The key role of the State Director is to lead, manage, and inspire the staff and trustees of the Iowa Chapter to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization’s mission.
S/he ensures success in conservation and fundraising programs, and contributes intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to priority cross-boundary initiatives. S/he supports alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to address the most critical organization-wide projects, threats and strategies. S/he is responsible for collaborating with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities established by TNC, both in Iowa and in areas beyond her/his span of authority. S/he serves as the primary local spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners) and cultivates those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.
The Iowa State Director oversees fundraising and works with staff to secure increased private support for conservation, engaging with major donors and supporting staff in donor cultivation. The Director approves budgets and sets priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals.
The Director organizes staff to meet the conservation needs of Iowa and of the global organization. The State Director reports to the Division Director and works closely with the Iowa Board of Trustees.
- Overall responsibility for conservation results in Iowa
- Overall responsibility for philanthropy activities and goals of Iowa chapter, and for support of global priorities.
- Ensures recruitment, management, and development of high quality and effective staff
- Leadership in public policy efforts in Iowa and the region
- Ensures that programmatic commitments, financial standards, and legal requirements are met
- Presents and represents Iowa’s and TNC’s vision in compelling, engaging manner to internal and external audiences as lead spokesperson. Delivers effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on complex topics to employee groups, managers at all levels, board members, and outside organizations.
- Demonstrates a willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout Iowa and globally as required.
- Flexibility to work beyond the normal workday, on weekends, and at other times as required, especially during deadline periods.
- Responsible for development and execution of the Iowa strategic conservation plan and annual work programs, delivered on time and within budget.
- Ensures that programmatic commitments, financial standards, and legal requirements are met.
- Actively participates in Great Plains Division leadership team, collaborating on innovative, cross-boundary projects
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of 7 years of experience as a leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area.
- Management experience including leading and managing a large multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent.
- Experience in fundraising and budget management.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Master’s degree.
- Experience developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Successful experience or strong desire to fundraise.
- Proven record in people management and staff development.
- Proven managerial talent. Outstanding leadership and motivational qualities, able to communicate clearly, set achievable objectives, delegate appropriately, and promote/sustain excellence in a multi-disciplinary staff.
- Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Demonstrated leadership and visionary qualities and ability to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
- Experience with non-profit budgeting/financial management.