SHIP Advancement and External Relations Lead

Position description

Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance global change science and solutions. AGCI seeks to improve our understanding of human and Earth systems, catalyze solutions at speed and scale, and nurture integrated communities across research and practice. We convene events, conduct research, provide advice to decision-makers, and develop innovative initiatives for implementation through a wide network of partners. Running through AGCI’s DNA is a strong institutional commitment to excellence in science that is actionable and accessible. For more information visit agci.org.

Founded in 1989, AGCI is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organization that supports staff and partners working to implement a mission that is international in scope yet grounded in local contexts and problem domains. As an “Institute Without Walls,” AGCI staff and consultants are based in a variety of locations across the United States.

During this critical period for people and the planet, AGCI is launching a new initiative: the Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project (SHIP). SHIP is a field-building initiative designed to safeguard and modernize the climate capacity needed for scaled global action. Born from a moment of profound disruption, SHIP is building a durable community of strategically placed climate experts to sustain critical work across data, science, policy, implementation, and frontline communities, with an eye towards reimagining how knowledge, talent, and institutions coordinate on climate action. By embedding talent in high-leverage roles and connecting those roles through a responsive learning and coordination network, SHIP is helping rebuild a climate ecosystem that is more resilient, distributed, and built to last.

We’re looking for builders, connectors, and systems thinkers eager to design new models of collaboration and accelerate climate impact at scale.

BUILDING THE TEAM

SHIP is building a lean, six-person management team to steward this work over the next three years, supported by a network of consultants and coalition partners. Together, this team will shape strategy, recruit and place talent across career stages and disciplines, build partnerships with advisors and host institutions, manage grantmaking, and strengthen coalition learning to deliver on SHIP’s vision: enabling climate action now while building more innovative, resilient climate action infrastructure in the future, by investing in the people and the coordination of expertise that make it all possible.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Full-Time

Location: The position can be remote anywhere within the continental United States.

Travel Requirements: up to 5-8 trips within the U.S.; and up to 1-2 trips overseas per year.

Position Title: Advancement and External Relations Lead, Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project

AGCI is seeking up to three innovative, collaborative professionals to provide strategic leadership over a diverse portfolio of work supported by the Strengthening Human Infrastructure Project (SHIP). Each Lead will take primary responsibility for one of three distinct areas of SHIP’s work, while collaborating closely with the SHIP Executive Director and the rest of the team to set direction, coordinate partners, and deliver impact:

● Network Manager and Learning: Designs SHIP’s community and learning ecosystem, convenes practitioners across institutions and sectors, and builds synthesis products that turn on-the-ground insights into actionable knowledge. Makes SHIP more than a fellowship network by building a lasting community of practice capable of accelerating impact far beyond any single placement.

● Advancement and External Relations: Leads donor stewardship, advancement, reporting, and aligned funding coordination with external partners. Supports partners in co-creating strategic communications. Positions SHIP as one of the most compelling climate infrastructure investments of this decade — shaping the narrative, securing funding, and cultivating the relationships that sustain SHIP’s talent and coordination engine.

● Portfolio and Strategy: Building on foundational responsibilities of grantmaking strategy and placement design, this role stewards the big-picture direction of SHIP’s portfolio: identifying high-leverage opportunities, supporting partners, and ensuring SHIP’s placements and grants serve as catalytic capacity for coordinated and scaled climate ambitions. Together, the three Program Leads will complement one another to cover SHIP’s full portfolio. Leads report to the SHIP Executive Director. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in program development, grant-making portfolios, and a broad understanding of climate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental justice opportunities across the science-to-action spectrum.

Advancement and External Relations:

This role positions SHIP as one of the most strategic, high-leverage climate investments of this decade — fueling the initiative’s growth through donor engagement, compelling storytelling, and strategic external visibility. Building from the core mandate of donor development and stewardship, this role expands SHIP’s reach by cultivating diverse funding partners, managing narrative strategy, and serving as a bridge between SHIP’s work and the broader climate and philanthropic communities. Unlike the other Leads, whose work centers on internal coordination, this role is outward-facing: ensuring that SHIP’s value, momentum, and impact are clearly communicated and championed by funders and strategic partners.

