US Program Director

U.S. Program Director

Location: Remote (US-based), with regular travel within the United States
Type: Full-time
Reports to: CEO

About Constructive

Constructive is an independent non-profit organization reshaping how the energy and climate ecosystem collaborates. We design and lead cross-sector platforms, convenings, and long-term initiatives that build trust, align priorities, and accelerate progress toward energy abundance and a thriving planet.

We work with senior leaders across government, industry, finance, philanthropy, and civil society to turn fragmented efforts into durable, action-oriented collaboration. Our model blends strategic advice, expert facilitation, and event production—creating environments where complex problems can be tackled with clarity and momentum.

Constructive is entering a new phase of growth. We have secured a strong funding runway and are developing a robust pipeline of initiatives with high-caliber partners. Demand for our work is strong and growing; this role exists to translate that momentum into a scalable U.S. portfolio with the team, systems, and partnerships to match.

The Opportunity

Constructive is seeking a U.S. Program Director to lead our U.S. portfolio as a core member of the global executive team. This is a defining leadership role with real organizational scope: you will shape U.S. strategy, build and steward senior relationships, grow and diversify revenue, and lead delivery across a portfolio of high-impact initiatives.

We are looking for a seasoned leader who wants to build something distinctive in the ecosystem. Constructive is not a think tank, an advisory shop, or an event agency—though we borrow the best of each. We fill a meaningful gap: designing and operating cross-sector collaboration as an enduring capability, with a strong point of view on systems, trust, and execution.

You will be successful in this role if you are energized by:

• setting strategy and building durable partnerships across sectors
• translating ambiguous, high-stakes problems into clear architectures and operating plans
• fundraising and business development as an extension of program strategy
• building teams, systems, and a repeatable delivery model
• representing an organization externally with credibility, nuance, and conviction

Role Overview

The U.S. Program Director will lead a cohesive portfolio of U.S. programs and platforms in close coordination with Constructive’s global efforts. You will serve as a primary external face of Constructive in the United States, drive fundraising and partner development, and manage a growing team delivering complex, multi-stakeholder work.

You will work closely with the CEO and executive team to ensure our U.S. work is strategically focused, exceptionally well-designed, and operationally excellent—and to help build the organizational foundations needed for the next stage of Constructive’s growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Design

• Shape Constructive’s U.S. strategy with the CEO and leadership team, informed by a global view of how institutions collaborate
• Identify priority sectors and themes where Constructive can play a catalytic role
• Design and oversee a scalable portfolio of platforms, convenings, and long-term collaborations
• Apply systems thinking to create clear, navigable program architectures that partners can commit to
• Translate strategy into actionable roadmaps, resourcing plans, and measurable progress

Program Development & Delivery

• Lead design and delivery of major U.S. programs, convenings, and dialogues
• Oversee scoping, workplans, budgets, and delivery execution
• Integrate AI-enabled methods to streamline production, improve synthesis, and support collaboration
• Guide development of analytic work and decision-support tools
• Establish KPIs and learning loops to improve program effectiveness

Stakeholder & Partner Engagement

• Build trusted relationships across federal, state, and local government; industry; investors; philanthropy; and civil society
• Lead high-level engagements, facilitating conversations with humility, curiosity, and strategic clarity
• Identify and manage partnerships with delivery partners, co-hosts, and collaborators
• Represent Constructive at key events and help shape our voice in the U.S. ecosystem

Fundraising & Business Development

• Lead fundraising for U.S. initiatives, cultivating relationships with philanthropic, corporate, and government funders
• Apply a solutions-oriented, entrepreneurial approach to identifying aligned funders
• Develop funding strategies that support both programmatic ambition and organizational sustainability
• Oversee development of concept notes, proposals, budgets, and reports
• Maintain strong internal systems for pipeline and commitment tracking

Team Leadership & Management

• Build and mentor a high-performing U.S. team and partner network
• Set clear roles and expectations; provide coaching and support
• Foster a culture of constructive debate, continuous learning, and high standards for quality
• Partner with operations leadership to ensure HR, finance, and tools support program delivery

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as member of Constructive’s executive team, contributing to organization-wide strategy, learning, and growth.
• Help align U.S. programs with international efforts and other Constructive initiatives to maximize impact and coherence.
• Actively shape Constructive’s delivery model, methods, and intellectual frameworks based on what you learn in the field.
   

Qualifications

Required

• 12+ years of relevant experience, with significant time in program leadership, portfolio management, or organizational leadership roles.
• Deep familiarity with the U.S. energy, climate, infrastructure, or related policy/finance ecosystem, and credibility working with senior stakeholders across sectors.
• A strong, well-established network across the U.S. energy and climate ecosystem (public, private, philanthropic, and investor communities)
• Demonstrated experience designing and leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives or platforms (coalitions, public–private partnerships, multi-year programs).
• Strong track record in fundraising and partnership development, including experience with philanthropy, corporate partners, and/or public funding.
• Excellent strategic thinking and synthesis skills: able to connect the dots across policy, markets, technology, and institutions.
• Appreciation for design, systems thinking, and collaborative methods; ability to work effectively with creative and design colleagues to develop compelling materials and environments
• Strong people leadership experience, including building and leading diverse, distributed teams.
• Comfort with ambiguity and entrepreneurial environments; able to move from concept to execution quickly.
• Intellectual humility and curiosity: a willingness to test assumptions and evolve thinking.
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, including facilitation and presentation.
• Authorized to work in the United States and able to travel regularly within the U.S.

Preferred

• Experience with DOE or federal energy institutions 
• Direct experience in or significant exposure to the private sector (clean energy companies, investors, financial institutions, consultancies, or related firms)
• Robust international experience—ideally including living or working professionally outside the U.S.—and a global perspective on energy, climate, markets, or governance
• Experience scaling a start-up or building a new function/portfolio inside a growing organization
• Ability to go wide as well as deep across media, design, and AI—bringing an understanding of evolving media dynamics, the challenges of design and systems architecture, and a strong commitment to using AI to streamline operations and unlock new forms of collaboration.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field (public policy, technology, business, energy, or related areas)

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation for this role is competitive and market-aligned, commensurate with experience. Benefits include healthcare support, paid time off, and meaningful opportunities for professional and leadership growth. Details will be shared with candidates during the interview process.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early applications are encouraged.

Constructive is committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives who are excited about our mission.