Application Guide
How to Apply for Chief Technology Officer
at SkyTruth
🏢 About SkyTruth
SkyTruth is a unique conservation technology nonprofit that combines satellite imagery, AI, and open data to expose environmental threats and drive measurable climate action. Unlike typical tech companies, their mission directly tackles urgent global challenges like biodiversity loss and pollution, offering the chance to apply cutting-edge technology for tangible environmental impact. Working here means joining a team where technical innovation directly serves conservation goals, making it ideal for mission-driven technologists.
About This Role
As Chief Technology Officer at SkyTruth, you'll define the technology vision and roadmap for conservation tools, overseeing a team of 11 specialists in ML, geospatial data, and product development. This role is impactful because you'll directly enable scalable solutions that monitor environmental threats worldwide, from deforestation to illegal fishing, empowering activists and policymakers with free, accessible data. You'll bridge technical execution with strategic leadership, ensuring SkyTruth's platforms drive real-world conservation outcomes.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing progress on AI models for detecting environmental threats, mentoring team members on geospatial data challenges, and strategizing with product specialists on tool enhancements. You could also spend time communicating with funders about technology partnerships or preparing for a conference talk on SkyTruth's conservation innovations, all while ensuring robust deployment of data pipelines in Google Cloud.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who SkyTruth Is Looking For
- Has led and scaled technical teams in geospatial or remote sensing domains, with proven experience managing cross-disciplinary staff like ML engineers and data scientists.
- Possesses deep, hands-on expertise in Python-based AI/ML, geospatial analytics (e.g., SQL/QGIS), and cloud platforms like Google Cloud, enabling oversight of robust data pipelines and inference models.
- Demonstrates ability to communicate technical concepts to diverse audiences, from funders to conservation partners, and has experience representing an organization at public events.
- Is mission-aligned with SkyTruth's conservation goals, showing passion for applying technology to environmental accountability and climate action.
📝 Tips for Applying to SkyTruth
Highlight specific experience with geospatial analytics and remote sensing tools (e.g., QGIS, satellite data processing) in your resume, as this is core to SkyTruth's work.
Showcase examples of managing technical teams in a nonprofit or mission-driven environment, emphasizing how you've scaled solutions for social or environmental impact.
Tailor your application to mention SkyTruth's specific tools or projects, like their oil spill monitoring or deforestation alerts, to demonstrate genuine interest in their mission.
Include metrics on team leadership (e.g., team size growth, project outcomes) and technical achievements (e.g., model accuracy, pipeline efficiency) relevant to conservation technology.
Emphasize experience with Google Cloud and agile product development, as these are explicitly mentioned in the requirements for maintaining their platforms.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain how your technical leadership experience aligns with SkyTruth's mission, citing specific conservation or environmental projects you've contributed to.", "Detail your expertise in geospatial analytics and AI/ML, providing examples of scalable solutions you've developed for data-driven monitoring.", 'Describe your approach to mentoring diverse technical teams and fostering innovation in a remote, collaborative setting.', 'Highlight your ability to communicate with non-technical stakeholders, such as funders or conservation partners, to support partnership development.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore SkyTruth's open-source tools and platforms, such as their Global Fishing Watch or oil spill monitoring projects, to understand their technical stack and impact.
- → Review their recent blog posts, reports, or conference presentations to grasp current priorities, like AI-driven deforestation detection or biodiversity initiatives.
- → Investigate their partnerships with organizations like Google or conservation groups, noting how technology collaborations support their mission.
- → Familiarize yourself with key environmental challenges they address, such as illegal mining or marine protection, to contextualize the role's impact.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning geospatial expertise or conservation technology, as this role requires niche technical alignment.
- Overemphasizing corporate tech experience without demonstrating mission-driven work or nonprofit adaptability.
- Failing to provide concrete examples of team leadership or technical oversight in remote sensing, AI/ML, or cloud platforms.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!