Job Description
Loading... Chief Programs Officer Save Job Western Landowners Alliance Denver, Colorado Facebook Email Copy URL Job Type Permanent Salary $115,000•$140,000 per year
Benefits Compensation:
$115,000 to $140,000. Salary is commensurate with experience. Salary is commensurate with experience. Western Landowners Alliance offers comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, parental leave, medical leave, 403b r Min. Experience 5+ years Save Job Facebook Email Copy URL About Western Landowners Alliance (WLA): Founded in 2012 by landowners and managers, the organization aims to increase the wellbeing of working lands in the American West and the living communities, including human and wildlife, that depend on them. Position Overview:
The Chief Programs Officer (CPO) serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight of all of WLA's programmatic work (including water, wildlife, forest and range, conservation finance, and public policy). The CPO s responsible for ensuring that programs are aligned with WLA's mission and strategic priorities, effectively integrated across disciplines, and positioned to achieve measurable outcomes for private landowners and the landscapes they steward. Amount of Time & Status:
40 hours a week, exempt, Monday-Friday Location:
This position is remote, but individuals must be located in the West. Periodic travel will be required. Reports to:
Chief Executive Officer Direct Reports:
Conservation Finance Director, Policy Director, Working Wild Challenge Director, Water Director, Working Lands Director. Compensation:
$115,000 to $140,000. Salary is commensurate with experience. Salary is commensurate with experience. Western Landowners Alliance offers comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, parental leave, medical leave, 403b retirement savings account with a discretionary match, life insurance, short and long-term disability benefits, and an employee assistance program. Duties/Responsibilities Include:
In partnership with the President & CEO, develop and implement WLA's strategic vision and programmatic priorities, translating organizational goals into short•and long-term strategies that align with WLA's strategic plan, mission, and available resources. Provide executive leadership and oversight for all program areas (water, wildlife, forest & range, conservation finance, and public policy), ensuring programs advance organizational priorities and achieve measurable outcomes. Foster alignment, coordination, and collaboration across program areas, identifying opportunities to integrate efforts, leverage expertise, and remove barriers to achieving organizational goals. Establish annual programmatic priorities, department goals, performance metrics, and staff objectives, and ensure accountability for results through ongoing evaluation and adaptive management. Oversee the successful execution of programmatic work plans, grant-funded initiatives, and strategic projects, ensuring deliverables, timelines, and commitments to partners and funders are met. Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, decision-making, resource allocation, risk management, and culture. Maintain regular communication with the President & CEO regarding programmatic opportunities, challenges, risks, and emerging issues affecting the organization. Collaborate with the Chief Advancement Officer to support fundraising efforts, donor engagement, grant development, and programmatic communications by providing strategic program expertise and thought leadership. Represent WLA externally, as needed, with policymakers, funders, partners, members, industry leaders, and other stakeholders, serving as a credible spokesperson and ambassador for the organization. Partner with the Chief Operating Officer to align staffing, organizational resources, and program budgets with strategic priorities, ensuring effective resource stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and operational excellence. Cultivate a high-performing, collaborative, and mission-driven program team by coaching, mentoring, and developing staff and future leaders. Perform other duties as assigned. Preferred Qualifications:
Minimum Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in natural resources, public policy, economics, environmental science, or related field or equivalent work experience required; Advance degree preferred. 10+ years of progressive responsible leadership in conservation, natural resources management, public policy, agriculture, land stewardship, nonprofit management or a related field. Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and complex programs across multiple issue areas. Deep understanding of issues affecting private landowners, including water, wildlife, forest and range management, conservation finance, etc. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders, including landowners, policymakers, agency leaders, funders, industry representatives, and conservation partners. Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson and representing an organization before public audiences, coalitions, boards, government officials, and media. Proven track record of securing, managing, and overseeing grant-funded programs and ensuring successful delivery of grant objectives and reporting requirements. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; detail oriented, strong independent work ethic; and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment Creative and positive approach to communication and problem solving Willingness and ability to maintain confidential information and work with diverse populations Strong technology literacy and adaptability, including the ability to learn and effectively use new software, digital tools, and collaborative platforms. Working Environment/Physical Activities:
Work environment is an office setting with occasional field visits. Physical activities include sitting at a desk and working on a keyboard and computer several hours a day; conducting business over the telephone and via email; standing for long periods of time; periodic travel and traveling by plane and long distances by vehicles (including traveling on unpaved roads). This position may also require moving agency materials up to 25 pounds. This position requires the ability to facilitate meetings and interface professionally with the public. Target Start Date:
