Executive Director

Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Inc.; Colorado Springs (CO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

A leading nonprofit conservation organization seeks an Executive Director in Colorado Springs, CO, to provide strategic leadership and fundraising expertise. The role requires a hands-on leader committed to public lands and volunteerism, responsible for overseeing a budget of $1.8 million and a staff of 33. Responsibilities include enhancing program delivery, cultivating donor relationships, and ensuring organizational sustainability. The ideal candidate will possess extensive nonprofit leadership experience, strong communication skills, and a passion for land stewardship.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff and driving performance accountability.
• Knowledge of land management, ecological restoration, outdoor recreation, or natural resource management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership aligned with RMFI’s mission.
• Lead fundraising strategy and cultivate major donors.
• Support delivery of high-quality trail and restoration projects.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Communication

Team Management

Relationship Building

Education

5+ years of progressive leadership experience

Nonprofit leadership preferred

Job description

Interviews

Conducted on a rolling basis

The Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI), founded in 1982, is a recognized leader in conserving and protecting public lands throughout Southern Colorado and the Pikes Peak Region. Through volunteer-powered trail and restoration projects, environmental education, and restoration research, RMFI connects people to the outdoors, nurtures a culture of stewardship, and safeguards the ecological health of some of Colorado’s most treasured landscapes. We envision a future where vibrant, healthy natural systems are both respected and actively cared for by the public.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting moment for RMFI. Building on over four decades of success, the organization is poised to strengthen its leadership in land stewardship, education, and restoration research. The Executive Director (ED) will work collaboratively with the Board, staff, and partners to advance RMFI’s mission while responding to emerging challenges such as climate change, wildfire recovery, and increasing recreational pressures on public lands. The ED will be the chief ambassador of RMFI, ensuring the organization is visible, trusted, and impactful throughout Southern Colorado and the Pikes Peak region. The Executive Director manages a current budget of approximately $1.8 million and a staff of 33 (8 full-time salaried staff and about 25 seasonal field staff).

Candidate Profile and Responsibilities

The ideal candidate is an inspirational leader with a deep commitment to public lands and volunteerism. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong operational oversight, staff performance management, and strategic fundraising leadership. Working in close collaboration with the Board of Directors, the ED ensures that RMFI remains a sustainable, healthy, and innovative nonprofit conservation leader.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Mission Advancement

Provide visionary yet execution-focused leadership aligned with RMFI’s mission of public lands stewardship and environmental education.

Translate RMFI’s Strategic Plan into measurable annual operating plans with clear staff accountability.

Ensure high-quality delivery of trail, restoration, education, and research programs.

Operational Leadership & Staff Development

Directly supervise senior staff and establish clear goals, KPIs, and performance expectations.

Strengthen internal systems, workflows, and organizational processes.

Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, inclusion, and professional growth.

Ensure staff workload balance and operational clarity across departments.

Fundraising Strategy & Financial Stewardship

Lead overall fundraising strategy in partnership with the Marketing & Development Director.

Personally cultivate and steward major donors, sponsors, foundations, and government partners.

Work with the Finance & Operations Director and Board Finance Committee to oversee budgeting, financial controls, and reporting to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency. Establish clear metrics for success and monitor organizational performance.

Program Oversight

Support the Program Director and Marketing & Development Director to:

Ensure high-quality delivery of trail and restoration projects, environmental education programs, and research initiatives.

Champion science-based, innovative approaches to land restoration and conservation.

Expand volunteer, youth, and corporate programs to deepen community engagement and environmental stewardship.

External Relations & Advocacy

Serve as RMFI’s chief spokesperson and ambassador to the public, funders, land management agencies, and community partners.

Strengthen RMFI’s visibility through marketing, communications, and partnerships with schools, universities, conservation corps, and peer organizations.

Advocate for stewardship and sustainable recreation across Southern Colorado.

Partner with the Board of Directors to ensure strong governance, clear policies, and effective organizational oversight.

Recruit, retain, and mentor a talented and diverse staff; foster professional development, inclusion, work-life balance, and a healthy workplace culture.

Ensure RMFI remains an employer of choice through competitive compensation and benefits consistent with nonprofit standards.

Ensure RMFI's staffing, position descriptions, and organizational structure are consistent with current best practices and applicable employment law.

Qualifications

5+ years of progressive leadership experience (nonprofit leadership preferred).

Fundraising experience including donor cultivation and strategic development planning.

Knowledge of land management, ecological restoration, outdoor recreation, or natural resource management preferred.

Experience overseeing organizational budgets and financial systems.

Demonstrated experience managing staff and driving performance accountability.

Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Commitment to RMFI’s values of volunteerism, inclusivity, science-based solutions, integrity, and stewardship.

RMFI offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and opportunities for professional development.

Salary range is $120k-$130k per year, commensurate with experience.

Location & Work Structure

This position is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Hybrid work arrangements may be considered; however, the Executive Director must reside in or relocate to the Colorado Springs region within six months of hire. Frequent in-person engagement with staff, board members, partners, and community stakeholders is expected.

Application Instructions

Interviews: Conducted on a rolling basis

What to include: Resume & Cover Letter

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) provides equal employment opportunities to all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or any other protected status as established by law.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws, RMFI is committed to providing equal opportunity to qualified individuals with disabilities who, despite such disabilities, can perform their jobs with or without reasonable accommodation. RMFI will attempt to provide reasonable accommodation to employees and job applicants with known disabilities, to permit them to perform their jobs safely and efficiently.