Executive Director

The Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) elevates and promotes the practice of environmental and outdoor learning across Colorado. Our network includes over 850 naturalists, teachers, non-profit professionals, community representatives, and government agency employees that serve over 800,000 learners across the state. We work together so that all Coloradans can understand and take actions to support the interconnected wellbeing of people and nature.  Learn more at www.caee.org. 

Position Overview

CAEE is a collaborative and values-driven organization that blends professionalism with joy, prioritizes thoughtful process, and creates inclusive learning experiences.  The Executive Director is a key driver of this culture and is responsible for oversight and administration of all CAEE employees and operations, ensuring that all activities are aligned to CAEE’s mission, vision, values, and ways of being.  

CAEE’s work is guided by a robust structure of environmental and outdoor learning committees, working groups, and active member engagement that ensures our programs and priorities are shaped by the field itself. CAEE is also the state affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education.  The Executive Director operates within this shared leadership model, accountable not only to the Board of Directors, but to the broader CAEE network and the communities we serve. The Executive Director brings together the collective wisdom of the network, helps navigate differing perspectives with empathy, and supports thoughtful, values-aligned processes that turn shared ideas and goals into action—without sacrificing wellbeing, trust, or care for people along the way.

This position is primarily virtual, with flexibility to work remotely from within Colorado. CAEE maintains a shared workspace at CSU Spur in Denver, which is available for in-person collaboration, meetings, and convenings as needed. The Executive Director is expected to attend occasional in-person meetings and events, including some that take place during evenings and weekends. Reasonable flexibility is supported to balance these commitments with overall workload and wellbeing.

Core Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

People Leadership & Program Engagement (estimated 35% of time):

• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees, members, volunteers, participants, and guests
• Lead, coach, and develop all CAEE staff (2 full-time and 1 part-time employees) to build team capacity and effectiveness
• Model a healthy, sustainable work culture that encourages balance, wellbeing, and professional growth
• Support staff in developing and sustaining volunteer committees and other program teams
• Mentor staff and partners in the design, development, and delivery of high-quality programs and professional development experiences including CAEE’s annual conference and other flagship events, providing strategic guidance, quality assurance, and support
• Actively participate in select programs, events, and initiatives to model excellence, support team capacity, and maintain connection to CAEE’s work in the field
• Build and manage effective relationships with vendors and contractors that support CAEE’s mission and programs

Relationships/Promotion (estimated 20% of time)

• Represent CAEE and champion the value of quality environmental and outdoor learning within the environmental education community and the broader public
• Build and maintain strong relationships with individuals, organizations, funders, and partners to advance CAEE’s mission and programs
• Elevate CAEE’s visibility and recognition through high-quality programs, strategic partnerships, and media engagement
• Drive membership growth and engagement, fostering a strong, connected network of environmental and outdoor learning professionals
• Maintain collaborative relationships with the North American Association for Environmental Education, other state affiliates, and key national partners
• Coordinate communications, partnership activities, and engagement with the Board of Directors to ensure alignment and shared impact
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with all internal and external stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, Board members, and community partners

Strategy, Impact, and Continuous Improvement (estimated 20% of time):

• Lead collaborative strategic planning processes with the Board and stakeholders (typically every 5 years or as needed)
• Provide strategic leadership for the design and implementation of projects aligned with the CAEE Strategic Plan, Colorado Environmental Education Plan, and CAEE mission, vision, and values
• Partner with the Board of Directors to develop annual organizational goals, workplans, and performance measures aligned with the Strategic Plan
• Oversee evaluation of programs and organizational impact, and communicate outcomes and learning through CAEE’s annual report and other appropriate channels
• Regularly report to the Board on progress, outcomes, and risks, and support informed decision-making and adaptive strategy
• Ensure accurate maintenance of project documentation, organizational records, and required archives

Fundraising, Financial and Legal Management (estimated 25% of time):

• Manage and administer an annual budget of $800,000–$915,000, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and financial sustainability
• Ensure all projects and programs are adequately funded, and collaborate with staff to monitor and manage budgets effectively
• Set annual fundraising and sponsorship goals within the context of long-term organizational strategy, and design and implement plans to achieve them
• Oversee research, proposal development, management, and reporting for federal, state, and foundation grants
• Maintain compliance with all legal, regulatory, and reporting requirements related to CAEE’s nonprofit status
• Partner with bookkeepers to oversee financial record-keeping, track revenues and expenses, and coordinate periodic audits and financial reviews
• Engage Board members, volunteers, and partners to support fundraising and financial goals
• Ensure sponsors and funding partners receive required documentation and reporting in a timely and accurate manner

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or comparable lived and professional experience
• 5+ years of experience with organizational program management and knowledge of nonprofit organizations
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, project management, and grant management
• Proven ability to work effectively with groups of people with varied needs, priorities, and perspectives across the environmental and outdoor learning community
• Desire to advance equity and inclusion both internally and across the broader environmental and outdoor learning community
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and present to small and large group functions, in both virtual and in-person formats
• Demonstrated ability to independently identify priorities, apply flexibility to execute projects, and follow through to completion.  

Desired Qualifications 

• Significant professional experience demonstrating increasing responsibility, leadership, and success in nonprofit management
• Experience in organizational development and managing a professional association
• Knowledge of Colorado’s policy landscape, as well as national trends and priorities in environmental and outdoor learning
• Expertise in best practices for professional learning, environmental education, and outdoor learning programs
• Experience designing, planning, and supporting convenings such as events, workshops, or conferences, including successful volunteer recruitment and staff direction for small- and large-scale initiatives
• Demonstrated success building and stewarding relationships with sponsors, partners, and funders
• Experience participating in or leading strategic planning processes and contributing to organizational leadership strategy
• Experience working across a range of community contexts, including rural and urban settings, with an understanding of how place, access, and local dynamics shape programs and partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with communities through culturally responsive practices, lived experience, and authentic connection.

How to Apply

Send resume and cover letter in a single document to applications@caee.org. 

In your cover letter, we invite you to share how your experiences, skills, and values align with this role and CAEE’s mission. Please reflect on several of the required and desired qualifications—particularly program leadership, fundraising, relationship-building, and advancing equity and inclusion by providing concrete examples from your professional, community, or lived experience. We recognize that no candidate will meet every qualification and encourage applicants with diverse pathways into this work to apply.

CAEE works to ensure everyone in Colorado has an opportunity to learn about the environment where they live. We value inclusiveness and define diversity in its broadest sense.  CAEE welcomes everyone to the field of Environmental Education and the Alliance, including but not limited to people of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, national origins, socioeconomic status, religious affiliations, languages, and heritages. CAEE is an equal opportunity employer and does not tolerate discrimination nor sexual harassment in the workplace at any time, under any circumstance.  CAEE is committed to becoming a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization.