Program Director

UndauntedK12

7h • $100,000 - $140,000 • Remote

About The Position

UndauntedK12 seeks Program Directors to develop and lead state and local strategies that advance healthy, resilient, decarbonized schools across a portfolio of priority states and communities. The Program Director will shape and drive our work in priority states, including our advocacy priorities, programs, partnerships, operations, and support for fundraising. They will represent UndauntedK12 with partners and media, build alliances around K-12 climate action, and develop a deep understanding of local landscapes and opportunities. The Program Director will craft and execute targeted strategies to influence state-level policy, budgets, and implementation to realize change in these states. They will also equip state and local leaders with tools and resources to raise awareness about climate action in schools and accelerate change within their ecosystems. In addition, the Program Director will collaborate with Undaunted teammates and partners to advance national campaigns, contribute to organizational development, and support the design and implementation of policies and programs that drive climate action in schools nationwide. As part of a growing start-up organization, a successful candidate will be entrepreneurial in spirit; collaborative and successful at building relationships with individuals at all levels of organizations; and successful at advancing multiple projects at once. Our ideal candidates will have experiences with policymaking, advocacy, school district leadership, state program administration, and/or clean energy and school infrastructure project implementation. They will have shown an ability to work with diverse networks to realize change in the world. This is a flexible location role with preference to candidates based in the following locations: Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Requirements

• College degree or comparable experience
• Minimum 7 years experience working with a broad set of stakeholders advancing change strategies specific to education or climate
• Subject-matter expertise in a relevant topic such as climate and education policy, decarbonization, building electrification, climate resilience, environmental justice and/or public health.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum 3 years experience leading a team highly preferred

Responsibilities

• Shape Undaunted’s strategy in priority states
• Lead the development of multi-year, annual, and quarterly state-level goals, centering equity and impact in historically marginalized communities.
• Design and execute campaign strategies and advocacy plans in collaboration with allies and internal teams.
• Develop collaborative, impactful relationships to drive K-12 climate action
• Build and sustain high-impact partnerships with national, state, and local leaders and organizations across the youth, education, environmental justice, health, climate, civil rights, labor, and private sectors.
• Engage and influence state elected officials, agency leaders, and staff to advance transformative policy and programmatic change.
• Lead UndauntedK12’s policy advocacy, programs, & engagement in priority states
• Lead UndauntedK12 team members and partners advancing state and local initiatives, ensuring alignment across workstreams and with broader organizational strategy.
• Oversee a strategic, equity-centered approach to engagement and technical assistance requests from schools, districts, and agencies.
• Serve as a spokesperson and on-the-ground presence for UndauntedK12’s work, including with the media, in public testimony, op-eds, and published reports.
• Represent UndauntedK12 at conferences and industry events to expand awareness, partnerships, and engagement in our tools, resources, and thought leadership.
• Develop and maintain relevant data, insights, and metrics to inform strategy, demonstrate impact, and support advocacy and fundraising.
• Build capacity and movement infrastructure to drive K-12 climate action
• Propose, develop, and lead initiatives and programs that strengthen collaboration, leadership development, and partnerships in support of Undaunted’s policy and implementation goals.
• Coordinate and lead initiatives to include and leverage the voices of students and education leaders as advocates for change.
• Collaborate with team to develop tools, policy, research, data, resources, and partnerships that accelerate climate action in schools.
• Lead the planning and delivery of high-impact, action-oriented virtual and in-person convenings to advance Undaunted’s objectives.
• Contribute to shaping a healthy, thriving Undaunted
• Support team growth by participating in staff hiring, mentoring, and managing staff, where applicable.
• Strengthen UndauntedK12’s organizational knowledge base around state-specific strategies and local implementation best practices.
• Lead, manage, and contribute to network communications and funder updates (including content for emails, social media, and our websites).
• Contribute to organization-wide strategic projects and other initiatives.
• Serve as a leader in building and sustaining Undaunted’s lean, nimble, effective, growth-oriented, joyful team culture.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage for employee, employer-paid life insurance, short-term/long-term disability including paid parental leave, and 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contribution.
• Paid time off including federal holidays and a winter holiday break.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees