The sagebrush sea is a unique ecosystem, once spanning more than 500,000 square miles across North America. This sagebrush-steppe ecosystem is the landscape of open spaces and large ranches, home to over 350 species including the iconic sage-grouse, the lifeblood of rural communities, and epitomizes the west – our heritage, livelihoods, recreation, and identity.
However, this ecosystem is being threatened at a pace and scale virtually unparalleled in North America. We have already lost 50% of the sagebrush ecosystem and are currently losing this important ecosystem at a rate of approximately 1 million acres per year due to conversion, over grazing, drought, energy development, fire, and invasive species.
Given the importance of this ecosystem and over 40+ years of investment by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in protecting this ecosystem through acquisition, easements, and policy initiatives, it is a priority for the Conservancy to marshal our resources toward protecting and restoring this critical landscape.
In 2017 key states from the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain Divisions came together and collectively identified an ambitious goal for the sagebrush ecosystem: By 2030, reverse negative trends in sagebrush habitat conditions and loss, and stop declines in Greater-Sage Grouse populations, while sustaining rural economies of affected communities and building a constituency for collaborative conservation.
To lead our work towards achieving this goal, the Conservancy seeks a Program Director for the Sagebrush Sea Program (“the Program”), who is responsible for developing and leading a portfolio of strategies across the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain Divisions, including efforts in policy, mitigation, and restoration.
The Program Director will:
- Provide strategic direction to the Program and coordinate activities among project teams from multiple states,
- serve as lead on policy, technical, and communications activities,
- serve as the primary point of contact internally and externally for information exchange and strategy evolution,
- represent TNC externally in key forums and develop partnerships with key stakeholders to advance the Program,
- fundraise for the Program, and
- ensure this Program directly contributes to outcomes in The Nature’s Conservancy’s Shared Conservation Agenda (SCA).
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Leads development of a strategic plan for the Sagebrush Sea Program that will advance innovative and practical solutions at a scale commensurate with the challenges.
- Develops and defines the details of effective Sagebrush Sea protection and restoration strategies and identifies projects that will carry the strategies forward, building on existing work.
- Supervises a project manager for the existing “Innovative Restoration” element of the Sagebrush Sea Program and coordinates a team of scientists and policy experts drawn from multiple TNC business units and external sources.
- Accountable for advancing and delivering outcomes for selected strategies through direct projects, and internal and external partnerships.
- Serves as a key representative with partners, funders and governments to advance Program strategies.
- Coordinates with TNC staff in other functions and programs to build and maintain consistency and alignment across the business units and with other TNC priorities.
- Adapts long-term strategies and outcomes as necessary based upon realistic situation analyses.
- Facilitates teams that develop and promote science internally and externally for use in restoration planning and implementation.
- Participates as a senior leader and contributes to delivering within project management approaches frameworks and norms
- Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment.
- May require frequent travel domestically.
- 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with restoration science and conservation principles and familiarity with fire ecology and native seed.
- Experience with federal policy issues related to sagebrush sea and Great Basin rangeland.
- Experience with identifying donors and raising funds.
- Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating with partners while meeting deadlines.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience developing partnerships (NGOs, community, government, business) and in negotiating.
- Experience conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Knowledge of sagebrush systems, desert systems.
- Masters of Science or Environmental Management or related degrees.
- Tribal relations and rural western US experience appreciated.
- Knowledge of politics and societal trends with respect to rangeland and grazing
- Competent in designing strategies for complex systems
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
- Working experience in the western US
- Ability to communicate clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means.
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.