in scaling biofuel production processes, quickly caught our attention. Scott's ability to model complex chemical processes and conduct thorough feasibility studies was exactly what Aether Fuels needed. Additionally, his collaborative approach and experience working across disciplines made him a natural fit for advancing their innovative Aurora process. We're thrilled to have connected Scott with Aether Fuels. His technical acumen and resourcefulness will be invaluable as they continue to advance their technology, driving the decarbonization of critical industries. Congratulations to both Scott and Aether Fuels! We partner with climate tech innovators to build world-class teams. If you're a climate tech startup looking to find the right team to help you grow, connect with Chris Berkner. #ProcessEngineering #SustainableFuels #CarbonTransformation #HiringSuccess #ClimateTech #Startups #AetherFuels #BerknerGroup

You've got your climate tech company's story ready to share. But who are you telling it to? In case you’re just joining us, we’ve been talking about what an employer brand is, how to develop a strong employee value proposition (EVP), and how to introduce your dedicated team and the unique culture you’ve built to the world. If you're new to this series and are just starting to think about your employer brand, be sure to check out our previous posts! This week we’re going to shift gears and talk about reaching the right audience for your message – the talented individuals who will help your company grow and push your technology forward. But before you start recruiting, it's crucial to define your ideal candidate persona. This isn't only about skills and experience; it's about understanding the motivations, values, and aspirations of the people who will thrive in your company and contribute to your mission. Your EVP can be a helpful starting point for this. Understanding who that candidate is, what they value most, what motivates them, and their vision for the future helps you speak directly to them. It certainly makes writing a job description a lot easier! To help you get started, try answering these questions: 1. Why do you need this candidate now? What challenge will they help you and your team solve? 2. What do you want them to accomplish over the next year? What experience and skills are absolutely essential, almost required, or nice to have? 3. What is their ideal leadership style and how do they communicate? 4. What motivates them at work and beyond? 5. What’s their ideal work environment (remote, in-office, hybrid) and culture? 6. Why would they want to work for a climate tech startup like yours? 7. What do they value MOST? Once you’ve answered those questions, consider what is absolutely essential or nice to have. The more specific you can be, the more likely you’ll attract the candidates who are the best fit for your company and culture. But what's the next step after you've built this ideal candidate persona? How do you translate that profile into a compelling message that resonates with the right talent and aligns with your company's mission? We'll tackle that question next week! In the meantime, what questions can we answer for you? Investing in your people is one of the most impactful decisions you can make. If you’re looking for your next leader, connect with Chris Berkner. #ClimateTechJobs #IdealCandidate #TalentAcquisition #GreenTechRecruitment

Why do climate tech startups choose Berkner Group for their executive searches? Our CEO shares the key reasons in this short video: deep industry experience, a sophisticated team, a proven approach, and a track record of delivering reliable results. We understand the unique challenges of the climate tech landscape and have the expertise and creativity to find the right leaders for your team. Want to learn more about how Berkner Group can help your startup thrive? Get in touch with Chris Berkner. #climatetechhiring #startuphiring

We don’t connect with companies. We connect with people. The most impactful brands are human brands. Last week, we talked about how to get your team on board with your Employer Value Proposition (EVP) and the importance of getting their feedback and allowing them to help build your company culture. Now it's time to introduce the world to your dedicated team and the company you’ve built together. Why Does Meeting Your Team Matter?   A mission is only as strong as the people behind it — and potential hires, customers, and partners want to meet those people. Showcasing your team's passion, challenges, and diverse perspectives will help attract candidates who connect with your team and feel they can bring something valuable to the table. It also helps build a sense of community and belonging for everyone. 4 Ways to Showcase Your Team and Culture 1. Create a brand video that shows your team at work and their raw, unfiltered perspectives (within reason). This could be a behind the scenes look at a project or a day where you sit and talk to your team, asking them about their thoughts and experiences so far. Candidates look for authenticity in these videos vs. produced or polished interviews. Embrace your quirks, show the fun moments and the not-so-fun moments and how you worked through it together. 2. Feature team members on your website and/or social media pages. Encourage them to share their career journey, what they most value in life, and what excites them about working in climate tech. For a dose of humor, you can ask them to share their favorite guilty pleasure song or movie. This is particularly good to do with new team members to help them feel welcome! 3. Create short videos or articles that give people a glimpse into the daily lives of your team. What does their office look like? What projects are they working on? What challenges are they facing? What was a win they had today? 4. Shout your successes from the rooftop and how each of your team members made it happen. What did they have to overcome? How did they work together to solve it? What was the end result? Good stories are at the heart of every powerful brand. Whether it’s the underdog or even the redeemable antagonist, we all love having someone to root for. Encourage people to root for your company! Looking for guidance on developing your EVP or employer brand? Our employer brand guide is in the works. Sign up to be notified when it's available for download: https://lnkd.in/gV3qsQrK

Hiring the right executives and making leadership changes can be daunting, but they’re often necessary for a startup to scale successfully. In this video, I share what I’ve learned about navigating the hiring process, including the importance of thorough vetting and partnering with experts. -Chris Berkner, CEO #startups #climatetech #climatetechhiring #startuphiring

Aether Fuels, a leader in sustainable fuels technology, needed a hands-on catalyst expert to drive their research. We introduced them to Richard Zhang. Envisioning a net-zero world, Aether Fuels creates sustainable liquid fuels from low-cost and abundant waste carbon streams. Backed by AP Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, JetBlue Ventures, Foothill Ventures, TechEnergy Ventures, Doral Energy-Tech Ventures, CPD Ventures, Zeon Ventures Inc., and Xora Innovation, their solutions are making eco-friendly aviation and ocean shipping fuels more cost-effective. They needed a Catalyst R&D engineer with deep expertise in catalyst development, process scale-up, and a passion for sustainable solutions. Richard Zhang, with over 20 years of experience in catalyst research and development at industry leaders like Honeywell UOP and W.R. Grace, was the ideal match. Richard’s track record in formulating new catalysts, scaling up processes from bench to plant, and troubleshooting in production environments made him an invaluable asset. His drive to develop sustainable fuel technologies and solve complex technical challenges aligns seamlessly with Aether's important mission. We're excited to have connected Richard with Aether Fuels. His passion for hands-on technical leadership will undoubtedly accelerate the company's progress in decarbonizing industries and building a cleaner future. Congratulations to both Richard and Aether Fuels! We partner with climate tech innovators to build exceptional leadership teams. Looking for guidance on how to find the right leaders for your team? Our employer brand guide is in the works. Sign up to be notified when it's available for download: https://lnkd.in/gV3qsQrK #CatalystEngineering #SustainableFuels #CarbonTransformation #HiringSuccess #ClimateTech #Startups #AetherFuels #BerknerGroup