Director of Climate

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Climate’s specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:

Program Development and Oversight

• Develop and implement a comprehensive climate strategy in close collaboration with leadership and staff. Drive the development and implementation of cutting-edge climate programs and initiatives. Evaluate emerging trends and opportunities for expanding the Climate portfolio and identify innovative directions for growth.

• Lead the Climate team including providing strategic direction and day-to-day management and oversight of programs, budgets, and staff. Manage team performance, including assigning and directing work, evaluating performance, delivering timely and constructive feedback, and supporting professional development.

• Monitor and report on the progress of climate initiatives, ensuring alignment with our overall mission and objectives and incorporating learning into program activities.

• Review staff recommendations on pre-proposals and proposals and approve grants and contracts.

Fundraising to Develop Resources for Climate Work

• Secure funding and resources to support the growth and sustainability of our climate programs. In collaboration with RLF’s Development Team, develop and execute a strategic fundraising plan for climate initiatives, including identifying potential donors, grants, and funding opportunities. Track and report on fundraising progress.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with existing and potential donors, ensuring effective communication and stewardship. Develop and oversee grant proposals, funding reports, and donor communications related to climate programs.

• Participate in fundraising events, campaigns, and activities to generate financial support for climate projects.

Cross-Cutting Leadership and Organizational Responsibilities

• Build collaborative relationships with colleagues. Help build climate knowledge internally at RLF and learn about other areas of RLF’s work. Identify opportunities for program and project synergy across teams and departments.

• Analyze climate-related policies and collaborate with staff to engage on key issues.

• Work with grants administration staff to deploy grant funding effectively.

• Represent RLF with external audiences and manage relationships with partners.

Ideal Candidate

RLF seeks a strategic, visionary, equity-driven leader with robust experience in successful nature-based and equity-focused climate policy development, advocacy, partnership, and funder engagement. This leader will have deep skills in building or reshaping a climate-focused department, creating and driving strategic plans, collaborating with other programmatic areas, and driving successful fundraising efforts. 

The ideal candidate will have a record of winning policy campaigns, partnering with grassroots, state, and national organizations, mentoring and supervising staff, and being a climate expert and leader within an organization. The inaugural Director of Climate will have experience intersecting conservation and climate justice. Experience leading climate work in California and the West Coast is a plus.

Qualifications

With the understanding that no person will offer every desired skill and characteristic outlined below, compelling candidates will offer much of the following:

• At least 10 years of experience in advancing programs and strategies related to climate. Experience with climate policy development, 501(c)(4) advocacy strategies, coalition building, and partnership engagement, and fundraising highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing successful strategies in the fields of nature-based climate solutions and climate adaptation and resilience.
• Demonstrated experience working with climate funders and in advancing philanthropic proposals for climate, conservation, and equity outcomes.
• Commitment to working creatively and in collaboration with diverse partners to advance impactful climate, conservation, and environmental justice policies and funding, even in challenging political environments.
• Experience building and managing effective teams of staff, advisors, and consultants.
• Extensive working knowledge of climate and environmental policy, processes, and politics, and a deep contact network in these areas. California experience is a strong plus.
• Exceptional composition, editing, and spoken communication skills. Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources into lucid, cohesive, and compelling written products that are attentive to tone, style, and audience. Critical eye for grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
• Experience developing and tracking outcomes and metrics to understand and improve the effectiveness of programs, campaigns, and advocacy strategies.
• Capacity to manage and coordinate simultaneous projects, and to respond rapidly and appropriately to changing priorities and situations.
• Technological ability to learn and consistently use RLF’s preferred systems and tools and adhere to confidentiality policies and procedures.
• Commitment to building and supporting a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Good judgment and ability to work with grace under pressure.
• Ability to travel.