Chief Program Officer at Island Conservation: Fully Remote Global Conservation Job
Island Conservation is seeking an experienced Chief Program Officer (CPO) to lead the performance, integration and delivery of its global conservation programme portfolio. This is a full-time executive-level remote opportunity that can be performed from anywhere in the world.
The successful candidate will work closely with the CEO and serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. The CPO will oversee senior leaders across Impact & Innovation, Partnerships, Operations, Latin America and the Pacific while ensuring that organisational strategy is translated into measurable conservation results.
The position is particularly suited to a senior leader with experience managing complex programmes, multidisciplinary teams, multiple geographies and mission-driven organisations.
Chief Program Officer Job Details
Job Title: Chief Program Officer
Organisation: Island Conservation
Location: Remote – Anywhere in the World
Employment Type: Full-Time
Experience Level: Executive
Education: 4-Year Degree Required
Cause Areas: Animals, Environment & Sustainability
Language: English required; Spanish, French or another island-community language preferred
Work Arrangement: Fully Remote
Salary: Not specified in the vacancy
About Island Conservation
Island Conservation envisions a world with vibrant biodiversity, resilient oceans and thriving island communities.
The organisation describes itself as the only international nonprofit conservation organisation dedicated exclusively to restoring islands for nature and people worldwide.
Its approach combines island and marine ecosystem restoration with efforts to improve community livelihoods and climate resilience, manage invasive species and reestablish native animals and plants.
Island Conservation works across countries, disciplines and partnerships to turn ambitious conservation goals into lasting impact.
About the Chief Program Officer Role
The Chief Program Officer will provide senior-level leadership across Island Conservation’s global programme portfolio.
Reporting directly to the CEO, the CPO will ensure that organisational priorities are clearly defined, leaders are aligned, resources are directed towards high-impact opportunities and commitments result in measurable conservation outcomes.
The position will involve leading through other senior leaders rather than managing every programme directly. The successful candidate will create the systems, accountability structures and decision-making processes needed to keep a complex global portfolio moving forward.
Key Responsibilities
The CPO will lead Senior Directors across several programme and functional areas, establishing clear priorities, ownership and accountability.
Responsibilities include translating organisational strategy into quarterly and annual programme priorities with clear timelines and deliverables.
The successful candidate will establish practical systems for tracking priorities, commitments, risks, progress and results across the portfolio.
They will also identify delays, capacity constraints and trade-offs early and help the organisation make informed decisions about sequencing and resource allocation.
Financial and resource management will be another important part of the role, including oversight of programme budgets and ensuring resources are directed towards the organisation’s highest-impact opportunities.
Executive Leadership and Team Development
The Chief Program Officer will directly supervise Senior Directors working across Impact & Innovation, Partnerships, Operations, Latin America and the Pacific.
The CPO will establish expectations for leadership performance and accountability while conducting regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews and coaching.
The role will involve developing a culture based on ownership, transparency, collaboration and results.
The successful candidate will also support Senior Directors in managing and developing their own teams and address performance challenges, capacity constraints and structural gaps when necessary.
Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships
Although the role is primarily focused on internal programme leadership, the CPO will also contribute to fundraising and external relationships.
The successful candidate will help ensure that programme priorities are clearly defined, compelling and suitable for funding opportunities.
They may support the cultivation and stewardship of major donors, foundations and public funders and contribute to proposal development.
The CPO will also engage with strategic partners around priority programmes and represent Island Conservation in selected external settings.
Qualifications and Experience
Island Conservation is seeking a senior executive who combines strategic thinking with strong execution skills.
Candidates should have significant senior leadership experience within conservation, environmental management, nonprofit organisations, international development or another complex mission-driven environment.
Experience leading senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams across multiple programmes, functions or geographical regions is important.
The ideal candidate should be able to translate strategy into priorities, plans, accountability and measurable results.
Strong people leadership skills are required, including executive coaching, performance management, team development and organisational decision-making.
Candidates should also have experience managing complex programme portfolios, including prioritisation, budgeting, resource allocation, risk management and delivery.
Experience supporting fundraising, institutional funders, major partnerships or resource development is valuable.
Global Working Environment
The Chief Program Officer role is fully remote and can be performed from anywhere in the world.
The position requires the ability to work across international time zones and travel internationally when required.
English is required. Spanish, French or another language spoken by island communities is preferred.
The organisation is looking for a collaborative leader who can work effectively across different cultures, regions and areas of expertise.
Benefits
Island Conservation offers a range of benefits, including:
- Paid vacation and personal time
- Paid sick leave
- Parental leave
- Retirement savings match of up to 3%
- Remote work
- The opportunity to contribute directly to conservation outcomes around the world
The vacancy does not specify a salary range.
How to Apply
Candidates interested in the Chief Program Officer position should apply through the organisation’s application page.
Applicants will need to provide their personal information and upload a resume in PDF format.
The application includes questions covering senior-level people supervision, management of Senior Directors, complex programme portfolios, conservation or environmental experience, budget and resource allocation, organisational systems, international leadership experience, international travel and time-zone flexibility.
Applicants will also be asked to identify the regions where they have significant professional experience, including Latin America, Pacific/Oceania, Caribbean, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
For reasonable accommodation during the application process, candidates can contact:
Email: humanresources@islandconservation.org
Conclusion
The Chief Program Officer opportunity at Island Conservation is a senior global leadership role for an experienced professional passionate about conservation, environmental sustainability and measurable impact.
The successful candidate will help connect people, programmes, resources and systems across a global portfolio while supporting Island Conservation’s efforts to protect biodiversity, strengthen island communities and build resilient ecosystems.
Because the position is fully remote and open to candidates anywhere in the world, it offers an opportunity for an experienced conservation or mission-driven executive to contribute to international environmental work without being tied to a specific office location.
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