Heartland Fund hiring for Rural Climate Initiative Director

The Rural Climate Initiative (RCI) aims to leverage climate investments in small towns and rural communities to spur sustainable job development that will allow communities to protect what they love about the places where they live, and build communities strong enough for young people to want to make homes there. Through grantmaking, technical assistance, policy advocacy, communications, and organizing, the RCI will address climate change through a place-based, sustainable job and economic development strategy.

The Heartland Fund is seeking a dedicated, creative leader to direct our new Rural Climate Initiative. Top priorities for this position include continuing development and implementation of the Rural Climate Initiative strategy, identifying and working with rural leaders across the country, increasing the funding available for rural climate work and leveraging resources of existing efforts in the climate, economic development and rural advocacy space, supporting a diverse advisory team of top rural field and thought leaders, and communicating program accomplishments and trends to our funders and grantees.

This is an exciting and dynamic job in an emerging nonprofit funding collaborative, with opportunities for advancement and leadership. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker and excellent communicator with project management experience, campaign skills, experience working on complex policy issues, and a thoughtful approach to relationship management and racial equity issues. We are looking for a self-starter with a knack for strategy and evaluation, and an upbeat team player who shares our vision of connecting leaders and building civic and political infrastructure in rural areas.

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