There is an opportunity for a program director, collective stewardship at rearc institute remotely.

About us

rearc institute is a nonprofit philanthropic association based in Copenhagen, Denmark and working at the intersection of climate action and architecture philanthropy. Our mission is to support the development of community led, climate-responsive architectural solutions while catalyzing new narratives in the built environment

We fund projects and organizations working creatively in service of “architectures of planetary well-being” – a framework which acknowledges the critical interdependence of our social and ecological systems.

Our partners work with their communities to develop place-based responses to climate breakdown, from design and construction prototypes to new education programs and coalitions. With a geographic focus in Latin America and the Caribbean, we fund this work through three programmatic areas of focus: Collective Stewardship, Alternative Materials, and Regenerative Infrastructures.

What is the role?

We are excited to announce an opportunity for a Program Director to lead our Collective Stewardship team at rearc institute. Within this program we provide direct donations to frontline organizations to secure land rights and design and build architectural initiatives that strengthen decision-making power of their communities.

In this role, you will be responsible for leading the development of the impact program’s work and overseeing our partner collaborations to ensure projects meet the program’s standards.

The ideal candidate has a strong interest and commitment to supporting community‑led architectural projects that empower frontline communities to collectively determine the access, use, and ownership of their land and natural resources, as well as an understanding of the climate‑philanthropy landscape. We are looking for an experienced professional who is organised, detail-oriented, and able to think critically and experimentally to continually evolve the work to ensure it is aligned with our mandate and accountable to our partners in the field.

If you have experience in architecture, can design and implement plans that create impact, lead and manage a small team, and have a passion for operational excellence, we invite you to apply.

In our dynamic environment, tasks evolve with the changing needs of the organisation. We are seeking someone with the flexibility required to excel during transitional stages of organisational development.

As Program Director, you will be working between high-level leadership and on-the-ground operations; You will manage your own team of 2 people while working closely with rearc’s leadership and also performing hands-on tasks.

Responsibilities overview

Program development and implementation: monitoring, managing, and assessing the impact of the program portfolio. This includes overseeing programmatic partners, directing proposals, evaluating reports, and identifying partnerships that align with the program strategy.

Program team leadership: attracting, developing, coaching, and retaining high-performance team members, while supporting them to evolve their level of responsibility and performance by fostering a caring environment for individual and team development.

Active learning: actively contributing to organizational learning and communications, and participating in internal working groups across programmatic teams

Reporting: preparing plans and status updates to be shared and presented to rearc’s executive board.

External relationships: establishing relationships, developing strategic alliances, and attending relevant external events to improve our ways of working and deepen our impact.

You are passionate about:

leveraging architecture and design as a tool to help secure land rights and support thriving, ecologically sustainable frontline communities
working with people and building organisational alliances
attention to detail, strategic processes, and rigorous execution
experimentation and critical thinking
listening deeply and thoughtfully

Your qualifications:

10-15 years of experience within architecture, design, and urban planning with a focus on community governance and ecological stewardship
working knowledge of the philanthropic built environment landscape
proven experience of supervising staff
proficiency in, or willing to learn, Google Workspace and Slack
professional fluency in written and spoken English; fluency in other languages is a plus

What we offer:

A full-time contract including six weeks of paid vacation a year. We support flexible work hours and remote working policies. rearc institute’s standard working hours are Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm (Central European Time). We are committed to tailoring working arrangements that suit the needs of our team. Team members must have the ability to participate in team and staff meetings that may occur during early morning or later evening hours, depending on local time zone, as well as the ability to travel when relevant.

We encourage applicants from all over the world to apply. Salary will be dependent on experience.

We are an equal opportunity workplace that is committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.

Apply for the job

Do you want to join our team as our new program director, collective stewardship? Then we’d love to hear about you!

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