Executive Director

Posted: 08-07-2024
Applications Due By: Open until filled
Salary: $90,000-$93,000
Location: Rogue Valley or South Coast, Oregon

  Rogue Climate – Executive Director

Rogue Climate is seeking an Executive Director to support our organization’s next chapter. This role leads a diverse and experienced team of staff and community members organizing for climate justice in Southern Oregon and the South Coast. We are looking for an experienced leader who will nurture an inclusive, equitable, and justice-oriented organizational culture both internally and throughout our region. Our Executive Director will be grounded in Just Transition principles, rooted in low-income communities of color. Understanding that behind every great organization is a supported and well-resourced staff team, our leader will have the self awareness to empathetically lead this work with vision, decisiveness, adaptability, and integrity. 

About Rogue Climate

Since 2013, Rogue Climate has been building a climate movement in Southern Oregon and the South Coast to achieve solutions to climate change that will result in cleaner energy, sustainable jobs, and a healthy climate. We are a team of 10 staff and dozens of volunteers. Our work is focused on four major programs:

• Energy Justice & Just Transition – Pass climate policy at the state and local level that ensures everyone in our communities have affordable, reliable and healthy energy while also supporting job creation in rural communities, low-income communities, and communities of color in Oregon. Ensure a just and equitable transition to the renewable energy economy, such as minimizing impacts and maximizing community benefits in proposals for offshore wind on the South Coast 
• Stopping Fossil Fuels – Rogue Climate recently completed a successful 10-year campaign to stop the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and fracked gas pipeline and is now focused on running local policy campaigns to make new homes fully electric.

• Resiliency - Support our communities to weather the challenges of climate change in ways that also makes them better places to live today. We are supporting the development of resiliency hubs and networks in our region. We are launching a program this fall to install ductless heat pumps in environmental justice neighborhoods.

• Youth Leadership – Inspire and develop the next generation of climate leaders and community organizers through our biannual internship programs for youth. We support youth led action teams to run local campaigns for climate justice.

Our primary strategic goals guiding our work are: 

1. Build the power of youth, low income, and BIPOC communities in Jackson, Coos, and Klamath Counties to envision and lead a movement for Climate Justice.
2. Build a strong movement of aligned organizations and partners that can accelerate a just transition across the region.
3. Resist the development of new fossil fuel infrastructure in Oregon
4. Support a just transition to renewable energy and greater energy justice locally and statewide (Building the New)
5. Support our communities to be better prepared for the impacts of climate change.

A core tenet of our internal operations and our programs is our commitment to working for climate solutions that result in a just transition to clean energy that benefits rural communities, low-income communities, Latino/a/x, Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. You can learn more about our mission and campaigns at rogueclimate.org. 

What you will do:

As the Executive Director at Rogue Climate, you will lead the organization by supporting a strong culture of inclusion, maintaining a focus on strategic objectives, and ensuring the overall viability and sustainability of our climate justice  initiatives and organization. This will include, but is not limited to: 

Leadership: Engage internal and external stakeholders grounding in the mission of Rogue Climate. Work in partnership with the Board of Directors and staff to develop and execute the organization’s next strategic plan, while also being responsive and flexible to respond to changing conditions. Lead the Directors Team in the development and implementation of strategic goals and annual work plans. Maintain a culture of growth and learning within the organization, supporting equity-centered training and leadership development for staff and board. 

Staff Management and Mentorship: Staff play the key role in the day-to-day leadership and implementation of programs and campaigns. As Executive Director, you will act as a strategic thought partner for staff, ensure planned program activities and campaign goals are being met, and manage staff workload to help prevent burnout. Provide direct supervision to members of the Directors Team, including oversight of workload, problem-solving, and performance evaluation. Directly supervise 4-5 staff and 1-2 contractors. 

Fundraising and Resource Development: Lead the organization’s funding strategy to ensure that Rogue Climate has the resources necessary to fulfill our mission and meet budget and operational goals. Maintain strong relationships with key funders and community leaders while cultivating prospective donors. Pursue the development of additional support through new funding strategies and revenue sources.

