Chief Program Officer

Chief Program Officer

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit working on environmental solutions at the intersection of renewable energy and freshwater. Partnerships are key to our success. We build long-term relationships with our corporate utility non-profit and philanthropic partners by understanding their goals and needs and providing solutions that achieve those goals while delivering real measurable environmental benefits.

Who are we looking for

BEF is seeking an experienced mission-driven executive to serve as its first Chief Program Officer (CPO). Reporting to the CEO and serving alongside the CFO and Chief of Staff the CPO will provide integrated leadership across BEFs full portfolio of water carbon and energy programs. This is a newly created role that reflects BEFs ambitions for expanded impact and the increasing complexity of its program work. The CPO will contribute to and hold center on program performance; drive and manage strategic growth in emerging program areas (for example water and energy stewardship for the data center sector); expand BEFs client base and revenue streams to reduce revenue concentration risk; and support meaningful program partnerships that support priorities of Tribal Nations. The ideal candidate brings deep experience managing (and directly supporting the success of) complex program portfolios in a mission-driven organization; a rigorous approach to performance management; and a genuine commitment to equity partnership and impact.

Why Join Us Our Values Are:

Partnership: We believe we can accomplish more by working together.

Adaptability: We evolve adapt and apply what we learn to improve our approaches and outcomes.

Knowledge: We seek out and value diverse perspectives embrace new ideas and advance new approaches.

Innovation: We recognize that the scope and pace of the change we need demands innovation drawing on knowledge from the past and new information and tools.

Integrity: We are honest with our employees customers and our partners. We seek to deliver outcomes that benefit the environment and people we serve.

Primary Duties:

Program Leadership and Integration (A Strategic Leader)

• Provide executive oversight vision and cohesion across BEFs full portfolio of water carbon and energy programs ensuring alignment and synergy with organizational mission and strategic priorities.
• Serve as the primary senior leader for Program Directors and Senior Directors setting a high standard for program quality staff development innovation and adaptation and cross-team collaboration.
• Take responsibility for and directly contribute to sustained program performance.
• Review synthesize and track results across program portfolios and translate them into actionable guidance and strategic adaptation for program teams and executive leadership.
• Identify and resolve structural operational or resourcing barriers that inhibit program effectiveness growth and mission impact.

Performance Management and Accountability (A Rigorous Performance Manager)

• Develop and maintain a rigorous organization-wide framework for program metrics key performance indicators and impact measurement.
• Hold the organization and program teams accountable for delivering impact and value to partners while fostering a culture of learning continuous improvement and a supportive atmosphere.
• Build and maintain reporting dashboards for internal leadership and the Board of Directors that reflect program health client satisfaction and mission impact.
• Partner with the CFO to align program budgets with strategic priorities and ensure financial sustainability of program operations.

Strategic Growth Areas (A Growth-Oriented Innovator)

• Data Center Water and Energy Stewardship
  • Lead BEFs work helping data center operators mitigate their water and energy footprint with a focus on measurable energy water and conservation outcomes that deliver relevant community and ecosystem impact.
  • Cultivate relationships with technology companies and infrastructure operators to assess water energy and reputational risks and develop tailored BEF programming that generates positive impact.
  • Stay current on regulatory community and industry developments related to data center water and energy use ensuring BEFs approach reflects credible balanced and locally-supported solutions.
  • Represent BEF in relevant industry policy and community forums to sustain BEF intellectual leadership and share expertise in water energy and multi-benefit stewardship.
• Community Energy and Energy Affordability Solutions

• Assess opportunities and guide efforts to extend BEFs unique program model into new community energy and energy-affordability initiatives that expand clean energy and affordability benefits.
• Develop and/or reinforce program concepts connections and partnerships with utilities community organizations Tribes and/or public agencies that expand funding for and access to affordable clean energy for diverse communities.
• Evaluate the financial and operational feasibility of new community energy offerings in partnership with program teams CFO CoS and CEO.

• Corporate Water Stewardship

• Support program teams and leadership to adapt and refine BEFs corporate water stewardship offerings to stay ahead of market trends and expand a corporate water stewardship movement and leverage participation from diverse industry sectors.
• Cultivate relationships with corporate sustainability leaders across sectors to identify strategic impact areas and shared-value water stewardship partnerships that leverage BEF expertise and programming.

• Align with program teams to reinforce BEFs position as a trusted advisor leader and innovator on corporate water strategy drawing on the organizations deep track record in water markets environmental conservation innovative financing funding for Tribal priorities and corporate water stewardship.

