Senior Director, Climate Solutions

Location: DC Metro Area

Type: Full-Time

Industry: Non-Profit

Job Summary

Our established non-profit client is seeking a Senior Director for Climate Solutions to lead the organization’s efforts to make public lands and waters part of the solution to the climate crisis. The Senior Director will work collaboratively with leaders across the organization to set strategy and annual performance measures, establish and oversee discretionary budget, and help maintain external partnerships. To be successful in this role, the Senior Director will be skilled at anticipating and responding to opportunities and unexpected events that affect their team’s ability to meet objectives, while maintaining focus on long-term strategy.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following areas:

  • Lead big-picture strategic planning informed by deep understanding of federal public lands law, climate science and ongoing analysis of politics.
  • Lead integrated cross-departmental teams responsible for oversight of program of work, including making final decisions on strategy and budget and ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities.
  • Facilitate collaboration and integration of talent and skills through cross functional teams
  • Oversee annual and multi-year planning processes to ensure the work is focused on priorities and driving equitable outcomes.
  • Help set and manage a discretionary budget that supports multiple campaigns, projects, and other lines of work.
  • Help design and oversee successful implementation of processes and systems that ensure clarity of roles and decision making within and across cross-functional teams.
  • Directly line manage team of staff responsible for project management, campaign advocacy and policy development.
  • Consistently contribute to an inclusive and welcoming organizational culture by modeling key equity competencies including understanding of the foundations of equity such as implicit bias, white privilege, and group identities (and the cultural and historical context of those identities within the organization, nation, and world), and hold direct reports accountable to equity competencies and how their actions impact as an inclusive and equitable workplace.
  • Serve as key partner to Philanthropy staff to cultivate and steward donors supporting Climate Solutions work.
  • Assist in developing strategic partnerships with relevant environmental advocacy, social justice, labor, tribal, and other entities with an emphasis on organizations representing Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the Vice Presidents of Strategy & Results and Conservation Programs and other Executive program leaders.
  • Work with External Affairs to set and drive a narrative in communications to current and potential advocates; work with staff to write program updates, memos and content for various communication channels.
  • Serve as a national spokesperson at meetings and events, as appropriate.

Role Requirements

  • At least 10 years of experience in public policy, political, social work, non-profit management or related field, with a keen interest in the environment, advocacy, civic engagement, and/or community organizing.
  • Strong, proven project management and campaign leadership skills.
  • Demonstrated experience leading and managing cross-functional teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives toward major program goals/outcomes. This includes a track record of successful recruitment, cultivation, and retention of highly skilled staff across race and gender identity.
  • Effective and inclusive management skills including experience working productively across difference (i.e., gender identity, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic background).
  • Ability and interest in researching and drafting policy and issue briefs/memos.
  • Exemplary skills in oral, written, and online communication.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and productively including managing misunderstandings and conflicts.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and intercultural competence, combined with a commitment to being part of and skills to contribute to an anti-racist organization that is committed to equity and inclusion.
  • Ability to travel within the U.S.
  • Comfort with ambiguity, flexibility, and adapting to shifting priorities and plans.
  • Familiarity with non-profit fundraising and experience managing grants is highly regarded.

This organization offers a full suite of benefits and salary is commensurate with years of experience.

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