About ELPC
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco‑business innovation organization and is among the nation’s leaders. ELPC develops and leads strategic environmental legal advocacy campaigns to improve environmental quality and protect natural resources. The organization engages in creative business deal‑making with diverse stakeholders to demonstrate that sustainability principles, environmental progress, and economic development can be achieved together. ELPC drives transformational environmental policy changes at the national and regional level. The organization advances climate solutions with a focus on clean energy alternatives, protects the Great Lakes, defends nine states in the Midwest’s wild and natural places and resources, and fights for safe, clean water and air for all. ELPC combines effective public interest litigation and strategic policy advocacy, sound science and economic analysis, producing strong results in the courtrooms, boardrooms, legislative and administrative hearing rooms across the Midwest and in Washington, D.C. The staff includes attorneys, policy advocates, data scientists and communications specialists. ELPC’s headquarters is in downtown Chicago with additional offices and staff across the Midwest states and Washington, D.C. The annual budget is about $15 million.
The Position:
ELPC is looking for a talented Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide senior management of this leading‑edge, high‑performance public interest advocacy organization’s business operations. The CAO reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and works closely with the senior management team to run key elements of the organization’s business operations. The CAO oversees finance, human resources, IT systems, risk management, and compliance across the organization, advises the CEO and President on operational issues and organizational performance, and partners to ensure ELPC remains well managed and financially healthy. Finance Serve as Chief Financial Officer. Manage cash, investments and $15 million budget. Supervise Staff Accountant. Evaluate and update financial systems. Generate financial reports for funders and the Board; oversee annual audit and 990 tax submissions. Act as liaison to ELPC Board of Directors’ Finance Committee. Manage grant fund accounting to maximize cash efficiency. Manage leases and operating issues for ELPC’s Chicago headquarters and four remote offices. Review and sign off on all proposed contracts. Human Resources Supervise and work closely with Chief HR Officer to explore and recommend benefits and HR policies, and address personnel issues. Oversee payroll and benefits administration. Information Technology Supervise part‑time IT consultant. Develop and execute IT policies, including security, document retention and AI use policies. Make all major software and hardware deployment decisions. Compliance and Risk Management Ensure compliance with all applicable tax, labor, lobbying and other legal and reporting requirements. Purchase insurance, oversee security and design procedures to minimize organizational risk. Assist the CEO and ELPC Board of Directors’ Risk Management Working Group.
Additional Qualifications:
10+ years of senior operations/management experience in the nonprofit sector, preferably with an environmental or advocacy organization.
MBA or MPA preferred.
Profound knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles.
Strong financial operations experience.
Ability to effectively supervise Staff Accountant.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, including Excel and Access.
Work knowledge of computer networks, Office 365 administration and basic IT troubleshooting; able to supervise IT consultant.
Demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy and ability to work productively in a fast‑paced environment with skilled professionals.
Deep appreciation for environmental protection and ELPC’s program staff work.
Ability to operate independently as well as part of a geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary team; manage multiple assignments and priorities with deadlines.
Strategic thinking to advance the organization’s mission and collaborative work style.
Compensation & Benefits:
The salary range for candidates who fully meet the requirements is $190,000‑$200,000. ELPC offers a highly attractive benefits package competitive with leading national environmental and regional nonprofit advocacy organizations. Timeline & Next Steps
We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications. If selected for an initial screening call, you are expected to hear from us by the end of July. Contact & Application Instructions
Please contact Sherry Ettleson, Principal, DRG Talent at settleson@drgtalent.com or Sterling Nelson, Consultant, DRG Talent at snelson@drgtalent.com for more information. To read the full position description and apply, copy and paste the following link into your browser:https://drgtalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Environmental-Law-Policy-Center-Chief-Administrative-Officer.pdf
