The Alaska Conservation Director oversees all aspects of protection, science, stewardship and community relations for the Alaska Chapter. The Director manages Alaska conservation staff, provides scientific leadership for TNC’s conservation planning work and establishes overall conservation priorities for the Alaska Chapter, including collaborating on national and international priorities. See the Alaska 2017 Impact Report to learn more about our work in Alaska.
The Conservation Director provides leadership and management for Conservancy field operations in Alaska. They establish conservation priorities, strategies and plans within the context of The Nature Conservancy’s regional and global priorities. The Director provides team management, strategy, technical and program support to conservation field staff to ensure success. They serve as the principle contact with a broad range of internal and external partners, building the Conservancy’s reputation as a major conservation partner within Alaska and with colleagues and partners globally. They support innovative scientific methods to address local and global conservation needs. They serve as a core member of the Alaska Leadership Team, oversee multiple staff and manage a multimillion-dollar program budget. The Director of Conservation also assists the State Director in representing Alaska in key internal initiatives and programs of The Nature Conservancy.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Geographic scope includes Alaska and related national and international programs and/or projects.
- Supervises multiple staff at remote locations, judging talent, assessing staff strengths and weaknesses, creating strong morale and team spirit, and motivating individuals and teams toward tangible, lasting results.
- Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within budget, setting financial goals, evaluating return on investment, and developing strategies to improve future results.
- Communicates strategic goals and objectives clearly and consistently to diverse internal and external audiences.
- Frequently makes independent strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and context.
- Negotiates complex agreements, often in a political environment.
- May be responsible for leading or co-leading a whole system program.
- Writes or assists with proposals for public and private fundraising.
- Frequent travel domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience motivating, leading teams, setting objectives and managing performance, or equivalent.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Experience negotiating.
- Valid drivers license.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Graduate degree and 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated supervisory excellence, successfully motivating, setting objectives and managing performance of direct reports.
- Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities, able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in Alaska resource, social and economic policy.
- Demonstrated understanding and experience with the Alaska Native community
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Demonstrated success as an inspirational manager who has motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Political savvy.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.