Who We Are

River Network envisions a powerful and inclusive movement that ensures abundant clean water for all people and nature to thrive. Our mission is to grow and strengthen a transformational national network of water, justice, and river advocates. Visit www.rivernetwork.org to learn more about our current priorities.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion as the foundation of our mission. Explore our core values, principles for equitable work, and approach to building an inclusive workplace. Through our programs, we connect with communities to increase their impact in securing clean and safe water, and a healthy environment for all. Through our practices and leadership, we cultivate a culture that attracts diverse staff, board, members, and supporters.

River Network’s headquarters are in Boulder, Colorado and we have staff located in communities across the U.S. While we are a dispersed staff team, we are highly collaborative, and value distributed leadership approaches that aim to share decision-making authority and responsibility to the staff closest to the work. All staff are encouraged to engage in cross-cutting internal staff committees and initiatives that provide opportunities to work with colleagues outside of their primary focus area. Our staff is deeply invested in creating and tending to a healthy workplace culture and engaging all staff to influence and shape that culture. Find information about our financials here (annual reports, financial statement, 990). River Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Every other year we convene our network at River Rally, the premier gathering for water and river advocates across the United States bringing together hundreds of organizations and community leaders to share knowledge, build skills, and strengthen the movement for water justice.

Our Strategy

The United States is facing a crisis of water security, affordability, quality, and access. We believe all living beings share a common home and a fundamental right to clean water. In response, River Network strengthens organizations and leaders to improve and protect their waterways, create climate-resilient communities, and ensure equitable access to safe, affordable drinking water.

We accomplish this locally and nationally by responding to the capacity and training needs of organizations and communities, synthesizing and elevating proven practices from the field, and advancing Tribal, local, state, and federal government policies to achieve water security for people and nature.

We build community through River Rally, peer groups, and collaborative learning opportunities. We train people impacted by pollution and flooding in the technical and leadership skills they need to create local solutions. We provide education to break down complex topics, and we fund local leaders so they can focus on the work, knowing that equitable and enduring solutions must be created with, by, and for the people most impacted. In short: we ease the burden for local and grassroots groups.

Executive Director

River Network seeks a mission-driven and collaborative leader with a growth mindset. After a period of financial and structural transitions, we are seeking an experienced Executive Director who can provide visionary and empathetic leadership to guide the organization through a period of continued renewal, maintaining and growing stakeholder support and strengthening organizational culture while charting a sustainable path forward. The ED must share our vision of a powerful and inclusive movement that ensures abundant clean water for all people and nature to thrive. We seek a leader that demonstrates humility, values collaboration, and brings the passion, skills, and enthusiasm needed to lead our national tight-knit team and grow our $7M annual operating budget. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors. 

The Executive Director will lead and partner with River Network’s deeply committed team during a period of organizational transition, fostering a culture of collaboration, distributed leadership, and innovation. This person will work closely with senior staff to set organizational strategy, chart a sustainable path forward, and drive critical fundraising efforts to ensure the organization's financial stability. The Executive Director will represent our organization's vision, values, and strategies to external partners and stakeholders, and will serve as the primary liaison to our Board of Directors. We seek an experienced leader who values water as something all people and nature need to thrive, and who is committed to centering racial justice at the intersection of water protection, access, and equity. Our ideal candidate will embrace the opportunity to serve as a change agent, create clear pathways of communication for staff at all levels, encourage new ideas, and provide leadership that aligns with our values, purpose, and programs.

The ideal candidate should recognize River Rally's power and potential, and use it strategically to serve the organization's core mission of supporting the network of local water groups. Success would mean someone who can maximize Rally's reach and impact while also building the infrastructure, relationships, and services that build River Network’s value to members every day.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Organizational Culture

The Executive Director will provide strong, collaborative leadership to a talented, mission-driven staff, working closely with senior leadership to refine and advance organizational strategies and priorities. Commitment to trust and transparency will be essential—our new leader will foster a shared vision across all levels of the organization where staff and board, together, understand what we're working towards, how we'll achieve our goals, and how data tracks progress. The Executive Director will demonstrate cultural competency and emotional intelligence while centering an inclusive leadership style that advances equity, inclusion, diversity, and justice throughout the organization.

Our ideal leader not only embraces a growth mindset but inspires others to do the same, creating an environment where innovation and continuous learning thrive. Gathering ongoing input and feedback from staff, member organizations, and the Board will be critical to success. The Executive Director will oversee the teams and strategies necessary to maintain a sustainable and supportive work environment, while strengthening trust and communication between the staff and the Board to support organizational health and shared accountability.

