Climate Change and Energy Program Director

WHO WE ARE

CivicWell supports sustainable policies and the community leaders who implement them. As a nonprofit organization, we inspire, equip, connect, and cultivate leaders working toward a more sustainable and resilient future. We know that innovation happens when communities name their own challenges and define their own visions. Through policy guidance, collaborative partnerships, and direct planning and technical assistance, we support and equip communities to bring those visions to life.

About Us: https://civicwell.org/about-us/

DEI STATEMENT

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are central to our mission and work at CivicWell. As we endeavor to support sustainable solutions and the communities that implement them, we approach each project with a DEI lens and infuse our values into our work.

Supporting local leaders in building healthy, thriving, and climate-resilient communities includes working toward equitable access to transportation options, housing, clean air and water, reliable and renewable energy, and safe public spaces. Local vision always leads our work, and we are committed to ensuring that processes are inclusive and marginalized voices are centered.

Our vision is to foster and nurture a community that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive for our staff, partners, and the communities with whom we engage; and CivicWell is committed to embracing this path as an organization.

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic leader with experience working on climate change adaptation and resilience, climate equity, and/or clean energy initiatives in California to join CivicWell as our Climate Change and Energy Program Director. The Director is a senior member of CivicWell’s Leadership Team and reports directly to the CEO, playing a pivotal role in achieving CivicWell’s mission through the Climate Change and Energy Program and influencing organization-wide strategic planning and decision-making.

This is an exciting time to join CivicWell to support California’s growing community of climate and energy practitioners in advancing equitable and impactful policies, plans, and projects. CivicWell’s Climate Change and Energy portfolio includes a variety of high-impact coalition programs, projects, and conferences with statewide and national recognition. These include the Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA), the California Adaptation Forum (CAF), the California Climate and Energy Collaborative (CCEC), the California Resilience Partnership (CRP), the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRCRC), and the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition (LGSEC).

The Director is responsible for communicating a clear and compelling vision, providing strategic direction, and maximizing the impact of CivicWell’s Climate Change and Energy Program. The Director will guide and oversee the administration, coordination, delivery, and development of the Program, centering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Justice in all aspects of program design and implementation. The Director is also responsible for supporting the growth, development, and cohesion of the Climate Change and Energy Team, directly supervising three managers, and supporting CivicWell in building internal capacity.

This is a full-time, exempt position with the option to work remotely from a location within California or to work a hybrid in-office/remote schedule from CivicWell’s Sacramento office.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Ideal candidates will demonstrate their ability to skillfully execute all of the following responsibilities through CivicWell’s DEI Lens. Additional duties may be required as organizational and programmatic needs evolve.

Thought Leadership and Strategic Direction

• Enhance the visibility and impact of the Climate Change and Energy Program by developing a clear and compelling vision; actively engaging in California’s climate adaptation, resilience, and mitigation ecosystem; and building relationships with strategic partners
• Stay abreast of developments in the climate adaptation/resilience, climate equity, and climate mitigation/energy fields by attending strategic meetings and workshops, reviewing written publications, and engaging in other methods to deepen subject matter expertise
• Identify emerging trends, opportunities, threats, and needs and—in collaboration with the Leadership Team—develop strategies to advance CivicWell’s mission as the climate field evolves
• Maintain awareness of and active engagement in climate- and energy-related policy development, and work with the Policy Director to guide CivicWell’s policy positions and engagement strategies
• Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise to inspire, advise, and support staff and partners, as well as to advance the climate adaptation and mitigation fields at-large
• Coordinate with the Leadership Team to ensure alignment across program areas to advance CivicWell’s strategic priorities and to identify and pursue opportunities for cross-program collaboration

Budget Oversight, Management, and Fundraising

• Ensure financial viability through effective budgeting, tracking, and successful fundraising efforts
• Lead Program budget development, forecasting, and oversight with the Finance Team’s support
• Identify and address Program delivery challenges, adjust project plans and timelines accordingly, and monitor staff to ensure budget and revenue targets are met
• In collaboration with the Leadership Team, track funding opportunities, coordinate cross-program proposals, and explore and pursue creative fundraising strategies and program models to ensure long-term budget stability and growth
• Lead the development of proposals and grant applications to launch new climate change and energy projects that address community-defined needs, leverage existing strengths, and provide opportunities for growth

