Chief Program Officer

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

NRDC is seeking a Chief Program Officer to work in one of our U.S. based offices. NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.

 

Chief Program Officer Role Description:

 

The Chief Program Officer will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for NRDC’s program areas: Climate & Energy, Environmental Health, Nature, International, Finance & Economic Development, and Litigation, with a focus on the following three tasks: program strategy and management, fundraising and representation, and knowledge management. The position is a pivotal part of the senior management team that drives the overall strategy for the organization and represents NRDC (NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL) on a local, national, and international basis. The position oversees a budget of $100 million and a staff of approximately 350. The Chief Program Officer will be internally and externally focused, serving as a proxy for the president at various external events, in addition to fundraising responsibilities in partnership with Development.   

 

The Chief Program Officer will solid-line report into the Executive Director on day-to-day matters, and dotted-line report to the President and CEO for key strategy, staffing, and budget decisions. The CPO will also be a permanent member of the Executive Leadership Team.  

 

The CPO will have the following direct reports: 

• Chief Litigation Officer  

• SVP (Senior Vice President), Climate & Energy  

• SVP, Environmental Health 

• SVP, International  

• SVP, Nature 

• MD, Green Finance & Economic Development 

Responsibilities

Program Strategy & Management: 

• Oversees NRDC’s advocacy programs – Climate & Energy (C&E), Environmental Health, Nature, and International, and NRDC’s Green Finance & Economic Development and Litigation to ensure that the organization delivers on its goals.  

• Attracts, develops, coaches, and retains high-performance team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance.   

• Provides leadership in the development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational growth.  

• Works with colleagues to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management.  

• In collaboration with Senior Vice Presidents in each program area, and CEO and Executive Director, decides how to allocate NRDC resources to support program priorities; determines key program objectives and measures of success; and guides the implementation of NRDC’s program strategy.  

• Champions equity, diversity, and inclusion by acting as a role model of values-based leadership.  

• Ensure our DEI value is embraced by program staff and in particular by program leadership. 

 

Fundraising & Representation: 

• As an external representative and ambassador of NRDC, plays a leading role in setting the agenda and drives outcomes for our priority campaigns.  

• Expands fundraising activities to support existing programs and the growth of NRDC, cultivating existing relationships and developing new funder relationships.  

• Supports the CEO and other Executive Team members in building relationships with stakeholders, including government officials, NGO and corporate partners, and donors.  

• Represents the Program function at Board meetings and is the staff lead for the Board Mission Support (Program) Committee.   

• Serves as proxy for the President and CEO at various events.  

 

Knowledge Management:

• Designs the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge generated by the programs, in collaborat