Fundraising, External Relations, and Partnership Development

The Executive Director will play a critical leadership role in fundraising and revenue development, working closely with all staff and Board to diversify and strengthen the organization's funding base in an evolving landscape. We seek a leader with demonstrated ability to strategically and entrepreneurially generate revenue and identify new opportunities while adapting approaches to meet shifting funder priorities. Building confidence and trust with external partners will be paramount—our new leader will continue to position the organization as a reliable partner and essential ally to foundations, individual donors, corporate partners, and government agencies. The Executive Director will cultivate and deepen relationships across the philanthropic community, demonstrating the organization's stability, impact, and vision for the future.

As the primary ambassador for River Network, the Executive Director will elevate the organization's profile through authentic relationship-building with philanthropy, government agencies, partners, community leaders, members, and peer nonprofits. The Executive Director will support and work alongside program staff to nurture relationships with local and regional communities, community-based organizations, and local leaders, advancing the organization's current commitment to water equity and climate resilience. Through clear communication and transparent partnership, the Executive Director will continue to build stakeholder confidence and secure resources necessary for organizational sustainability and impact.

Strategic Planning, Operations and Organizational Development

The Executive Director will set organizational strategy and oversee development of strong operational infrastructure—including finance, human resources, and administrative systems—that enables sustainable growth. Working collaboratively with senior leadership and staff, this leader will ensure the budget aligns with programmatic priorities and that the organization follows best financial practices. The Executive Director will optimize existing systems and build systems for the future in ways that promote transparency, cross-organizational communication, and equitable workplace culture, creating the operational foundation necessary to achieve ambitious goals during this period of renewal and growth.

The Executive Director will lead the organization's strategic planning efforts, working collaboratively with staff, Board members, and community partners to develop River Network's next strategic plan. With the current plan covering 2023-2026, this leader will have the opportunity to shape the organization's future direction early in their tenure by leading efforts to define priorities, set ambitious yet achievable goals, and create a roadmap that reflects both the evolving needs of the movement for water and the organization's renewed capacity and vision. The Executive Director will ensure the strategic planning process is inclusive, transparent, and grounded in input from stakeholders at all levels.

Board Engagement and Relations

The Executive Director will work to ensure trust between staff and the Board of Directors, fostering transparent relationships that support organizational health and shared accountability. The Executive Director reports to a board that meets four times per year – typically two virtual meetings and two in person. Our Executive Director will ensure a strong working relationship with the board and board chair, work to align organizational outcomes with mission focus, provide timely information to board committees, and serve as a conduit between board and staff.

Requirements: 

• Significant experience leading an organization, team, or program—setting operational strategy, developing and articulating a compelling vision, and guiding teams collaboratively to achieve shared goals.
• Demonstrated fundraising expertise and ability to cultivate relationships across the philanthropic community—including foundations, individual donors, government and corporate partners— to secure and grow funding partnerships to ensure organizational sustainability and impact.
• Financial acumen, including experience developing or overseeing the development of complex annual and multi-year budgets for organizations of similar size and complexity as River Network.
• Demonstrated change leadership and stabilization experience leading organizations through transitions and rebuilding team cohesion after periods of organizational challenge or change.
• Proven ability to work effectively with boards of directors, building productive partnerships and transparent communication between governance and staff leadership.
• Strong communicator with experience representing organizations to diverse external audiences, including partners, donors, media, policymakers, and community stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build, develop, and manage a high-performing team eager to be part of an organization’s long-term success, with experience coaching and mentoring staff, fostering professional growth, and creating supportive work environments where people thrive.
• High emotional intelligence and leadership skills to honor past difficulties while mobilizing staff toward a shared vision for the future.
• Personal and professional understanding of how diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice play a central role in both advancing equity within an organization and in creating a more just and inclusive movement for water.
• At least 15 years of relevant leadership and proven fundraising experience. 
• Bachelor’s Degree required; degree in nonprofit management, environmental studies, social sciences or any related field a plus.
• Passion for River Network’s mission, its network members, and the waters on which all life depends.
• Commitment to River Network’s Core Values, including respect, integrity, growth, and inclusion.

Salary and Location

Candidates can be located anywhere in the U.S. but must have the ability to travel as needed. The annual base salary for this role is $200,000, with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision health insurance; 403b retirement savings plan; generous vacation and well-being leave; employee assistance program; life insurance; technology stipend; parental leave and paid holidays.

River Network’s EEO Statement

Don’t meet every single requirement?

We know that some candidates are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with each qualification in the job description, please go ahead and apply anyway! You might be just the right candidate for this role. Consistent with our values and our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as stated above, River Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Interested candidates should apply at www.chaloner.com. Chaloner will review all applicants and, upon qualification, contact you to determine next steps.