Chief Program Officer

• POSITION TITLE :
  Chief Program Officer
• SUPERVISOR :
  President & CEO
• LOCATION :
  Remote;
  Washington DC; or Geneva Switzerland. Must possess valid work authorization
• SALARY RANGE :
  The salary range for this position is $144,000 - $180,000, depending on experience. If located in our Geneva office, a locality increase of 12.5% will apply
• DEADLINE:
  The priority Final date to receive applications is March 1, 2026. After that, the position will be kept open until a strong candidate pool is identified.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. We work at the intersection of environmental protection and human rights, across sectors and borders, and in close collaboration with global partners and local communities.

In the newly created role of Chief Program Officer (CPO), you are not just a leader; you’re a facilitator, bridge, a coach, and a force for coherence and impact. Grounded in deep experience using the law to protect people and the planet, you have successfully led senior teams to maximize integration, effectiveness and alignment. Your superpower is translating ambition into concrete plans, strategy into shared action, and values into practice.

You bring humility, facilitation skills, deep listening capacities and global‑mindedness. You’ve worked across cultures, geographies, and power dynamics, likely within human rights or environmental organizations or social justice networks. You’ve held space for tension and conflict without absorbing it, built cohesion and helped teams move through change with adaptive leadership, clarity and confidence.

Your role will support the organization to learn and respond to evolving needs by fostering reflection and supporting teams to be agile and pivot in response to changing and complex circumstances and new information, keeping CIEL on the front edge of innovative and effective strategies for change. You will drive cross‑programmatic strategies and alignment, and support organizational sustainability and effective planning in collaboration with the development and operations teams.

This role directly supervises three Program Directors (Climate & Energy, Environmental Health, and Fossil Economy) and the Communications Director; works in close collaboration with the Director of Development and Director of HR; reports directly to the CEO; and serves as a member of the Executive Team alongside the CEO, COO, CFO and General Counsel.

• Provide guidance and collaborate with Program and Communications Directors to develop and evaluate cross‑programmatic legal, advocacy and campaign strategies to protect the environment and human rights globally.
• Collaborate closely with key leaders across the organization in defining and executing the strategic and annual planning process.
• In collaboration with Program and Communications Directors and the CEO, provide strategic direction for the organization’s programs, ensuring alignment with its overall mission and goals and clearly communicate decisions on priorities.

• Support the consolidation of our Programs Dept, which will include Communications, leveraging the expertise and experience of Programs/Comms Directors, Managers and staff across the dept.
• Work in collaboration with the CEO, General Counsel, Program and Comms Directors to ensure programmatic decisions account for relevant risk analysis and role of organization.
• Build capacity for program monitoring and evaluation processes – ensuring continuous learning, adaptation and impact.
• Support implementation of evolving structures, processes and procedures with confidence and compassion, building trust across teams.

• Facilitate a high‑performing team of Directors to lead their teams, ensuring integration and program impact.
• Work with Program and Communications Directors and COO to develop work plans and budgets in line with both short‑term and long‑term goals.
• Support professional development of staff together with the HR Director.

• Contribute…