Immediately. Preference will be given to applications received by Monday, July 6th. How To Apply Application Procedure:
Please submit your resume and cover letter (required) via our website . Please, no phone calls. Western Landowners Alliance values diversity and inclusivity and is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all team members regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or political affiliation. We encourage all qualified and interested candidates to apply. When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board. Category Admin & Leadership , General / Stewardship , Policy And Law Tags Outreach Related Jobs Founding Executive Director Saving Yellowstone Littleton, CO Job type : Permanent Salary :
$275,000•$300,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 21 days ago Policy Director Western Landowners Alliance Denver, CO Job type : Permanent Salary :
$80,000•$120,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 28 days ago Forestry Program Manager Larimer Conservation District Fort Collins, CO Job type : Permanent Salary :
$75,000•$85,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 24 days ago Executive Director Columbia Land Trust Vancouver, WA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$195,000•$215,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years Today Division Director of Marine Fisheries NC Department of Environmental Quality Raleigh, NC Job type : Permanent Salary :
$89,596•$140,050 per year Deadline :
Jun 23, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 24 days ago Mapping a Greener Future with GIS Penn State World Campus 100% Online Learn to protect ecosystems and manage natural resources using geospatial tools. Earn your GIS certificate online from Penn State—leaders in GIS education. Designed for working adults. Sponsored Forest Health Operations Manager Whitebark Institute Mammoth Lakes, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$95,000•$115,000 per year Deadline :
Jul 07, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 5 days ago Kelp Project Director, California The Nature Conservancy Remote, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$75,200•$106,200 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 27 days ago Executive Director Interior Alaska Land Trust Fairbanks, AK Job type : Permanent Salary :
$70,000•$90,000 per year Deadline :
Jun 22, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 24 days ago Land Stewardship Manager Willowsford Conservancy Aldie, VA Job type : Permanent Salary :
75,000-85,000 Min. Experience :
5+ years 4 days ago Senior Director of Development Winnakee Land Trust Rhinebeck, NY Job type : Permanent Salary :
$90,000•$100,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 19 days ago Make Maps That Matter with GIS Penn State World Campus 100% Online Transform location intelligence into insight to protect our planet. Earn a Penn State GIS certificate online, on your time. Gain new career-ready technical skills to enhance your career. Sponsored MSHCP Compliance Manager Riverside County Transportation Commission Riverside, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$12,273•$16,569 per month Min. Experience :
5+ years 17 days ago Executive Director Friends of Tryon Creek Portland, OR Job type : Permanent Salary :
$110,000 per year Deadline :
Jul 13, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 7 days ago Vice President Spitfire Strategies Remote, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$145,000•$160,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 7 days ago Senior Philanthropy Director Sustainable Northwest Seattle, WA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$145,000•$160,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 19 days ago Chief Executive Officer Mangrove Action Project Seattle, WA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$110,000•$140,000 per year Deadline :
Jun 21, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 7 days ago Director of Government Relations Lake George Association Lake George, NY Job type : Permanent Salary :
$90,000•$110,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 3 days ago Director of Finance and Administration Walker Basin Conservancy Reno, NV Job type : Permanent Salary :
From $105,000/year DOE Min. Experience :
5+ years 19 days ago Major Gifts Officer Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Concord, NH Job type : Permanent Salary :
$85,000•$90,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 17 days ago Cultural Resource Specialist Bat Conservation International Inc. Santa Fe, NM Job type : Permanent Salary :
$60,000•$65,000 per year Min. Experience :
5+ years 17 days ago Executive Director Flow Water Advocates Traverse City, MI Job type : Permanent Salary :
The minimum starting salary for this position is $150,000 annually, with final compensation based upon the hired candidate's location, qualifications, background, and experience. Min. Experience :
5+ years 4 days ago Horticulture Senior Coordinator California Native Plant Society Sacramento, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$31.51•$33.96 per hour Deadline :
Jul 05, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 10 days ago Program Analyst•Level II/III Fishery Disaster Support Saltwater Inc Anchorage, AK Job type : Temporary Salary :
$35•$50 per hour Deadline :
Jul 12, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years Today Lead Research Biologist/Future Leadership Position For Org. Owl Research Institute Charlo, MT Job type : Permanent Salary :
Salary is commensurate with experience in both field research and administration Min. Experience :
5+ years 6 days ago Field Studies Lead Instructor Wildlands Studies Varies, Other Job type : Faculty / Postdoc Salary :
Competitive compensation paid on a per student enrollment basis Min. Experience :
5+ years 6 days ago Habitat Restoration Services Manager Santa Ana Watershed Association Riverside, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$57.21•$73.23 per hour Min. Experience :
5+ years 5 days ago Senior Water Quality Specialist, Grade N26 Montgomery County Government, Department of Environmental Protection Wheaton, MD Job type : Permanent Salary :
$87,235•$140,274 per year Deadline :
Jun 19, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 3 days ago Applied Landscape Ecologist Santa Barbara Fire County Safe Council Santa Barbara, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$104,000 per year Deadline :
