As a leading voice for the power of conservation and nature to resolve major global challenges, The Nature Conservancy is seeking a leader to help advance Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) for climate mitigation in North America. TNC scientists have identified Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) for climate mitigation as an integral part of resolving the global climate crisis, with natural ecosystems being able to provide 37% of emissions reductions by 2030, necessary to achieve the 2 degree C global goal set in the Paris Agreement. The Nature Conservancy is developing a portfolio of highly leveraged forest protection and management strategies, projects, and approaches including carbon markets, state and federal land use policy, state and federal climate policy, tax policy, and corporate engagement to mitigate climate change. The North America NCS: Mitigation Director will be responsible for shaping and leading a compelling vision and strategy for this work and coordinating effectively with staff and teams at multiple levels in the Conservancy to deliver on this potential.
The North America Natural Climate Solutions (NCS): Mitigation Director leads, organizes, and shapes the vision and approach for delivering on one of The Nature Conservancy’s global conservation priority strategies in North America. The Director is responsible for ensuring effective delivery of, and raising financial support for, NCS strategies in the complex and varied socioecological systems of North American forests. To accomplish this task, the Director will need to effectively coordinate with TNC’s North America and global NCS leadership staff. The Director will work collaboratively with TNC state chapters and other programs in North America to implement a set of priority NCS strategies and to identify how to scale local strategies to maximize impacts. They will be responsible for launching and operationalizing a Restoration Accelerator supported by a key foundation and working with several external partners with the intent of identifying and accelerating landscape level projects.
The Director will refine and iterate the business plan for delivery of NCS: Mitigation in North America, in consultation with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders, and in response to evolving political contexts. Donor relations and fundraising for this priority are an important function of this position, as is representing TNC in relevant national and international forums. The Director will elevate work with government relations, corporate relations, and marketing colleagues to elevate the importance of NCS with leaders in the public and private sector and thus leverage nature’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Responsible for leading, organizing, shaping, and raising financial support for the vision and approach for the North America Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) for Climate Mitigation
- Develops long-term strategies and achieves strategic goals and objectives
- Provides leadership, both internal and external to the organization and works collaboratively with TNC state chapters and other programs in North America to help implement priority NCS strategies.
- Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment to adapt and advance Natural Climate Solutions.
- May recruit, retain and manage high quality and effective multi-disciplinary staff with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.
- May require frequent travel domestically and/or international and evening and weekend hours.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 10 years’ experience in conservation/forestry practice or equivalent combination of education and experience in climate mitigation policy and practice.
- Creative “big picture” thinker with ability to develop and drive new ideas and approaches.Demonstrated ability to understand and synthesize scientific, policy, and market information and trends in the pursuit of innovative conservation solutions.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
- Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
- Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups, private sector entities and/orgovernment agencies.
- Experience negotiating
- Experience with financial management of a large program.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Exceptional leadership skills and demonstrated ability to drive a large and dispersed team to deliver on a common goal.
- Ability to work well in a highly matrixed, decentralized and collaborative organization.Possesses strong interpersonal skills and political savvy.Must be a team player.
- Ability to effectively advocate for his/her priorities in a large and complex organization and to inspire the support of others.
- Master’s degree or above in a related field such forest management; carbon markets and climate policies.
- Experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
- Familiarity and knowledge related to business, governmental, and/or environmental policy and practices pertaining to Forestry and/or Natural Climate Solutions.
- Technical understanding of forest ecosystem processes and dynamics, and land use patterns and trends relevant to carbon sequestration and GHG emissions avoidance strongly preferred.Additional understanding of grassland, agricultural land, and/or wetland carbon dynamics helpful.
- Knowledge of, and fluency in carbon markets, and climate change policy at the state, federal and/or global level.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet time sensitive deadlines.
- NGO and/or government relations experience a strong plus.
- Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.