Director, Environmental Initiatives

At San Diego Foundation (SDF), we are committed to inspiring enduring philanthropy and enabling community solutions to improve the quality of life throughout our region. The Community Impact Division leads SDF’s programmatic initiatives and strategic partnerships to build a vibrant, equitable, and resilient San Diego County. 

The Director, Environmental Initiatives serves as the Foundation’s strategic and operational leader for environmental and climate-related initiatives. This role provides direct leadership to a multi-level team and works closely with internal colleagues and cross-sector partners, including donors, government agencies, academic institutions, businesses, and community-based organizations, to advance collaborative solutions to the region's most pressing environmental challenges.  

Building on SDF’s long history of environmental leadership and investment, the Director leads key initiatives that promote climate resilience, environmental equity, outdoor access, and sustainable community development. This role oversees a grantmaking portfolio of approximately $10 million annually in public and philanthropic resources.   

This is a hybrid position with regular onsite expectations at SDF's headquarters in Liberty Station, San Diego. 

Essential Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for the environmental initiatives portfolio, ensuring alignment with SDF’s mission, strategic plan, and organizational goals. 
• Lead the implementation of environmental and climate-related strategies in partnership with internal stakeholders and regional partners.  
• Establish and monitor goals, outcomes, and evaluation measures to assess initiative performance and community impact. Develop annual program and operations budgets and track financial and program impact. 
• Identify emerging opportunities, trends, and challenges related to environmental resilience, conservation, sustainability, and equity across the San Diego region. 
• Support cross-functional planning, reporting, and alignment related to environmental strategies and priorities.  

Fundraising & Resource Development

• Develop and implement strategies to secure philanthropic, foundation, corporate, and government funding for SDF’s environmental initiatives. 
• Cultivate and steward relationships with national, state, and local funders, individual donors, and strategic partners to attract and sustain investments in environmental programs. 
• Partner with Development & Stewardship and Marketing & Communications teams to align fundraising efforts, donor engagement and communications. 
• Manage annual budgets, contracts, and approximately $10 million in grants (public and philanthropic) and charitable expenditures. 
• Prepare proposals, reports, presentations, and other materials that communicate progress, outcomes, and future opportunities to funders and leadership 

Grantmaking & Community Collaboration

• Oversee the design and implementation of strategic grantmaking processes that advance regional environmental priorities and donor intent. 
• Lead engagement with grant advisory committees and other stakeholders ensuring best practices in philanthropy, transparency, and impact measurement. 
• Foster collaboration among donors, nonprofits, civic leaders, academic partners, and government agencies to amplify collective impact and strengthen regional networks. 
• Ensure effective and timely grants management in partnership with internal staff and systems such as Foundant and Blackbaud. 
• Facilitate convenings, workshops, and educational events that promote knowledge-sharing, partnership building and regional collaboration. 

External Relations & Thought Leadership

• Represent SDF's environmental work in community meetings, conferences, funder collaboratives groups (e.g., Smart Growth California, The Funders Network, San Diego Grantmakers), media opportunities, and other public forums.  
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to develop storytelling, blogs, and other written communications that elevate SDF’s environmental initiatives. 
• Position SDF as a trusted leader and regional partner through thought leadership and data-sharing on climate resilience, sustainability, environmental equity, and equitable community development. 
• Represent SDF on boards, advisory committees, and partnerships that advance shared goals in environmental equity and sustainability. 

Team Leadership & Organizational Collaboration

• Champion SDF’s mission, vision, and values. Model inclusive leadership and contribute to organization-wide efforts that support employee engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and support to a team of 6-8 full-time staff and contribute to a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning. 
• Mentor and develop emerging leaders within the Foundation, building capacity for long-term organizational success. 
• Build strong partnerships across CI departments and across the organization, especially with Development & Stewardship, Marketing & Communications, Finance, and Grants Administration. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, sustainability, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in philanthropy, nonprofit, government, corporate, or environmental sectors.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex initiatives and cross-sector partnerships.
• Proven success in fund development, including securing foundation, corporate, and government funding.
• Strong understanding of environmental issues impacting the San Diego region, including climate resilience, conservation, sustainability, and environmental equity.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, grants, and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills, with the ability to engage and build trust with diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to convene stakeholders and support collaborative decision-making.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with sound professional judgment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with grantmaking and fundraising systems such as Blackbaud and Foundant.
• Must reside in San Diego County.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in environmental science, sustainability, public administration, or a related field.
• Experience working within a community foundation or philanthropic organization.
• Knowledge of federal and state environmental funding systems.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Experience supporting advisory boards, committees, or community-based partnerships.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership and Systems Thinking
• Environmental and Climate Program Expertise
• Fundraising and Resource Development
• Grantmaking and Impact Measurement
• Cross-Sector Partnership Building
• Team Leadership and Talent Development
• Communication and Public Representation
• Equity and Community-Centered Leadership
• Financial and Operational Management
• Problem Solving and Innovation

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Professional, hybrid work environment based in San Diego, California.
• Fast-paced, mission-driven setting with multiple priorities and ongoing initiatives.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, or drive for extended periods, with or without accommodation.
• Ability to view and use a computer screen for up to two hours, with or without accommodation.
• Ability to type and enter data using a keyboard or similar tools.
• Ability to communicate effectively by phone, video conferencing, or in person.
• Occasional evening or weekend work required for community events and donor engagements.

Benefits

San Diego Foundation is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and success of our employees through a comprehensive and competitive benefits package: 

• Salaried, Exempt $130,000.00-$160,000.00 (San Diego Foundation is committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. Actual offers will be reflective of qualifications, skills, experience, internal equity, alignment with market data, among other relevant factors)
• Supportive, inclusive company culture; recognized as a Top Workplace by the San Diego Union-Tribune 5 years in a row
• Hybrid work environment with support for home office setup  
• Option for a 9/80 work schedule, providing every other Friday off  
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance for employees  
• 75% employer-paid premiums for eligible dependents  
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match, plus annual discretionary contributions  
• Earned Incentive Program  
• Three weeks of paid time off annually, plus an additional organization-wide paid week off in July  
• 13 paid holidays, plus 2 paid volunteer days each year  
• Extended Health Care Time accrual for sick leave, family care, and parental leave  
• Four-week paid sabbatical after every five years of service  
• $100 monthly cell phone and internet reimbursement  
• $75 quarterly wellness or gym reimbursement  
• Annual $600 match to a nonprofit of your choice through a Donor Advised Fund  
• Annual service recognition with a $100 donation to a nonprofit of your choice 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.