Financial Oversight & Organizational Sustainability: In partnership with the Operations Director, prepare and oversee the annual budget and monitor cash flow as required and in keeping with established procedures. Understand the organization’s revenue sources, expenses, grant allocations, and overall financial model. Provide the Board of Directors with detailed financial updates as needed.

Governance: Work with the Board Chair to ensure the organization’s governance structure enhances and complements the needs of the organization. Recruit and engage Board members who can add to the body of knowledge and resources critical to the organization. Develop and maintain positive Board relations and look for opportunities to actively engage the Board. Ensure the Board of Directors is kept apprised of agency activity through Board meetings and other communiques and activities.

Who you are, and keys to success:

To be successful in this job, you will be skilled in these areas.

• Nonprofit leadership experience: You have 5+ years of experience leading organizations and managing a team of staff. You understand the compliance requirements for non-profits, have implemented organizational best practices, and can quickly read and interpret financial documents. You have a feel for anticipating obstacles and can take action to address issues. 

• Commitment to racial equity and climate justice: You recognize the role of race, income, age, gender, immigration status, and other identities in climate justice, and you consistently look for ways to embed equity and justice in all aspects of the organization - especially our policies and practices. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference. You have experience building and maintaining relationships with Latinix, Indigenous, and other communities of color-led or identity specific organizations, coalitions and info sharing groups.
• Fundraising and grants management: You have experience managing grants ranging from $5,000 to $500,000 from a variety of sources including government grants and foundations. You are skilled at writing grant proposals, compliance, and reporting. While we are mainly grant funded, you will have a passion for creative resource mobilization and are skilled at creating diverse community fundraising strategies. 
• Inclusive leadership and experience managing people: You approach leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others in decision-making. You listen closely to understand the needs or concerns of others and work collaboratively to devise solutions. You are comfortable supporting others as they work through strategic approaches and work-related interpersonal conflict. You are skilled at supporting an internal culture that values and nurtures teamwork, enables staff members to thrive, and respects, rewards and validates the contributions of each member of the team. 
• Outstanding communication skills: You are a communicator. You have worked with a wide range of individuals, all with different personality quirks, and have helped them communicate with you and with each other. You can actively listen, know when and how to speak on behalf of the organization, and keep an open line of communication with the board, staff, and key stakeholders. 

• Organizing & campaign background: You have experience with and knowledge of grassroots organizing campaigns and can translate that experience into managing director-level staff and supporting the implementation of strategic goals. You ensure that a just transition narrative is embedded and centered in our organizing and leadership development work. An ability to read the political landscape and commitment to staying on top of what is happening to inform our work is important for most strategic decisions we make as a team.

• (Desired Skill) Knowledge of the region: You are from the communities we serve and bring comprehensive knowledge about the Rogue Valley and/or South Coast, understanding that these communities are different from urban areas. You bring a unique understanding of the Rogue Valley and/or South Coast political, social, and cultural landscapes, or have a willingness to really dive into understanding.

If you were here right now, you would be:

• Supporting staff with updating work plans and project management systems
• Managing and coaching director-level staff
• Planning for the 2025 strategic planning and budgeting process
• Preparing for all staff gatherings and trainings
• Reviewing and submitting grant applications

Location and Benefits

This position will be based out of the Rogue Climate office in Phoenix, Oregon, or Coos Bay, Oregon and will require frequent travel to our office in the other region. The salary for this position is $90,000-$93,000 depending on experience, with an available $3,000 Spanish language differential and $2,400 student loan repayment stipend. Benefits include a 36-hour work week, health and dental care, robust vacation, paid family medical leave, paid sick time, and flexible holidays. For 2024, we have a platinum level Regence health care plan with a $500 deductible. Rogue Climate pays 100% of the premium.

How to Apply

Please apply here with your resume and a brief cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest in the position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with an initial review the first week of September. Interviews are anticipated to occur in mid-September for an anticipated start date of mid-October. 

Black, Latino/a/x, Indigenous, and People of Color, trans and gender nonconforming people, people from poor and working-class backgrounds, and women are encouraged to apply. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and People of Color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace—if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Nothing in this job description restricts the Board’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.