Senior Program Officer

Job description

Title: Senior Program Officer, Equity

Location: Remote

Salary: $78,000 - $95,000

Reporting to: Director of Programs

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, veterans, and members of the LGBTQIA+ and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

About ICLEI

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is the first and largest global network of local and regional governments devoted to solving the world’s most intractable sustainability challenges. The worldwide network of 2,500+ cities and regions  is active in 125+ countries, focused on influencing sustainability policies and driving local climate action.

As the USA Office of the global ICLEI network, ICLEI USA develops and delivers leading-edge tools and resources, including its state-of-the-art emissions-management tool, ClearPath 2.0, to support local governments in their climate change efforts. Our standards, tools, and programs credibly, transparently, and robustly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve lives and livelihoods, and protect natural resources in the U.S. communities we serve. ICLEI USA and our network partners are working to keep 1.5 ℃ alive through a data-driven approach and focus on just and equitable communities.

About Our Members

Local government members (cities, counties, towns, and regions) are the core of our organization.  This network of government professionals and elected leaders are the catalysts for a movement toward deep reductions in carbon pollution and the development of economies and communities that are sustainable, equitable and resilient. For more than 35 years, ICLEI USA has partnered with our members to support their efforts to reduce emissions, prepare for and reduce impacts from a changing climate, and center equity in their work. We support Members through our “five Pathways,” which are designed to help local governments advance their goals related to zero emissions, resilience, equity, nature, and the circular economy.

Your Role

The Senior Program Officer, Equity will report to the Director of Programs and will work with ICLEI’s USA’s leadership team and Pathway leads to ensure that equity is centered in all of our work with communities. This work will include leading strategic initiatives, implementing Member-driven projects, and providing technical support to ICLEI USA’s staff and Membership on how to center equity in sustainability and resilience work at the local level.

This broad and challenging set of responsibilities is best suited for an individual who has direct or lived experience working with frontline and low-income communities; has a demonstrated history of centering racial and economic justice in their work; excellent project management and communication skills; and the ability to take initiative, work both independently and collaboratively, and exercise sound decision-making in a complex environment.

This fully remote position requires video conference calls most days each week. Success requires a high-energy and personable approach, the ability to effectively multi-task across a diverse portfolio of projects, and the technical and political acumen needed to guide a politically diverse group of local Members looking to address challenging socioeconomic disparities, while advancing technically complex efforts to reduce both the causes and consequences of climate change.

Job Responsibilities

• Support the development of a strategy for growing ICLEI USA’s work with Members under our Equity Pathway.
• Lead work to integrate equity considerations across our technical programming for Members in coordination with Pathway leads working on resilience, zero emissions, nature-based solutions, and/or circular economy.
• Lead work with ICLEI USA’s Senior Climate Mobility and Cities Fellow and Members on climate migration and mobility.
• Serve as the member advisor for a group of local government Members, including Tribal Members, and support the development of programming to better support Tribes.
• Provide technical assistance to Members looking for guidance under the Equity Pathway.
• Lead technical writing and research projects to develop deliverables in support of the Equity Pathway and to implement funded projects.
• Develop and deliver ICLEI USA’s Equity Pathway educational offerings, including our Member peer-learning cohorts, and support efforts to integrate equity in similar offerings led by the other Pathway leads (e.g. best practices for engaging communities through resilience and sustainability planning and implementation).
• Support fundraising and development efforts to implement ICLEI USA’s Equity Pathway strategy in coordination with the Director of Programs and ICLEI USA’s development team.
• Engage with partners and other stakeholders to advance the field of practice and inform ICLEI’s strategic initiatives related to equity and climate action at the local level (e.g. city sustainability and community engagement staff; partner organizations supporting work on equity at the local level; other local government networks; funders; university partners, etc.).

Position Requirements

• 5+ years of experience working on equity or environmental justice, direct work or lived experience working with frontline or underserved communities is strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of local governance and/or direct experience working with or advising local governments on the topics of equity or environmental justice, preferably with some expertise on the intersections of equity and sustainability, adaptation/ resilience, or nature-based solutions.
• An advanced degree in urban planning, environmental science, public policy, public health, sustainability, or a similar field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong project- and time-management skills, political acumen, and a demonstrated track record of successfully developing, leading, and implementing strategic initiatives and client-focused projects.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. The applicant must be a strong writer and editor with the demonstrated ability to produce clear, rigorous, accessible and policy-relevant deliverables. The applicant must have experience successfully presenting, facilitating and/or leading sessions, virtually and in-person, for a variety of audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and client-service skills are needed to navigate ICLEI USA’s highly matrixed organization focused on delivering actionable products and working with a diverse Membership of local leaders and other partners.
• An ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a dynamic and evolving organization is required, including being comfortable working in virtual settings.
• Senior Program Officers are expected to have a can-do attitude and be willing to problem-solve independently and implement programming with limited oversight.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed (approximately 3 to 5 trips per year).

Desired Qualifications

Preferred candidates will have:

• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse partners, including coalition-building organizations, community-based and other frontline organizations.
• A self-starter with experience leading multi-person teams in the successful implementation of projects under tight timelines.
• Fundraising and development experience is highly desired.
• Experience delivering trainings or technical assistance, facilitating community engagement processes, and/or delivering direct customer service.
• Bi-lingual candidates are encouraged to apply and indicate language skills on their resume.

Compensation

This is a virtual position, reporting to the Director of Programs and open to individuals legally authorized to work in the United States. The salary range for the program officer position is approximately $78,000 - $95,000, dependent on the applicant’s experience and location.ICLEI USA offers a generous benefits package and the opportunity to work with leading global city climate action experts. This position offers opportunities for growth and professional networking and learning. ICLEI USA honors a “quiet Friday” work environment to provide team members with focus time. Our offices are closed for a break period in December and major holidays.

Application Process

Please fill out the application questions on this page and attach your resume. The preferred application deadline is September 12, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

This search is being led by NRG Consulting Group. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

The position has an anticipated start date of October 2025. We appreciate every application, but due to the large number of submissions we receive, we are unable to provide individual status updates. Out of fairness to all applicants, we will not take informational calls with applicants outside of the interview process. If you are selected to move forward in the process, we will reach out directly. Proof of eligibility to work in the United States must be provided, for the applicant selected for hire.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity

ICLEI is an equal opportunity employer  We celebrate the diversity of our team, which is critical to our success, and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital or military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. Studies from Harvard Business Review and others have shown that women, people of color, and other under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We understand that no single candidate will possess all of the skills and traits listed above. If you have a combination of skills and experience related to the responsibilities outlined above and a passion for the work, we encourage you to apply even if you feel you may have a gap in your qualifications. Thank you for your interest in supporting ICLEI USA’s work helping local governments advance efforts to build more resilient, sustainable and equitable communities.