Reporting to the Director of Conservation, the Healthy Cities Director will be responsible for shaping and implementing strategies that will protect, conserve, enhance and best utilize natural systems for the benefit of nature and people in urban environments, including increasing the resilience of urban areas to environmental changes and challenges. The Director leads the Conservancy’s Georgia Chapter in developing and managing a cutting edge healthy cities program in the City of Atlanta. Specifically, this position will work with local governments, contractors, and key partners to establish access to nature for reducing pollution and protecting water resources while proving an enhancement to nature-based solutions to improve the quality of life. Projects will be designed to both increase natural solutions into engineering designs and reduce risk to disadvantage communities. The Director will work with a broad array of scientists, policy, marketing and development professionals to successfully implement this work.
The Healthy Cities Director is a representative for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia and will function as the primary liaison between the Georgia Chapter and the North American Cities Network. They will:
- Work to integrate the Chapter’s work as an essential element of the TNC North America Urban Strategy and Global Resilient Cities Initiative in demonstrating how nature and natural resources can help build resilient communities across race, politics, class and privilege.
- Serve as the Chapter’s principal representative for the Cities Network to external stakeholders, including the media and public, private and non-profit sector interests.
- Collaborate with private industry and government agencies in the surrounding Atlanta Metro area to inform the design and construction of demonstration projects that quantify the value of natural systems, advancing the state of art in restoration or enhancement of nature’s benefits to people.
- Develop high leverage conservation strategies for the Georgia Chapter’s work in metro Atlanta and may promote replication of successful nature-based solutions in other urban centers throughout the state and beyond.
- Play a leading role in managing TNC’s relationships with local policy makers related to the Cities Network strategies.
- Frequently makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Shape and expand the Conservancy’s role as a major conservation partner within Atlanta with a geographic focus on the South River Watershed.
- Develop key partnerships with public and private organizations and communities to effectively implement and communicate strategies and solutions.
- Assist with the establishment of local and regional policies, practices and funding mechanisms that advance successful approaches to using natural systems to reduce flooding, enhance water quality and improve access to nature.
- Identify a diverse portfolio of replicable projects demonstrating approaches that advance the state of the art in restoration or enhancement of nature’s benefits to people, especially disadvantaged communities.
- Expand and shape our engagement in Thomasville Heights, South Atlanta and South Dekalb, including stewarding the Urban Green Jobs program.
- Serve as a key member of the Conservation Policy and Practice Leadership Team to help develop, support and lead execution of conservation strategies to ensure the success of the Georgia Chapter’s current Strategic Plan.
- Accompany the chapter’s upcoming strategic planning process and lead the development of the next Cities Strategic Plan.
- Serve as a key member of the Conservancy’s North America Cities Network, Global Resilient Cities Initiative and work with the Center for Whole Communities to better understand how to plan, implement and measure the changes communities and organizations seek for nature-based solutions.
- Lead, recruit, retain and manage high quality and effective contractors or staff, with responsibility for performance management.
- Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the department or program while controlling costs and administering budgets.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Collaborate with conservation scientists including egologists, biologists and researchers to shape program.
- 5 years’ experience in project management and program development or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies
- Experience negotiating.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 5-7 years’ experience in conservation policy and practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Advanced degree, with a focus on urban planning, community outreach or other related fields
- Experience working in or with local governments and/or community based organizations in collaboration with others to develop community-based conservation priorities.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of City of Atlanta and surrounding county political, cultural, business and NGO landscape.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
- Demonstrated experience in fundraising.
- Politically savvy.
- Environmental ethic.
Salary Range: Starting in low $60K