2025-202 Vice President, Climate

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY

Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

POSITION SUMMARY

The visionary, creative, and energetic Vice President, Climate will lead Ocean Conservancy’s efforts to advance the ocean climate portfolio of work focused on maximizing the mitigation potential for ocean climate solutions, including offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, and shipping emissions.

As a collaborative leader, the Vice President, Climate will ensure that the Climate team has the strategic direction, resources, guidance, and support needed to achieve climate mitigation and conservation goals and objectives that are consistent with ocean justice. While effectively managing four high-performing, direct reports and providing oversight of the Climate team, the Vice President, Climate will focus on:

• Establishing, developing, and communicating a clear and comprehensive climate strategy that meaningfully integrates Ocean Conservancy’s commitment to ocean justice.
• Overseeing the effective implementation, integration, and measurement of the strategy to achieve conservation impact through a multi-disciplinary team approach.
• Fundraising for the climate strategy and other Ocean Conservancy efforts, providing oversight of financial resources for the Climate strategy through sound financial management.

Reporting to the Chief Conservation Officer, the Vice President, Climate serves as a member of the Executive Team and works closely with other Executive Team members to provide organizational leadership, strategic direction, and ensures the alignment and integration of Ocean Conservancy’s programs.

The ideal Vice President, Climate will be a climate leader that has influenced change through successful policy actions and raised significant financial resources to support climate-related initiatives.

The Vice President, Climate will have the following primary responsibilities:

Climate Strategy Development

• Provide collaborative leadership on the development of a clear vision and strategy for Ocean Conservancy’s work to advance ocean climate solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in ways that are rapid, responsible, and just.
• Establish clear goals and desired outcomes with metrics for tracking progress toward conservation impact.
• Serve as a key strategic thinker and catalyst for innovation and creativity within Ocean Conservancy.

Program Implementation & Impact

• Establish and lead the achievement of clear goals and outcomes that align with Ocean Conservancy’s climate mitigation and conservation strategy, measuring success through metrics that track progress toward conservation impact.
• Execute the strategy in a manner consistent with Ocean Conservancy’s values and commitment to ocean justice, ensuring equitable and inclusive approaches.
• Build and maintain robust relationships with global, national, and regional opinion leaders to advance Ocean Conservancy’s goals and enhance its leadership position in the ocean climate space.
• Represent and advocate for Ocean Conservancy’s policies and positions with global, national, regional, and state decision makers, ensuring the organization’s voice is influential and impactful.

Fundraising & External Visibility

• Identify key climate funders and secure financial resources to support multi-million-dollar strategies and initiatives.
• Collaborate with Development staff in establishing a climate fundraising strategy, stewardship of funding opportunities, cultivation of new partnerships, and creation of fundraising materials to support program growth and sustainability.
• Partner with Communications and Digital teams to raise the profile and influence of Ocean Conservancy through activities such as: media interviews, speaking at conferences, and developing reports and other materials to build Ocean Conservancy’s brand reputation and awareness.
• Serve as a public spokesperson to advance climate and conservation goals and enhance institutional exposure and brand awareness.

Managing Teams & Financial Oversight

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Climate team of approximately 15 staff members by providing visionary and strategic guidance, promoting an inclusive work environment, and fostering a positive culture focused on excellence, innovation, collaboration, and growth.
• Establish, communicate, and monitor workplans, budgets, and clear metrics and performance indicators in alignment with institutional goals and overall mission.

Collaboration & Partnership

• Implement and promote an inclusive, integrated, and cohesive approach to leadership and strategy development by collaborating with key teams and colleagues across the organization.
• Ensure transparent and effective communication across stakeholders and teams by disseminating regular updates and progress reports regarding program activities, initiatives, and milestones achieved.
• Serve as a key member of the Executive, Conservation Vice Presidents, and Conservation Leadership teams.
• Foster a culture of institutional care by prioritizing the well-being of all team members and the overall health of the institution.
• Ensure an integrated and cohesive approach to Ocean Conservancy’s climate work by ensuring a strong working relationship with other Ocean Conservancy teams.
• Ensure others in the organization are appropriately consulted with and informed about the climate work.

REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will possess many of the experiences and qualifications described below but need not possess them all for consideration:

• 12+ years of professional experience in climate policy, science, or advocacy, including 5+ years of experience in a leadership role, preferably in a conservation-related organization.
• Extensive knowledge, training, and experience in climate policy, mitigation, financing, program management, and fundraising.
• Successful track record of developing and implementing multi-million-dollar fundraising strategies to secure financial resources necessary for the long-term sustainability of climate related programs and initiatives.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in developing and managing budgets in excess of $3 million.
• Exceptional ability to manage, supervise, and motivate a multi-disciplinary team in achieving concrete and meaningful outcomes in alignment with organizational goals.
• Strong passion for Ocean Conservancy’s mission, values, and commitment to ocean justice.
• Demonstrated ability and track record in leading and developing strong collaborative partnerships with executive leaders to drive collective organizational impact and cohesion.
• Flexible leader with a strong commitment to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion and a demonstrated history of nurturing diverse, inclusive, and engaged teams and individuals with divergent identities.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to influence and mobilize a diverse partner network and communicate complex issues and concepts to stakeholders, the public, and media.
• Exemplary advocacy skills with demonstrated experience in using these abilities to create and successfully pass policy and/or influence political will.
• High-level performer with the ability to see the big picture and remain attentive to details, strict deadlines, and deliverables.

TRAVEL

Approximately 20-35% of your time will be spent traveling.

LOCATION

Ocean Conservancy follows a hybrid work structure. The preferred location for this position is the Washington, DC metro area, including MD and VA. Other states include AK, CA, FL, OR, TX, WA and WV.

COMPENSATION

Ocean Conservancy is committed to equity in its pay practices and posts expected hiring ranges for each of its positions. The expected base salary range is $180,565 to $225,653. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s specialty skills, years of experience, location, and unique background. We would welcome the opportunity to connect with potential candidates whose salary requirements may be outside of the expected hiring range.

HOW TO APPLY

Bonsai Leadership Group has been exclusively retained for this search. For consideration, submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest by applying here. Candidates will be evaluated on a rolling basis. If you are a person with a disability and need help applying, please contact the recruiter at [email protected].

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ocean Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

We encourage applicants who have a diverse level and range of relevant skills and experiences to apply. A 100% match is not required. We want to support employees’ career growth and in return, our employees help Ocean Conservancy grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.