The Program Manager, Community Visioning 2030 will lead the design and implementation of community-driven planning initiatives that support rural communities navigating climate and energy transitions. This role oversees curriculum development, partnership coordination, team management, and local implementation to advance equitable, inclusive decision-making across Colorado.
Description
Location: Hybrid, Colorado with preference for Denver area
Job Type: Full-Time, Regular
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $85,000 - $90,000
Reports To: Executive Director
About Us
The Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) leads efforts at the intersection of democracy, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment. The Community Visioning project is designed to strengthen rural communities by equipping them with the tools, processes, and leadership capacity to make democratic, informed decisions about clean energy siting and other large-scale development proposals. Through content and program development, field implementation, and operational support, the project fosters transparent, just, and community-driven development that aligns with local values, priorities, and long-term resilience.
About the Role
The Program Manager will lead the development and execution of CDI’s community engagement initiatives with a strong focus on advancing equitable renewable energy solutions. This role requires expertise in program management, stakeholder engagement, and the delivery of technical assistance to communities, particularly those impacted by climate and energy transitions. The ideal candidate brings deep experience facilitating community-led processes and designing inclusive engagement strategies, along with strong skills in content development, training, and field implementation. They will be responsible for managing internal staff and contractors to ensure high-quality execution and must be comfortable navigating complex partnerships at the intersection of climate justice, renewable energy, and community empowerment.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Content & Program Development
- Lead the design and development of training programs, facilitation tools, and engagement strategies that advance community-driven planning and governance across multi-sectoral issues.
- Conduct research to identify best practices in community-led governance, stakeholder collaboration, and environmental decision-making.
- Co-design curriculum and training materials with subject-matter experts to ensure they are practical, evidence-based, and engaging.
- Collaborate with community leaders and partners to tailor content for local needs, ensuring accessibility and cultural relevance.
2. Community Engagement & Partnerships
- Identify and assist local facilitators and initial leadership at the community level to launch the implementation process.
- Provide primary resources and assistance as needed for local facilitators , working directly with communities to implement visioning projects and decision-making frameworks.
- Support coalition-building and cross-sector collaboration, ensuring diverse community voices are represented in program activities.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with community leaders, local governments, advocacy organizations, and funders.
3. Implementation & Operations Management
- Oversee the execution of program initiatives, ensuring content is effectively implemented in communities.
- Coordinate logistics in support of local staff and partners, for training sessions, workshops, community visioning sessions, and partner activities, ensuring smooth execution and full-spectrum participant engagement.
- Provide direct coaching and technical assistance to local stakeholders implementing program materials and strategies.
- Develop and implement processes for tracking and measuring program effectiveness, including participant feedback mechanisms.
- Work collaboratively with internal/external teams and contractors to ensure program deliverables are met on time and within budget.
4. Team & Resource Management
- Manage internal staff and contractors, ensuring clear roles, expectations, and accountability.
- Oversee budgeting, timelines, and project workflows, ensuring efficient use of resources.
- Support staff and facilitators in adapting program materials and troubleshooting implementation challenges.
5. Fundraising, Reporting & Communications
- Provide fundraising support by contributing to grant writing, donor reports, and funding proposals.
- Ensure compliance with grant reporting requirements, maintaining accurate data on program implementation and impact.
- Document best practices, case studies, and lessons learned to inform future program expansion, development, and publication.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum 7- 10 years of experience in community and stakeholder engagement, program management, curriculum development and delivery, and technical assistance.
- Demonstrated experience supporting community-led initiatives related to community development, climate justice, and/or environmental decision-making. Experience with energy-focused initiatives is a plus.
- Proven ability to develop practical, accessible resources such as toolkits, guides, and training modules tailored to rural and environmental justice communities.
- Strong background in field implementation, curriculum design, and applied research.
- Project management expertise, including overseeing contractors, coordinating field operations, and tracking timelines and deliverables.
- Excellent facilitation and communication skills with the ability to lead trainings and engage a wide range of stakeholders across sectors.
- Experience working directly with rural communities and within participatory governance models is highly preferred.
Interested in This Role? Here’s What to Expect
Our application process includes three steps:
Step 1: Complete Your Application
Submit your resume, cover letter, and responses to the following questions as part of your application:
- What excites you about the opportunity to work with the Climate Democracy Initiative?
- Describe a community-led initiative you've managed that involved cross-sector collaboration. How did you ensure community ownership and inclusivity in the process? What role did you play, and what outcomes were achieved?
- How do you approach managing program implementation across diverse teams and geographies, particularly when working with rural or under-resourced communities?
- What is your process for designing and delivering practical training or facilitation tools that meet community needs? Include an example of a toolkit, curriculum, or engagement strategy you’ve developed and what made it effective.
Step 2: HR Video Interview
Selected candidates will be invited to a video interview with a member of our HR team to further assess your experience and alignment with the role.
Step 3: Final Interview with Executive Director
Finalists will participate in a video interview with the Executive Director to explore your leadership experience, program alignment, and approach to community empowerment.
We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every qualification listed. Research shows that women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply—your experience and perspective may be exactly what we need.
Salary
$85,000 - $90,000 per year
Report job