Integrated Water and Watershed Stewardship

• Support partnership and strategy development to deliver multi-benefit funding communications and technical assistance for integrated watershed stewardship.
• Help prioritize and shape approaches to addressing capacity and policy barriers that limit implementation of multi-benefit water and watershed programs.
• Serve as a thought partner in strengthening facilitation of a differentiated portfolio of external relationships including coalitions networks and service-delivery partnerships.
• Guide program expansion into new conservation finance mechanisms and blended capital vehicles translating early-stage concepts into durable revenue and impact streams that support integrated and nature-based solutions.

Client Base Diversification and Revenue Strategy (A Business Development Partner)

• Collaborate with the CEO and business development functions within BEF to design and execute a strategy for growing and diversifying BEFs client base and revenue models reducing revenue concentration risk across the program portfolio and ensuring a resilient business strategy.
• Identify emerging or underserved market segments and develop scalable program offerings that expand BEFs reach and impact without compromising program quality capacity or mission integrity.
• Ensure that program design client engagement practices and service delivery are structured to support long-term revenue sustainability.
• Support and enhance external communications strategies to enhance BEF reputation and value to partners.

Tribal Partnerships and Equity (A Relationship-Centered Partner )

• Lead with humility and cultural competence in supporting the development of meaningful program services and/or funding opportunities that center on Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and deliver on Tribal priorities.
• Engage authentically and strategically in program co-design processes.
• Stay informed about Tribal rights sovereignty and relevant federal policy developments that intersect with BEF program areas.

Organizational Leadership (An Organizational Leader)

• Contribute to BEF-wide strategic planning bringing a program-grounded perspective to organizational planning and decisions.
• Model BEFs core values in all internal and external interactions.
• Support the recruitment development and retention of exceptional program staff at all levels of the organization.
• Engage the Board of Directors on program strategy performance and emerging opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree required; advanced degree in environmental sciences public policy business administration or a related field strongly preferred.
• 15 or more years of progressive leadership experience in environmental sustainability or related nonprofit ESG or mission-driven sectors with at least 7 years in a senior or executive management role.
• Demonstrated success managing complex and/or multi-program portfolios and leading high-performing teams.
• Strong command of program design performance measurement and continuous improvement frameworks; proven ability to translate strategy into operational excellence.
• Experience in business development client relationship management or market expansion in a mission-driven context.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences from frontline staff to Board members to corporate clients.
• Deep personal alignment with BEFs mission and values including a genuine commitment to equity inclusion and partnership.
• Strategic Agility: anticipates trends and consequences across BEFs program portfolio and translates a long-range view into credible strategies and plans.
• Interpersonal Savvy: builds rapport and trust across a wide range of audiences (Board funders Tribal partners corporate clients and staff) nimbly adapting style and approach.
• Conflict Management: reads situations quickly finds common ground across competing program and stakeholder priorities and resolves tension constructively.

Desirable:

• Substantive knowledge of water stewardship voluntary environmental markets (RECs WRCs carbon credits) or corporate sustainability strategy.
• Substantive knowledge of renewable energy systems trends markets financing and incentives.
• Experience working in or alongside the technology sector on sustainability ESG or environmental impact including familiarity with data center water and energy challenges.
• Demonstrated track record of developing authentic equitable programming that is responsive to and directly supports energy or water-related priorities of Tribal nations or Indigenous communities.
• Familiarity with nonprofit governance financial management and compliance at organizational budgets of $20 million or greater.
• Experience working in the western U.S. or familiarity with the regions water energy and environmental policy landscape.

Whats in it for you:

• Salary Range: $170000-$210000 per year DOE.
• 100% Employer paid Medical Short Term and Long-Term Disability Life insurance for employees; 75% subsidized for family/dependents.
• Retirement plan with 5% employer matching contribution.
• Generous PTO and Vacation Policy including alternative care and self-care leave.
• Four Week paid sabbatical after first 6 years then every 5 years thereafter
• Opportunity to grow through training and development including a generous paid professional development budget.
• Hybrid work schedule.

Location:Hybrid PositionRemote-friendly: proximity or reliable access to Portland OR preferred for occasional in-person engagement with local staff and events.

Open until filled.BEF will review applications as they are received and will interview qualified candidates as they are identified. For consideration apply on or the company website at Environmental Foundation is an EEO employer.

Required Experience:

Chief