Executive Director

Climable is searching for a powerful and dynamic change-maker to lead our team. This role will be instrumental in leading the organization to function as efficiently and effectively as possible, while maintaining a high quality of work and staying true to our end goals of environmental justice and energy democracy. Since we are a small organization, team members wear many hats and must demonstrate flexibility and willingness to learn new skills and try different techniques. 

About Us

Climable is a small woman-run nonprofit with a mission to make climate science and clean energy understandable, actionable, and accessible for everyone. Our end goals are energy democracy (public participation in the energy transition) and climate resilience (improved avenues for anticipating, preparing for, and responding to climate disasters). We focus on 1) clean community microgrid development projects (solar and battery storage) in Environmental Justice (EJ) communities, 2) educational programs for students, children, and adults, and 3) stakeholder engagement and community outreach. Climable works hard to make sure people and communities are not left behind in the clean energy transition. Since we work with many environmental justice communities, we strive to be active listeners who champion what the community wants and needs, which at times requires challenging the business-as-usual approach.

Position Description

We are a small organization that has experienced incredible growth and change over the past few years. We are looking for a seasoned professional who can help us get the policies and structures in place to create a sustainable and equitable workplace while growing our programs. We are also looking for someone who can navigate the opportunities presented to us so that we can focus on work that is well-suited to our skill set and mission. The new Executive Director will help make key decisions on fundraising strategy, staffing, and major organizational changes; they will also need to be available to advise staff on strategy, project management, and more. This new Executive Director follows the Interim Executive Director, who was hired during a time of major staff transitions.

Climable is a small team with four permanent staff members. Due to the small size of the organization, teammates wear many hats, and you will too. This position is an excellent opportunity to focus on mission-driven work while shaping our fundraising strategy, leading operations and finance work, engaging with the board, and leading the overall strategy and direction of the organization.

Roles and Responsibilities

This is a dynamic role that leads our important work. The Executive Director is expected to lead a variety of tasks including fundraising and development, operations, finance and accounting, board management and engagement, staff management, and overall organizational strategy.

Fundraising and Development:

• Proactively identify and cultivate new funding sources and opportunities to deepen existing funder relationships and build new relationships
• Serve as the face of the organization at events
• Share Climable’s stories with current and prospective donors
• Work closely with Climable team members to stay current on all program successes, innovations, and impact information
• Support the Board with their giving, networking, and participation in Climable’s work
• Oversee the preparation of grant applications, proposals, and letters of interest

Operations and Logistics:

• Develop and implement operational policies and procedures to ensure efficiency and effectiveness
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization
• Manage organizational resources including human resources and technology
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including labor laws and nonprofit governance standards
• Oversee the maintenance of records, contracts, legal documents, and manuals
• Coordinate special projects and initiatives
• Work closely with the nonprofit lawyer on compliance, engagement, contracting, conflict of interest, and other legal issues.

Finance:

• Develop and manage the annual budget in collaboration with the board of directors
• Oversee all financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll in QuickBooks, plus banking and investments
• Ensure compliance with financial policies, procedures, and regulations, including timely and accurate financial reporting
• Prepare and present regular financial reports to the board and finance committee
• Lead the annual audited financials process, working with our external auditors and the board finance committee as needed
• Monitor cash flow to ensure we maintain adequate liquidity to meet operational needs
• Develop and implement financial strategies to support the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability
• Oversee grant management including budgeting, reporting, and compliance with funder requirements

Leadership and Strategy:

• Support board recruitment by identifying and cultivating relationships with prospective board members
• Work closely with board members and committee members to lead the organization
• Manage staff, providing coaching and support
• Support the internship and staff hiring, recruiting, and onboarding processes as needed

Skills and Qualifications

We recognize that women and People of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. Climable is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you are excited about this opportunity, but our desired qualifications do not align perfectly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply! If you think you meet about 70% of the qualifications below, please apply! Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

Qualifications: 

• 7+ years of relevant work experience in nonprofit, government, philanthropy, social interest, or other related fields.
• Previous nonprofit leadership experience
• Understanding of nonprofit finance and governance
• Project management and staff oversight experience
• Experience working with contracts and developing budgets
• Familiarity with QuickBooks Online or other financial software
• Comfort speaking to and engaging with donors and funders
• Passion for mission-driven nonprofit work
• Dedication to collaborative work
• A high level of follow-through and organization
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• A self-driven and kind work style, and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively
• Demonstrated track record of commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Beneficial Qualifications (helpful but not required):

• Project and process management experience; ability to follow and write project budget and project scopes
• Experience managing subcontractors
• Experience in the energy, environmental, or education fields
• Experience participating on or managing nonprofit boards

Climable is a small organization and is not able to provide visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Position Details

• Salary: $85,000 – $95,000/year for a full-time position
• Location: Hybrid, with one in-office day per week at our office* in Seaport
• Target start date: July or August 2024

*Note that our mailing address is in Cambridge but our shared office space is in Seaport. The in-office day (current Wednesdays) will be located at the Seaport space. This location is subject to change in the next six months.

Climable uses a flexible hybrid schedule with one collaborative day a week in the office for all staff (currently Wednesdays), plus occasional weekend or evening events.

Candidates must live in Massachusetts (or plan to live in Massachusetts before their start date) to be considered for this role. The new Executive Director is expected to live within commuting distance to the office in Seaport, the mailing location in Cambridge, and the Boston area for events.

We offer: 

• Mission-driven work in the climate industry
• Flexible health and dental insurance options
• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• 14 holidays plus an office closure for the last week of the year
• A flexible hybrid work model
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities