The Director of Conservation Programs is a key leader in our chapter of approximately 40 staff, and works closely with the Director of Conservation Science, State Director and Arkansas Board of Trustees. This position also works regularly with federal and state agency leaders, federal and state elected officials, and Conservancy leadership in other states and countries.
The Director of Conservation Programs (DCP) plans and coordinates the implementation of the chapter’s five-year strategic plan, a portion of the Conservancy’s shared conservation agenda, and ensures measurable progress is made each year. The DCP provides interdisciplinary coordination, communication and management to multi-site strategies and programs to achieve conservation goals by developing and promoting programs/teams to meet the needs in the ecoregions that occur both in and outside of Arkansas and in coordination with other Conservancy state and country programs. S/he cultivates and maintains close, productive partnerships with government and private agencies and organizations, landowners, business leaders, and federal, state and local elected leaders to further conservation. The DCP ensures the financial stability and compliance of the conservation program by working closely with philanthropy and program staff to identify funding opportunities. Additional duties include supervision of senior conservation staff, development and management of teams, partnership support and development, oversight of program budgets, finances, and grants, oversight of all protection activities and records, program fund raising especially through federal and state grant programs, and other development activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Oversight of a conservation program that requires cross-boundary work and relationships.
- Supervises staff at remote locations.
- Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within budget.
- Writes requests for proposal (RFPs) for grant/contract funding for program.
- Frequently makes independently strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and context.
- Negotiates complex agreements, in a political environment.
- May be responsible for leading or co-leading a whole system program.
- Frequent travel domestically and/or internationally, evening and weekend hours.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- 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
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- 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.
- Politically savvy.