Resilience Director, Coastal Quest

Position Overview

Salary: $95,000 to $135,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience

Description

Coastal Quest is hiring a Resilience Director based in Oakland, California, paying $95,000 to $135,000 annually, leading climate resilience and adaptation work across the San Francisco Bay Area and California, with first review of applications already underway and the role open until filled.

Coastal Quest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working collaboratively with communities to build a more resilient coast through inclusive, science-based planning, governance, financing, and project implementation. The organization works from white water to blue water, on lakes, shorelines, and at the land-water connection, providing project management, technical and scientific expertise, contract management, grantmaking, and public-private partnership facilitation.

The Resilience Director leads complex, multi-sectoral climate resilience and adaptation work in coordination with the Coastal Quest team and partners. At least 70 percent of the time will be spent on high-touch technical expertise: technical grant writing, complex project development, and project implementation. Subject matter expertise across nature-based solutions, green-grey hybrid infrastructure, renewable energy transition, air and water quality, wildfire management, resilience hubs, sea-level rise adaptation, sustainable financing, economics, and policy is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise and project ideation for complex climate resilience and adaptation projects, driving successful technical grant proposals and cross-sector partnerships across cities, counties, tribes, public agencies, non-profits, community-based organizations, and communities in need of environmental and climate justice.
• Write technical grant proposals on behalf of public and non-profit partners; drive budget development; coordinate multiple simultaneous proposals; package and submit grant proposals; perform post-award agreement functions.
• Develop workplans and manage multiple grant proposals, projects, and workstreams independently, setting deadlines for team and partners and managing relationships with care.
• Ensure programmatic commitments, policies, financial standards, and legal requirements are met across projects.
• Provide fundraising, program, and administrative technical assistance and capacity building support for partners and fiscally sponsored projects.
• Manage grant and contract databases, serve as primary contact for grant budgets and budget modifications, and oversee contracting and financial monitoring of sub-awards.

Requirements

• Interdisciplinary training in natural and social science, resource conservation and management, or policy: PhD with at least 7 years of relevant experience, or Master’s or MBA with at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Strong demonstrated project management and contract management skills, including experience winning and managing large public grants.
• Proven track record of leading coordination and writing winning grant proposals, building workplans, managing multiple workstreams, delivering programs, and reporting.
• Subject matter expertise in climate resilience topics and sectors such as ecosystems, built environment, air and water quality, disaster resilience, and wildfire management.
• Strong facilitation, conflict management, and partnership-building skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience drafting contracts and grant agreements and managing them through their lifecycle.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel including basic statistical functions.
• Experience manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting financial data; experience with accounting and financial reporting systems.
• Experience with U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance, state and local regulations, and standard contract clauses.
• Experience in partnership development with Tribal nations, business, nonprofit partners, community groups, and government agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences.

Additional Notes

• Headquarters in Oakland, California, with in-person office hours expected in 2026 and regular travel across the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Competitive benefits package including health, vision, dental, 401(k), paid time off, holidays, and sick leave.
• First review of applications began December 10, 2025; position open until filled.
• Coastal Quest is committed to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, and treats all employees with respect and dignity regardless of race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law.

How to Apply

Submit a single PDF to info@coastal-quest.org containing the following materials:

• One-page cover letter and resume
• One writing sample
• Three references