Sightline Institute Principal Director, Program Development

Clover Search Works•Seattle, WA

1d•$166,000 - $185,000•Remote

About The Position

Sightline Institute is hiring a Principal Director, Program Development to identify, launch, and build new research programs. This newly created role will scout, vet, and recommend potential program areas, then establish each selected program through original research and publication, strategy development, early fundraising, coalition building, and recruitment of a permanent program director. Once that director is in place and leadership is handed off, the Principal Director begins the process again with another program, typically on a three- to five-year cycle. The position is for an accomplished researcher, skilled writer and speaker, and experienced program builder. Because the subject area changes every few years, Sightline values range and the ability to become credible in new fields over deep expertise in any one subject. The Principal Director will collaborate with Sightline’s research and communications colleagues and senior staff, who bring regional and political knowledge. The role works closely with the Executive Director and teams across the organization. Sightline Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, independent public policy research center whose mission is to make Cascadia a global model of sustainability, with strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment. Its work identifies and promotes policy reforms across climate and energy, housing and cities, and democracy and elections, using research, communications, coalition building, and engagement in policy debates. In the first year, the Principal Director will learn Sightline’s processes and how its research, communications, and advocacy work together; collaborate with the Executive Director to vet potential program areas and recommend one; and, once an area is selected, conduct and publish original research, develop program strategy, and begin cultivating funders and coalition partners. This is a full-time, salaried position reporting to the Executive Director. It is remote, but the employee must live and work in Cascadia (Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington) and travel to represent Sightline and participate in retreats and meetings.

Requirements

Substantial senior-level experience in policy research, advocacy, journalism, or a related field, including work initiated rather than inherited.
A track record of conducting and publishing original, in-depth policy research that changed minds, with the ability to become credible quickly in new fields.
Strong writing and public-speaking skills, and comfort serving as a senior spokesperson with media, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
Strong strategic thinking and the ability to identify ways to influence policy through research, communications, and advocacy.
Experience contributing to fundraising, including identifying and cultivating prospective funders and writing proposals and reports.
Experience engaging policymakers to translate research into policy influence.
Experience leading a new initiative, program, or team from early concept through launch, including setting strategy, defining goals, and building a team.
Commitment to Sightline’s mission and values.
Must live and work in Cascadia: Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington.
Must be able to travel to represent Sightline with policymakers, funders, and allies and to participate in Sightline retreats and meetings.

Nice To Haves

Experience building unusual coalitions.
Deep subject-matter expertise in one of Sightline’s current or potential program areas.

Responsibilities

Scout, plan, and build new research programs and develop and refine Sightline’s institutional system for expanding into new issue areas.
Evaluate potential program areas against Sightline’s selection criteria, lead an organization-wide input process, and recommend a program area for the Executive Director’s decision.
Conduct preliminary research and produce original, groundbreaking articles and analyses that establish Sightline’s credibility in each new area.
Develop an impactful program strategy drawing on Sightline’s strengths in research, communications, and coalition building, and begin building a supporting coalition.
Serve as a senior spokesperson by writing and publishing research, speaking publicly and to the media, and meeting policymakers, allies, and other stakeholders.
Anchor fundraising for each new program with the development team, including identifying, cultivating, and securing prospective funders.
Lead recruitment and staffing for each program, including hiring and mentoring its director, guiding the director through a transition, and handing off leadership.
Help build and manage each program’s budget and staffing with the operations team, and improve Sightline’s program-development approach with each cycle.

Benefits

401(k) employer contribution equal to 10% of salary, with no employee match required.
95% premium coverage for employee medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus partial dependent coverage.
Four weeks of paid vacation.
12 paid holidays annually.
Two weeks of paid health, wellness, and care leave, plus access to a shared pool of additional leave for special circumstances.
12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Three-month paid sabbatical every seven years.
$200 monthly remote-work stipend.
Mentoring, training, and learning opportunities, with support for career pathways.
Regular staff gatherings for in-person connection.
Eligibility as a nonprofit employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.