Chief Programs Officer

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.