Director – Growing Water Smart

Sonoran Institute

Director overseeing the Growing Water Smart program ensuring integrated water and land use planning. Leading initiatives across the Colorado River Basin and U.S.-Mexico border region.

Posted 7/31/2026full-timeRemote • Colorado • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $87,797 - $111,946 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in program management, strategic planning, and financial stewardship within the natural resource and water resource sectors. Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, secure funding, and engage stakeholders effectively.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Program ManagementStrategic PlanningFundraisingStaff SupervisionStakeholder Engagement

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Natural Resource ManagementWater ResourcesUrban PlanningEnvironmental PolicyProgram EvaluationResearch and AnalysisWorkshop FacilitationOutreach Strategy DevelopmentGrant WritingProject Management

Soft Skills

Verbal CommunicationWritten CommunicationAnalytical SkillsOrganizational Skills

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft 365

Industry Keywords

Climate ScienceConservationPublic PolicyStakeholder EngagementTraining Design

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

The Director is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, implementation, and long-term success of the Growing Water Smart (GWS) program.
Provides leadership for program planning, implementation, financial stewardship, fundraising, partnership development, and staff supervision.
Leads the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the Growing Water Smart program.
Serves as the primary representative for the program, cultivating strategic relationships with funders and partners.
Reports to the Senior Director of Programs and supervises assigned program staff.
Develops and maintains a comprehensive multi-year program plan.
Leads the implementation of the technical and financial aspects of the program plan.
Directs the development and delivery of workshops, technical assistance, and program evaluation.
Identifies and implements research, best practices, and innovative approaches.
Develops and implements outreach strategies that elevate the visibility and impact of the program.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Advanced degree in natural resource management, water resources, urban or regional planning, environmental policy, public policy, climate science, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience in natural resources, water resources, planning, conservation, or related fields, including program or project management.
Previous experience leading and supervising professional staff, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams is preferred.
Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to communicate complex ideas and information to diverse audiences.
Strong analytical, organizational, and program management skills.
Experience facilitating meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement processes.
Demonstrated success securing grants or other funding from foundations, government agencies, corporations, or individual donors.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365.
Possession of and ability to maintain a valid driver's license.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally, including throughout the United States and Mexico, as required.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and able to maintain authorization throughout employment without current or future employer sponsorship.
Professional proficiency in spoken Spanish is preferred.
Experience with training or public process design and stakeholder engagement and outreach is preferred.
Experience with research and analysis relevant to planning, development, resource management and policy is preferred.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance - Employer Paid
Long Term Disability - Employer Paid
401K participation with employer match
Generous paid time off, starting at 20 days per year