Vice President, Regional Programs

About American Rivers

 American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 4.4 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and the strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers.

The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities – including within our organization. The life experiences, knowledge, innovation, and talent that different people bring to our work provides perspectives, experiences, and competencies which are critical to our effectiveness in protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged rivers, and conserving clean water for people and nature.

Position Summary

The Vice President or Senior Director of Regions will support nine regional directors across the country, ensuring that our projects are well-coordinated and aligned with American Rivers’ mission and values and experts on the ground are well supported. American Rivers has grown over the last three/five years and has instituted operational systems changes and tool deployment to support this growth; this position will support the adoption and refinement of those structures and tool to best achieve our strategic goals. This leader will play a key role in supporting the development of regional councils, fostering collaboration, implementing the strategic plan, and driving fundraising initiatives to enhance organizational impact.

The successful candidate will also serve as a senior manager to the American Rivers Action Fund and help support the development of regional programming.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management:

Provide strategic direction and support to nine regional directors, fostering their development as effective leaders and managers.

Learn from the success in the regions and support the development of replicable models (policy, financial, administrative) to be used across the regions and the organization.

Serve on the organizational program and operations teams to ensure organizational coordination, strategic direction, and effective collaboration.

Evaluate and support an efficient and effective structure to facilitate cross-regional collaboration and ample support in accordance with our strategic plan.

Program Development and Coordination:

Ensure effective communication and coordination across teams and advocate on behalf of regions to implement the organizational strategic plan.

Support the vetting, development, and execution of public engagement campaigns.

Collaborate with internal teams to implement regional initiatives in alignment with national strategies and priorities.

Develop and coordinate American Rivers Action Fund strategies in coordination with interested staff and partners in regions.

Regional Council and Partner Development:

Support the growth and functionality of regional councils.

Ensure councils have tools and operations to serve as strong connectors to the organization and mission.

Help regional teams foster and advance thoughtful partnerships based in equity and justice to build a river movement that achieves outcomes to protect and restore rivers.

Fundraising and Financial Management:

Support regional directors in close coordination with advancement, fundraising strategies to secure resources for regional programs, and cultivating relationships with donors and partners.

Collaborate with the development team to identify funding opportunities and engage community partners.

Organizational Culture:

Promote an inclusive environment where staff and volunteers feel valued and empowered to contribute their best.

Act as a champion for American Rivers’ values, ensuring that all initiatives reflect our commitment to collaboration, results, equity, and justice.

Qualifications

Proven experience (12-15 years) in a senior leadership role in the nonprofit or environmental sector.

Exceptional, proven management skills of senior-level managers with a track record of developing high-performing remote teams.

Strong organizational skills, capable of managing multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.

Campaign and public engagement expertise.

Demonstrated creativity in problem-solving and strategic thinking to drive program success.

Deep commitment to equity, justice, and the principles of collaboration and community engagement.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of inspiring and building relationships with diverse stakeholders.

The ability to travel 30-50% of the time.

Experience with conservation project implementation is a plus.

Candidates who are unsure if they meet all minimum qualifications or who have transferable skills and experience beyond the conservation sector are encouraged to apply. 

LOCATION
This position may be located anywhere in the continental United States. Most of the management team works on East Coast time, although staff span the country.

COMPENSATION
American Rivers offers market-competitive compensation that reflects the selected candidate's qualifications and experience. The salary range for this position is $142,600-$180,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. We provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our full-time, regular employees, including:

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance.

Financial Security: After one year of service, American Rivers begins contributing a 3% employer contribution. There is no vesting schedule for employer contributions, as employees are 100% vested upon participation.

Time Off: Four weeks of paid leave, eleven paid holidays, three floating holidays, and sick leave.

At American Rivers, we are committed to supporting our employees’ well-being, professional growth, and financial security, ensuring they can thrive both at work and in life.

COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY

At American Rivers, our core values drive everything we do – we Lead with Collaboration and Trust, Infuse Equity and Justice, Deliver Results, and Ensure Staff and Volunteers Thrive. We are committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to make a difference.

Our culture prioritizes work-life thriving through Focus Fridays (no internal meetings), professional development opportunities, a home office stipend, and our comprehensive leave policies, including sabbatical leave (every seven years) and paid parental leave (six weeks w/ one year of service).

We also ensure leadership stays connected to staff needs through an internal advisory group, fostering open communication and continuous improvement.

At American Rivers, our people are our strength, and we are dedicated to building a thriving, inclusive workplace where everyone can grow and contribute to our mission.

American Rivers is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request reasonable accommodation, please contact the Human Resources department at 202-243-7040 or [email protected]. Please note that one week’s advance notice is preferred.

Posting for this position will close on March 20, 2026.

Applicant must be legally allowed to work as an employee in the United States.

American Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates of all personal and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.