Summary
Description
Job Title: Director, Center for Natural Resources and Senior Policy Director
Reports To: Vice President of Policy Programs
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Combination of in person and remote work, with geographic proximity to one of our offices in Denver, CO or Keystone, CO
SUMMARY
Keystone Policy Center is seeking a collaborative, dynamic, strategic, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the Director for the Center for Natural Resources and Senior Policy Director. Our work provides non-advocacy support for strategic collaboration on natural resources policy, planning and management. This individual will be responsible for providing leadership and staff management for our work on topics ranging from wildfire and watershed resilience, public and private lands use, conservation and recreation, wildlife and biodiversity, climate impacts, and other topics in natural resources. The position will also require project development, project management, and leading project teams.
ABOUT KEYSTONE POLICY CENTER
Keystone Policy Center is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization that brings together crucial teams of stakeholders who have diverse individual perspectives but recognize a common need to address urgent issues with lasting solutions. For over 50 years, Keystone has helped leaders move beyond fixed positions toward collaborative, action-oriented approaches to problem solving. Keystone has built a portfolio of substantive work in designing effective forums for stakeholders to address complex and often contentious issues in Colorado, throughout the United States, and internationally in the areas of natural resources, agriculture, energy, education, health, and Tribal and Indigenous engagement. We engage participants in producing actionable outcomes. In all our work, we maintain an unwavering commitment to our statement of independence.
Keystone’s Center for Natural Resources fosters the collaborative stewardship of resilient lands, waters, wildlife, ecosystems, and human communities. We catalyze:
- collaboration and engagement of stakeholder and community perspectives;
- inclusion of diverse interests, information, data, and knowledge;
- coordination of federal, state, local, Tribal/Indigenous, private, and NGO natural and cultural resource managers; and
- strategic planning and funding for natural and cultural resource use and management.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES
Please note that this description is not designed to cover nor contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the position.
The Director, Center for Natural Resources and Senior Policy Director is a dual role position responsible for leading the Natural Resources team through effective staff management, mentorship, and supervision. In this capacity, the individual will oversee the Center’s annual financial goals and play a significant role in shaping the organization’s near- and long-term vision, strategy, and financial sustainability. In addition to these leadership responsibilities, the individual will serve as a deeply experienced subject matter expert, providing skillful project development, facilitation and substantive leadership for highly complex, sensitive and often high conflict multistakeholder policy efforts. They will be expected to cultivate and leverage extensive professional and funding networks to support the Center’s growth and development. The individual will also represent Keystone externally through conferences, presentations, media engagement, and other public-facing events. This position is intended for individuals who demonstrate exceptional expertise and judgement across all areas of responsibilities and are recognized as leaders in the field.
Center Director
- Lead, mentor and supervise staff within the Center for Natural Resources, including providing substantive and process guidance and leadership, managing staff capacity and assignments across projects, and supporting staff at all levels (junior to senior) in their career growth.
- Cultivate and contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented culture.
- Work with Senior Management and fellow Center Directors in leading the organization.
- Meet annual financial goals for the Center for Natural Resources as determined by the annual budgeting process.
- Attend and present to Keystone’s Board of Trustees at board meetings and other relevant gatherings.
Project facilitation and design
- Develop, design, lead, facilitate and manage highly complexity, sensitive, and often high-conflict projects, including task forces and advisory groups, coalitions, public and community meetings, focus groups, and issue assessments.
- Lead the integration of technical, scientific and values-based perspectives into complex science and policy discussions, ensuring that diverse information, viewpoints, and stakeholder inputs are effectively incorporated.
- In addition to directly leading their own projects, the Center Director will play a significant thought leadership and advisory role for other projects involving Center staff.
Project and program strategy and development
- Provide thought leadership toward Center for Natural Resources program strategy.
- Lead program and project development efforts for self and the Natural Resources Center and support development efforts of other Centers and staff within the organization.
- Lead client and participant relations and ensure that projects are implemented effectively and within budget.
- Manage an annual $1-2m Center budget, with individual fundraising responsibilities contributing significantly toward that budget.
Analysis, documentation, and communications
- While a Senior Policy Director is often supported by staff responsible for drafting of communications and project documentation, they should demonstrate expert communication and writing skills in developing agendas, work plans, surveys, participant communications, syntheses and analyses of diverse perspectives, consensus recommendations, and final reports.
- Sustain networks and communications with participants, funders, and leaders in the natural resources field.
Project and program management
- Oversee project management activities and provide guidance and support to project staff.
- Effectively delegate project management and coordinating responsibilities to ensure efficient execution of work.
- Model and mentor effective management practices, anticipating and proactively addressing project management and coordination needs.
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates with diverse experiences and perspectives are encouraged to apply.
- Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in natural resources policy or related fields.
- Proven management skills and experience directly supervising staff, including a minimum of 5 years leading a department or equivalent experience managing 5 or more direct reports.
- Proven experience and recognized natural resources leadership, particularly in forest and watershed resilience, wildfire, public and private lands, conservation and recreation, climate impacts, and wildlife and biodiversity.
- Extensive, senior and C-suite level public and private sector natural resources networks, including donor and foundation networks, preferably in Colorado and the Western United States.
- Proven fundraising and project development, or consulting experience required.
- Demonstrated external client, stakeholder and funder relationships; written and verbal communications; business development and department budget management.
- Creative, strategic, and adaptive problem solver with demonstrated experience in generating and leading diverse groups in finding solutions for complex, sensitive, and high-conflict multi-stakeholder problems.
TRAVEL
This position may require up to 25-30% travel throughout the year, within or outside of Colorado, depending on office location and project portfolio.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND ADA SPECIFICATIONS
This is a largely sedentary position with minimal physical requirements. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The salary range for the Senior Policy Director position is $142,000-$155,000. Actual salary will be commensurate with skills and experience. Keystone Policy Center offers a full suite of benefits including generous sick and vacation leave, as well as health and dental benefits, and a 401k matching program.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
The Keystone Policy Center and Engage are equal opportunity employers. The Keystone Policy Center and Engage prohibit discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, sickle cell trait, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. Diversity, inclusion, and equity are connected to our mission and are critical to ensure the well-being of our staff and the groups we serve.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)
The Keystone Policy Center and Engage are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities, which includes providing reasonable accommodations where appropriate.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Please submit your application to Sue Wilcox, swilcox@keystone.org by COB September 24, 2026:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- References – Please provide at least three references from current or former employers, or others who can speak to your professional qualifications for this position. Keystone will not accept personal references.