Jun 19, 2026 Min. Experience :
5+ years 24 days ago Grounds and Landscaping Specialist Hanover Township Bartlett, IL Job type : Permanent Salary :
$26 per hour Deadline :
Jul 31, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 3 days ago Stewardship Coordinator Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust New London, NH Job type : Permanent Salary :
$45,000•$55,000 per year Deadline :
Jun 26, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 14 days ago Soil Scientist Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group Visalia, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$35•$50 per hour Min. Experience :
2•4 years 25 days ago Coalition Director Oregon League of Conservation Voters Portland, OR Job type : Permanent Salary :
$68,000•$72,000 per year Deadline :
Jun 21, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 24 days ago Consulting Forester Eastern Forest Consultants Christiansburg, VA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$40,000•$50,000 per year Min. Experience :
2•4 years 20 days ago City Planner The City of Ocean Shores Ocean Shores, WA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$6,135.69 per month Min. Experience :
2•4 years 18 days ago Wildlife Educator The Nature Company Brooklyn, NY Job type : Permanent Salary :
$45,000 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 56 days ago Stewardship Foreman DJM Ecological Services Saint Louis, MO Job type : Permanent Salary :
$28•$35 per hour Deadline :
Jun 30, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 4 days ago Farm Bill Biologist I/II Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Plymouth, IN Job type : Permanent Salary :
$40,332•$46,000 per year Deadline :
Jun 21, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 27 days ago Scarborough Marsh Project Director Scarborough Land Trust Scarborough, ME Job type : Permanent Salary :
$65,000•$70,000 per year Deadline :
Jul 03, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 21 days ago Fall Environmental Educator/Resident Camp Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, PA Job type : Temporary Salary :
$3,955 for the full employment term. Additional compensation is available for cabin supervision duties. Deadline :
Aug 03, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year Today Environmental Educator Don Lee Center Arapahoe, NC Job type : Temporary Salary :
$425 per week Min. Experience :
0•1 year 11 days ago Trail Specialist Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards Blairsville, GA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$23 per hour Min. Experience :
2•4 years 17 days ago Environmental Educator in Residence Grand Canyon Conservancy Grand Canyon, AZ Job type : Temporary Salary :
$600 per week Deadline :
Jul 15, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 19 days ago Naturalist The Outdoor School Santa Barbara, CA Job type : Temporary Salary :
$16.90 per hour Deadline :
Jun 26, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 7 days ago Education Manager NatureBridge Port Angeles, WA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$45,000•$48,000 per year Min. Experience :
2•4 years 11 days ago Educator HAWKs Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$25 per hour Min. Experience :
2•4 years Today Donor Relations Manager Washington Conservation Action Seattle, WA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$65,500 per year Deadline :
Jul 31, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 18 days ago Kauai Avian Research/ Management Coordinator RCUH.Com Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project Kaumakani, HI Job type : Permanent Salary :
$5,743•$5,973 per month Deadline :
Jun 29, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 6 days ago Bilingual Field Instructor Cal-Wood Education Center Jamestown, CO Job type : Temporary Salary :
$672.69 per week Min. Experience :
0•1 year 26 days ago Regulatory Biologist (Environmental) VESTRA Resources, Inc. Redding, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$60,000•$100,000 per year Min. Experience :
2•4 years 17 days ago Outdoor Education Instructor Pali Institute Running Springs, CA Job type : Temporary Salary :
Total Compensation Package from $1030•1075 a week Min. Experience :
0•1 year 28 days ago Program Specialist•Bison Operations American Prairie Malta, MT Job type : Permanent Salary :
$20.75•$23 per hour Min. Experience :
2•4 years Today Education and Conservation Specialist•Upham Woods Wisconsin Conservation Corps Wisconsin Dells, WI Job type : AmeriCorps Salary :
$460 per week Deadline :
Jun 19, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 18 days ago Preserve Manager•Northern California Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) Sacramento/Davis area, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$68,640•$78,640 per year Min. Experience :
2•4 years 11 days ago Land Project Manager Methow Conservancy Winthrop, WA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$33•$43 per hour Min. Experience :
2•4 years 10 days ago Restoration Field Technician Russian Riverkeeper Healdsburg, CA Job type : Temporary Salary :
$25 per hour Deadline :
Jul 01, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 11 days ago Working Wild Challenge Manager Western Landowners Alliance Denver, CO Job type : Permanent Salary :
$75,000•$90,000 per year Min. Experience :
2•4 years 5 days ago Natural Resources Forestry Support Dispatcher Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry Little Falls, MN Job type : Permanent Salary :
$20.51•$23.61 / hourly; $42,824•$49,297 / annually Deadline :
Jun 22, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 10 days ago Great Lakes Tourism Specialist New York Sea Grant•Cornell University Oswego, NY Job type : Permanent Salary :
$80,000 per year Deadline :
Jun 29, 2026 Min. Experience :
2•4 years 27 days ago Conservatory Specialist The Huntington San Marino, CA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$21•$23 per hour Min. Experience :
2•4 years 13 days ago Island Naturalist The Lodge on Little Saint Simons Island Saint Simons Island, GA Job type : Permanent Salary :
$11.50 per hour Deadline :
Jun 28, 2026 Min. Experience :
0•1 year 5 days ago Outdoor Education Field Instructor Camp Nuhop Perrysville, OH Job type : Temporary Salary :
$500 per week Min. Experience :
0•1 year 13 days ago