Climate and Health Program Director

Career Guide

A Climate and Health Program Director leads programs that reduce health risks linked to climate change, such as heat, poor air quality, and extreme weather. The role blends public health leadership, program operations, partnership building, and evidence-based planning to deliver measurable outcomes for communities.

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Key Responsibilities

Set program strategy, goals, and annual plans aligned to organizational mission
Lead program delivery across multiple projects, timelines, and budgets
Build partnerships with public agencies, health systems, community groups, and researchers
Oversee staff hiring, coaching, performance, and team culture
Design and track outcome measures and learning plans to improve impact
Secure funding through grants, contracts, and donor engagement
Translate research into practical guidance for policy and programs
Coordinate climate and health preparedness efforts such as heat action planning
Manage risk, compliance, and reporting requirements for funders
Represent the program in public forums, coalitions, and media briefings

Top Skills for Success

Program Strategy

Budget Management

People Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Grant Writing

Contract Management

Public Health Knowledge

Climate Risk Literacy

Monitoring and Evaluation

Policy Advocacy

Community Engagement

Clear Communication

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Program Director

Director of Public Health

Director of Climate Resilience

Director of Environmental Health

Policy Director

Executive Director

Chief Program Officer

Transition Opportunities

Health System Sustainability Director

Public Sector Climate and Health Lead

Global Health Program Director

Foundation Program Officer

Research Center Director

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Climate Data InterpretationHealth Equity PracticeEconomic EvaluationChange ManagementProcurement OversightCrisis Response PlanningOutcome Measurement Design

Development SuggestionsBuild a portfolio of one to two flagship initiatives with clear metrics, strengthen grant and contract leadership through co-ownership of proposals and reporting, and practice turning complex climate and health evidence into short decision briefs for leaders and community partners.

Market Intelligence Report

Climate and Health Program Director is part of the Program Management category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 95,000 to 125,000

Mid LevelUSD 125,000 to 165,000

Senior LevelUSD 165,000 to 230,000

Growth Trend

Growing. Demand is increasing across public health agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and health systems as climate impacts intensify and dedicated funding expands.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNational Institutes of HealthWorld Health OrganizationThe Nature ConservancyWorld Resources InstituteEnvironmental Defense FundICFRTI InternationalAbt GlobalKaiser PermanenteUnitedHealth GroupRobert Wood Johnson Foundation

Industry Sectors

Public health agenciesNonprofit organizationsHospitals and health systemsUniversities and research centersFoundationsConsulting and advisory firmsInternational development organizations

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one page program plan with goals, target populations, key activities, and success metrics

Strengthen funding readiness by drafting a reusable grant narrative and budget template

Develop a partnership map of priority agencies, community groups, and health systems in your region

Build measurement skills by leading a monitoring plan for an active project

Publish a short policy brief on a local climate health risk and practical actions

Prepare a director level resume that highlights budget size, team size, and outcomes delivered