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CHIEF PROGRAM DIRECTOR

We are thrilled to announce the search for DarkSky International’s next Chief Program Officer in partnership with Potrero Group, an executive search and strategy firm with a focus on nonprofit leadership.

DarkSky International seeks a strategic and collaborative Chief Program Officer to lead and grow conservation programs that protect the night sky worldwide, including policy work and certifications, and to guide a talented team and a growing set of partnerships to turn awareness into lasting action. Since 1988, DarkSky has grown from a small group of astronomers into a recognized global authority protecting the nighttime environment, with work reaching communities, parks, industries, and governments around the world. The Chief Program Officer will lead DarkSky’s program team and own the strategy, quality, and financial performance of its programs.

Visit potrerogroup.com/darksky for more information and to apply. Interested candidates should apply by November 13, 2026, for priority consideration.

DESIRED COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE

Program Leadership and Growth

  • A record of building and growing conservation, certification, or other programs with regional, national, or global reach, backed by concrete results.
  • Experience running a fee-for-service or earned-revenue model and expanding it over time.
  • A systems-level thinker who designs programs that scale and knows which opportunities to decline.
  • A broad leadership skill set and conservation experience are preferred, while an understanding of or direct participation in the lighting industry would be an advantage.

Team and Organizational Leadership

  • A seasoned manager who leads as a coach and mentor and knows when to seek input and when to be decisive.
  • Attuned to people and human dynamics, understanding that decisions carry downstream effects across the team and the wider organization.
  • Able to set boundaries respectfully and to establish and clearly communicate priorities.
  • Brings steadiness to teams that have weathered change, and earns trust by listening before acting.
  • Experience working with volunteer committees and boards of directors.
  • Partners well with the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Leadership Team, the Director of Lighting, Technology, and Strategy, and colleagues across departments.

Technical Fluency and Communication

  • Comfort with technical subject matter; a purely technical background is not required. An environmental or industry background suits this work better than a purely engineering or scientific one.
  • A strong writer who can turn technical evidence and complex ideas into clear narratives and produce public-facing content such as website and program materials.
  • History of working with and communicating to international audiences, with a sensitivity to how people of different cultures process information.
  • Comfortable with scientific, academic, and statistical data, and able to apply it to program standards.
  • Able to move between technical experts and general audiences, and to step back from their own technical depth when the moment calls for it.

Philanthropy and Partnerships

  • Comfortable working alongside development colleagues and engaging funders, including family foundations and corporate partners.
  • Skilled at forming the partnerships and coalitions that programs need to grow.
  • A credible public voice who can speak for DarkSky’s programs to partners, funders, and the field.

Mission Commitment

  • Committed to protecting DarkSky’s mission and values.
  • Driven by the work and the team’s success rather than personal recognition.
  • A genuine, personal investment in the conservation mission, in reducing light pollution, and in expanding dark sky programs worldwide.
  • An understanding that care, for the work and for the people doing it, is essential to success in this role.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time, exempt, benefit-eligible position. The anticipated annual salary range is $138,000–$161,000, commensurate with experience.

DarkSky International offers comprehensive benefits:

  • 100% of employees’ medical, dental, and vision premiums 
  • 50% for their dependents
  • 401(k) retirement plan, with a 4% company match
  • Paid vacation, 160 hours per year
  • Paid sick time, 80 hours per year

LOCATION

DarkSky serves a global constituency, and domestic and international travel is expected. Some evening and weekend work will be needed to support events and meet deadlines.

This position requires:

  • Availability during core hours (10 am to 2 pm MST)
  • Experience with U.S.-based nonprofit corporations
  • Experience outside the United States
  • Remote position with easy access to a primarily U.S.-based team
  • Ability to travel to the United States as needed
  • Availability to travel up to 25% of the time

START DATE

February 2027

TO APPLY

Please visit potrerogroup.com/darksky and select “Apply Here.” Applications should include a resume and a cover letter describing how your qualifications match the position criteria and what you will bring to the role. 

Interested candidates should apply by November 13 for priority consideration.

For additional information regarding this opportunity, please contact Daniel Student, Managing Director and Search Lead, at [email protected]

Learn more and apply