Description
About American Conservation Experience
American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a national nonprofit conservation corps that provides young adults and emerging professionals with hands-on environmental service opportunities on public lands across the country. Founded in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2004, ACE has grown into one of the three largest conservation corps in the nation, operating with an annual budget of approximately $48 million and a team of 180 staff. In 2025, more than 1,300 members contributed over 835,000 hours of service across 270+ project sites in 45+ states and territories. ACE runs four signature programs: Conservation Crew, Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC), Disaster Response, and Alumni Engagement, and holds longstanding partnerships with the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.
To learn more, please visit usaconservation.org
The Opportunity
ACE is entering its third chapter as an organization, with a professionalized executive team, modernized financial infrastructure, and a culture defined by transparency and trust. The board is seeking a CEO who can build on that foundation, securing ACE's financial future, diversifying its partnerships and revenue base beyond traditional federal funding, and strengthening its voice in national conservation conversations, all while preserving the high-quality member experience that defines the organization. This is not a mandate to reinvent ACE. It is an invitation to listen first, earn trust, and lead the organization's next stage of growth with care and conviction.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as ACE's chief executive, accountable for overall performance, sustainability, and mission impact, leading with a listening-oriented approach that earns the trust of a high-performing executive team.
- Translate ACE's 2030 Goals into clear strategic priorities, guiding a more formal planning process that connects long-term vision to measurable execution.
- Provide disciplined stewardship of ACE's $48 million operating budget and champion revenue diversification beyond the federal fee-for-service model, including philanthropy, state and tribal partnerships, disaster response, and private-sector opportunities.
- Oversee a broadening program portfolio (Conservation Crew, EPIC, Disaster Response, Alumni Engagement), maintaining unwavering attention to member safety and program quality.
- Lead, develop, and retain a strong executive team, and foster a culture of inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety across a distributed, remote-first workforce.
- Serve as ACE's primary external ambassador with federal and state agencies, congressional offices, tribal nations, funders, and peer organizations, navigating the political landscape with nonpartisan discipline.
- Partner closely with an engaged Board of Directors, providing the information and strategic framing that enables strong governance.
Requirements
What We're Looking For
The ideal candidate combines a genuine, lived connection to conservation and public lands with the strategic, financial, and relationship-building skills to lead a complex, mission-driven organization through a period of growth. We encourage candidates who meet at least 70% of the qualifications below and are deeply aligned with ACE's mission to apply.
- 10+ years of increasingly responsible leadership experience in mission-driven organizations; exposure to conservation, environmental stewardship, workforce development, or public lands is a plus.
- 5+ years as a senior executive with direct leadership of a senior team and accountability for organizational performance and financial health.
- Demonstrated experience leading organizations through transition, change, or external volatility while maintaining culture and trust.
- Proven ability to manage and diversify complex revenue models, including fee-for-service, government contracts, and philanthropy; federal grant experience is a meaningful plus.
- Track record of building sustained external relationships with government agencies, funders, or coalitions.
- Experience managing distributed, remote-first teams across multiple locations.
- Strong financial management skills, including oversight of multi-million dollar budgets, audits, and compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with an active Board of Directors.
- A genuine, demonstrable connection to conservation, public lands, or environmental stewardship.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000, commensurate with experience. ACE offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions; life and disability coverage; flexible spending accounts; pre-tax commuter benefits; cell phone reimbursement; an Employee Assistance Program; outdoor gear discounts; and paid time off and holidays.
Location and Travel
ACE is headquartered in Flagstaff, Arizona, with hub locations in Asheville, NC; Coachella Valley, Ridgecrest, and Sacramento, CA; Hurricane, UT; and San Juan, PR. The CEO may be based anywhere in the contiguous United States, with relatively easy access to a major airport required. Regular in-person presence across hub locations is essential. Estimated travel is 20-25% in the first year, tapering to roughly 15% in subsequent years.
How to Apply
Calibrated Search has been retained by American Conservation Experience to lead this confidential search. To express interest, please submit candidate materials here: https://recruitcrm.io/apply/17793914969100035753zut
To nominate a candidate or ask questions, contact inquiry@calibrated-search.com with “ACE CEO Search” in the subject line. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and all inquiries are handled confidentially.
Applications received before August 28, 2026 will be given priority consideration. The search will remain open beyond this date; however, candidates applying closer to a final decision may not have sufficient time to complete our full evaluation process.
American Conservation Experience is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment and service opportunities are based on ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected classification. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified applicants with disabilities; please advise in writing at the time of application.
