The Longleaf Pine Whole System Director oversees all aspects of a regional conservation program inclusive of nine state business units and three TNC divisions. He/she provides strategic leadership and support in aligning the Longleaf Pine Whole System with the Shared Conservation Agenda, North America Forest Priority, and Southeast Region’s Shared Agenda and establishes overall conservation priorities for the Conservancy’s leadership role in fulfilling the objectives of the Range-wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine.
The Longleaf Pine Whole System Director serves as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community for the whole system. He/she plays a leading role in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program. The Director disseminates best practices, provides training and analyses to best implement organizational measures of success, and develop key partnerships with public & private organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions, innovative scientific methods, analysis, tools and frameworks to address the natural system needs. He/she establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within the 9-state range of longleaf pine, defines conservation priorities in the area of responsibility, leads and manages team(s) which support and improve conservation efforts, and build strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field. He/she engages local community support for local conservation efforts, negotiates complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities, and develops and implements conservation strategies.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- The Longleaf Pine Whole System encompasses nine TNC business units and three TNC divisions.
- The Director is responsible for leading the longleaf pine whole system program.
- Manages cross functional, cross business group and other forms of working structures that cross the traditional vertical business units of function and geography and achieves results by persuading, convincing, or influencing TNC staff across the organization to identify and implement shared strategies.
- Recruits, retains and manages high quality and effective multi-disciplinary staff with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.
- Develops long-term strategies and achieves strategic goals and objectives
- Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment.
- Uses success stories and passion for the mission to generate enthusiasm and support.
- Serves in leadership role in development, delivery, and implementation of the Longleaf Protection Plan as part of the Southern Division’s Protect Land and Water Strategy for the Shared Conservation Agenda.
- Represents TNC on the Regional Longleaf Partnership Council and on TNC’s North America Program’s Restore America’s Forests initiative.
- Liaison to key forest coalitions (e.g. Keeping Forests as Forests), and USFS Region 8 on LLP issues.
- Requires frequent travel domestically and may require evening and weekend hours.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 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 and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating
- Experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
- Experience with financial management of a large program.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi- lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- 10-12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives and experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Politically savvy.
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.