This is an ideal role for someone who can synthesize complexity into a powerful case for investment, build trusted long-term relationships, and help architect a durable financial and narrative foundation for SHIP’s future.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Core responsibilities (common across all levels)

● Coordinate or lead the planning, execution, and delivery of SHIP-related programs or projects.

● Support cross-functional collaboration by managing SHIP Coalition working groups and external relationships with partners and grantees.

● Track progress, manage timelines and budgets, and ensure alignment with SHIP’s strategic goals.

● Monitor developments in the field to identify emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities to better inform climate action.

● Contribute to SHIP’s collaborative and inclusive culture by leading through partnership, inside and outside the organization.

● Leverage former public service and/or federal government expertise to advance SHIP’s mission.

Advancement and External Relationships Lead Responsibilities

● Lead SHIP’s funder development, engagement, and advancement strategies.

● Develop compelling narratives of SHIP’s impact for funders and partners.

● Build and maintain trusted relationships with funders and aligned initiatives.

● Develop and execute strategic communications strategy, with the authority to represent SHIP publicly in donor and partnership contexts.

● Coordinate joint efforts with funders/aligned initiatives to sustain and pursue shared goals beyond SHIP.

● Provide strategic recommendations to the SHIP Executive Director on major funding partnerships and advancement strategies.

● In coordination with the SHIP Executive Director, manage development consultants supporting SHIP.

● Lead team-wide preparation and presentation of SHIP progress reports and updates to funders.

● Manage the Fundraising and Strategic Communications coalition working group and integrate recommendations into SHIP development, advancement, and communications strategies.

Ideal for candidates with 7-10 years of professional experience in philanthropy, fundraising, strategic communications, or partnerships—especially those skilled at telling powerful stories, cultivating high-level relationships, and mobilizing resources for ambitious climate work.

Qualifications

Experience and Background

● Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree preferred for senior roles and may substitute for up to 3 years of professional experience.

● Experience informing and advancing climate action as a public good (e.g. through public service, granted or contracted work, etc.) is strongly valued.

● Familiarity with multiple climate action domains (e.g., mitigation, adaptation, environmental justice, science policy, climate science).

● 7–10 years in philanthropy, development, stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, or related roles.

Technical Competencies

● Exceptionally strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to balance multiple donor and communications priorities in a fast-moving environment.

● Clear, compelling communicator—able to translate complex impact stories into persuasive written, visual, and verbal narratives for diverse audiences.

● Comfortable navigating modern collaboration tools (Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Slack, Salesforce or similar platforms), with a willingness to adopt new systems as SHIP grows.

● Demonstrated strength in fundraising, donor cultivation, and strategic communications, including crafting narrative arcs that inspire investment and long-term partnership.

Relational Competencies

● Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners.

● Demonstrated ability to contribute to inclusive teams and integrate equity perspectives into programs and partnerships.

● Strong external presence; able to represent SHIP publicly across audiences and build trusted relationships with funders and partners.

Mindset and Attributes

● Commitment to the public value of climate knowledge and accelerating climate action.

● Adaptability, curiosity, and a growth mindset.

● Strong sense of self- and situational awareness.

● Ability and willingness to travel, US and internationally.

● Ability to thrive in a small, supportive team that values situational awareness, humility, humor, and curiosity.

● Persuasive, collaborative, and motivated to sustain and grow SHIP’s reach and impact.

WORK SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION

The start date could begin as early as February 28th and no later than April 30th. AGCI operates a physical , primary office in Basalt, Colorado, with staff working from other states as part of its “Institute Without Walls” approach. Remote work within the United States is permitted in this role.

Compensation: Anticipated salary range is $130,000-165,000. AGCI offers a generous benefits package, including organization-paid employee and dependent medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability, 401(k) with up to 10% employer contributions, PTO, paid parental leave, flexible scheduling, wellness benefits, and professional development opportunities.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on jobs-near-me.eu