Chief Executive Officer

Nature & Culture International (NCI) is a highly effective conservation organization working to protect tropical forests and biodiversity in South America. Over the past 30 years, it has conserved over 29 million acres in 211 protected areas across the Andes and Amazon by putting local communities at the center of the work rather than treating them as bystanders. The organization works primarily in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia, partnering with Indigenous groups, traditional communities, governments, and regional allies to protect land for the long term. Country teams lead conservation work on the ground, with headquarters in Loja, Ecuador, anchoring field operations and offices throughout the region.

The CEO is the organization’s chief fundraiser and its lead representative in the United States. This person leads the U.S. team, focuses on cultivating major institutional and individual donors, and builds partnerships that scale conservation work across Latin America. It’s a role for a leader who can tell a compelling story, build lasting donor relationships, and turn field results into sustained giving.

The job, at its core, is to fund the next stage of growth. Conservation is why the organization exists; revenue is what makes it possible. The next CEO will put the expanding revenue to work protecting some of the most biodiverse forests left on the planet. The U.S. branch exists to fund the work, not run it.

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible role. Salary range is $275,000–$325,000, based on experience.

Benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Paid time off
• Professional development support

Location

This is a remote position open to candidates who live in California, with a preference for those based in Southern California, close to our U.S. operations. Expect travel for donor meetings, conferences, and presentations, plus roughly four weeks a year in the field in South America.

Start Date

February 2027

To Apply

Select "Apply Here" below. Applications should include a resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications that match the position criteria and what you will bring to the role.

Interested and qualified candidates should apply by November 6, 2026, for priority consideration. The position is open until filled.

For More Information

More information on Nature & Culture International can be found at natureandculture.org

For additional information regarding this opportunity, please contact Cleveland Justis, Principal of Potrero Group, at [email protected]