Program Delivery

• Ensure the timely development and completion of high-quality project deliverables and reports within CivicWell’s Climate Change and Energy portfolio in accordance with project contracts and coalition program bylaws
• Coach project managers in the development of project work plans to align with project constraints (e.g., budget and timeline) and to support organizational and programmatic strategic priorities
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with project funders, partners, and stakeholders to collaborate effectively and achieve project goals and objectives
• Based on project scopes and team needs, lead and support project activities that would benefit from Director-level involvement including the development of policy platforms, comment letters, conference and workshop programs, engagement strategies, marketing and outreach materials, evaluation metrics, and reports
• Provide policy guidance, technical assistance, expert facilitation, and capacity building support to project teams, partners, and participants and represent CivicWell as a subject matter expert in presentations, meetings, advisory committees and written publications

Team Leadership and Development

• Actively engage in Leadership Team decisions and communicate, and uphold organizational policies, procedures, strategies, and decisions regarding HR, Finance, Operations, and Programs
• Proactively communicate priorities, ideas, issues, and concerns raised by Program team members to the Leadership Team for consideration and response
• Cultivate a cohesive and impact-oriented team culture by modeling compassionate leadership and healthy work-life balance; developing effective operational systems; nurturing a collaborative team environment; and serving as a coach, advisor, and mentor to staff
• Directly supervise project managers, providing guidance for managers’ supervision of their own direct reports, and support Program Team members in successfully carrying out their responsibilities through accountability systems and professional development
• Lead annual strategic planning activities for the Program and regularly scheduled team meetings to coordinate project work, assess team capacity, share field learnings and ideas, provide training, and collaborate with the HR department to recruit, onboard, provide professional training and development and address performance issues as needed

 QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will possess the following desired qualifications and core competencies to satisfactorily perform the responsibilities of the position. Candidates must also be able to meet the additional requirements of the position listed below.

Desired Qualifications

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field such as in public policy, environmental science, or urban and regional planning
• 6+ years of experience leading projects, programs, and initiatives in the climate change sector, with a strong preference for experience working in California
• 4+ years of team management, budgeting, and successful proposal/grant application development
• 4+ years of experience managing 6-figure project budgets and developing successful proposals and grant applications
• 4+ years of experience facilitating multi-sector, multi-disciplinary coalitions, collaboratives, networks, and committees
• Demonstrated leadership in centering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Justice in program design, implementation, and decision-making with a track record of partnering with community leaders, Indigenous leaders, community-based organizations, tribal organizations, and/or environmental justice groups

Core Competencies

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment, integrity, social impact dedication
• Emotional intelligence, situational awareness, diplomacy, strategic thinking, adaptability and mentorship
• Proactive communication, relationship building, and growth mindset

Other Requirements

• Work Environment: This is a hybrid position with the option to work primarily from a remote location within California. Candidates based in the Sacramento area may choose to work a hybrid in-office/remote schedule from our Sacramento office.
• Travel: This position requires travel for meetings and events in regions across California, once a month on average and more frequently based on organizational and project needs. Occasional domestic travel outside of California may be required. Travel may include: public transportation, rideshare, driving, train, air, etc.
• Physical Requirements: This position requires occasional moving of boxes and/or other items not heavier than 35 lbs. This position also requires extensive time in front of a computer screen and is mostly a sedentary position (sitting). Accommodations may be requested for these requirements based on demonstrated need.

COMPENSATION

CivicWell supports staff by providing opportunities for professional development and training in a collaborative work environment. A strong work-life balance is encouraged and supported through flexible work schedules, a focus on staff engagement, and employee appreciation. Staff have the opportunity to engage and participate in both internal and external organizational initiatives and play an important role in an organization that is positively impacting communities across California. This position is full-time and exempt. The annual full-time starting salary range for this position is $101,920 – $128,960 depending on qualifications.

CivicWell’s benefits package includes:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage
• 15 days of vacation (first 2 years), 20 days of vacation (years 3 and on)
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Access to CivicWell’s Employee Assistance Program
• 401K retirement plan with an employer contribution which is currently up to 4% of salary. Full-time employees are eligible to participate in the plan after 90 days of employment and will become eligible for the 4% employer match after 1 year of employment.
• Other ancillary benefits that are not covered by CivicWell

 HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should email their resume and cover letter describing their qualifications and interest in the position along with three professional references to HR@civicwell.org.

Candidates must use the following headings and labels when submitting their applications.References should be included directly in the email body.

• Email subject line: Climate Change & Energy Program Director Application [Full Name]
• Cover Letter attachment: Cover Letter [Full Name]
• Resume attachment: Resume [Full Name]

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

CivicWell is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, religion, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions, disability, marital status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Our agency embraces a diverse and culturally rich workforce, and is committed to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.