The Director of External Affairs leads a small team and oversees all policy engagement for The Nature Conservancy in Maine. The Director ensures the successful implementation and coordination of our actions connected with government policy and state legislation, and partner relationships. Coordinating with our U.S Government Relations team, this position promotes The Nature Conservancy’s federal policy agenda by building relationships with federal resource management agencies and Maine’s federal delegation.
The Director of External Affairs leads The Nature Conservancy in Maine’s policy strategy to support our conservation goals in Maine and works to support our New England and North American teams’ policy goals. The Director shapes and directly lobbies on legislative and administrative initiatives that leverage and support our ocean, forest, river, climate, and community strategies, including efforts to secure public funding through appropriations and ballot initiatives. The Nature Conservancy in Maine is committed to working with resource users, municipalities and many other stakeholders and this person will help conservation professionals design conservation initiatives and projects to have lasting benefits for people and nature. The position ensures coordination of our staff with our partners in state, federal, tribal and local agencies and supports program objectives by working in a complex organization, working collaboratively within a cross-functional interdisciplinary team. They participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
The Director supervises our External Affairs staff, is a member of the core leadership team reporting to the State Director and manages a committee of the board of trustees. They represent The Nature Conservancy in Maine in public and will make regular contact with federal, state and local officials and the public regarding matters pertaining to conservation policy. The Director of External Affairs works specifically to support the Conservancy’s North American Conservation Region by engaging in cross-organization policy development and strategy planning.
The position has significant opportunity to act independently and make decisions and take actions that affect the public image and effectiveness of The Nature Conservancy. The Director ensures that the program complies with federal and state lobbying laws and regulations.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Has primary responsibility for developing and implementing legislative and agency relations for The Nature Conservancy in Maine and collaborates with conservation/science staff to develop policy priorities and strategies.
- Represents The Nature Conservancy with federal, state and local agencies, partners, special interest groups, and communities. Builds support for statewide and regional policy objectives.
- Builds and maintains relationships with Maine’s Congressional Delegation and key staff in Washington, D.C. and Maine.
- Raises financial support for projects and priorities from current sources of public funding and develops new sources of funding.
- Evaluates complex political situations and makes sound, adaptive and creative decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
- Understands and integrates stakeholder needs into our initiatives, particularly the needs of rural communities.
- Respectfully and responsibly coordinates the efforts of multiple parties (both internal and external) on projects and policy initiatives.
- Coordinates with Maine staff, and with New England and North America colleagues.
- Serves on public committees, commissions and working groups. Supports State Director and conservation staff to do the same. With Strategic Communications Director, determines when the State Director and other staff should be speaking publicly about issues.
- Ensures that the Maine Chapter complies with TNC policies and procedures and state and federal lobbying laws and regulations.
- Supervises External Affairs staff, with responsibility for performance management, training, and career development.Establishes clear directions and sets stretch objectives.
- Travels, if necessary, throughout the state or region, and to Washington, D.C. or elsewhere for advocacy/coordination with the Conservancy’s Worldwide Office staff.
- 5 years of government relations or corporate sector experience, or equivalent combination.
- Analytical and project management experience. Experience developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.
- Supervisory experience.
- Expeirence with communication and presentations.
- Experience with negotiation.
- Experience working with partners/government agencies without violating any restrictions related to conflicts of interest, lobbying former employers, or influencing decision makers.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated.
- Master’s degree appreciated.
- Knowledge of current political, socio-economic and conservation trends and issues in the state; excellent working knowledge of Federal Congress and Administration and knowledge of Maine legislature required as it relates to conservation issues. Ability to develop and implement long term strategies for legislative, policy and funding success.
- Knowledge/familiarity of innovative and traditional strategies for legislative and agency biodiversity protection at the state, federal and local levels.
- Ability to interpret complex science and communicate that science in an understandable fashion to policy makers.
- Ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and coordinate the efforts of multiple parties and factions on projects and serve as a team leader for assigned projects. Work in partnership with other public and private organizations in a collaborative or an advisory role.
- Financial responsibility includes setting and meeting public fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies, as needed.
- Ability to persuasively convey the mission of the Conservancy to diverse groups and to work effectively with a wide range of people – the public, political and community leaders, influential donors, and partners.
- Experience building and sustaining authentic, trusted and durable relationships in rural communities, particularly around potentially divisive natural resource use uses.
- Experience presenting to and communicating with management-level individuals within the corporate sector appreciated.
- Excellent team player with experience working in multi-disciplinary groups, using influence and interpersonal skills, listening, diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships with governments, corporations, partners, donors, volunteers, and all levels of staff.
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.