The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks a proven and dynamic leader to serve as State Director, to advance the organization’s conservation and fundraising agenda in South Carolina, regionally and worldwide. The State Director will lead a staff of 27 with an annual operating budget of $4.7M with offices in Columbia, Mount Pleasant and Greenville. As one of the senior leaders within the organization, the State Director provides strategic leadership for TNC’s state, regional and global conservation work and significantly contributes to and shares responsibility for conservation strategies, policies, programs and fundraising efforts across the entire organization.
The State Director functions as the executive director and conservation strategist for the South Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and plays a leading role in the Southern U.S. Division, which spans several adjacent states and supports major cross-boundary initiatives to advance strategies in three whole systems: South Atlantic Seascape, Long Leaf Pine and Southern Blue Ridge. S/he implements organization priorities to address nature-based solutions for climate adaptation (storms and floods), climate mitigation (forests); climate policy in advancing a low carbon future; land and water protection/restoration with direct TNC action, through partnerships, and public policy/funding; coastal and marine fisheries management; and prescribed fire management. S/he is accountable for South Carolina’s success in creating a vision to implement TNC’s global conservation approach, leading by example with organizational values, producing tangible and measurable conservation results at scale, managing teams, advancing fundraising initiatives to raise revenue for conservation, and ensuring financial sustainability of the Chapter.
The principal role of the State Director is to lead, manage, and inspire the staff and trustees of the South Carolina Chapter to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization’s mission.
S/he ensures success in conservation fundraising programs, and contributes intellectual, financial, and 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 conservation priorities of the organization at multiple scales. S/he is therefore responsible for collaborating with others across the division and throughout the organization on the procurement and application of resources in South Carolina as well as in areas beyond her/his span of authority. S/he serves as the primary statewide 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina and of the global organization. S/he will lead though TNC values. The State Director reports to the Southern U.S. Division Director and works closely with the South Carolina Board of Trustees.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Overall responsibility for conservation results, philanthropy activities and goals of the South Carolina chapter, and for integration of regional and global priorities.
- Incorporates organizational values and competencies as foundational elements in all aspects of work.
- Ensures recruitment, management, and development of high quality and effective staff.
- Provides leadership in public policy efforts in South Carolina and the region.
- Ensures that programmatic commitments, financial standards, and legal requirements are met. Manages reputational and financial risk within our policies, procedures, and values.
- Presents and represents South Carolina’s and TNC’s vision in a compelling and 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 South Carolina and globally as required.
- Is flexible to work beyond the normal workday, including weekends, as necessary during deadline periods.
- Is responsible for development and execution of the South Carolina strategic conservation plan and annual work programs, delivered on time and within budget.
- Directs, prepares, presents and/or participates in negotiations of project proposals with governmental, bilateral and/or multilateral agencies.
- Actively participates in Southern U.S. Division leadership team, collaborating on innovative, cross-boundary projects.
- Extensive and proven management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a large multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience with communication and presentation skills, including 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
- Strong competency working effectively across differences such as race, culture, disabilities, socio-economic class and language groups. Experience in leveraging differences to drive organizational outcomes.
- Deep commitment to conservation and to nature.
- Knowledge of and experience in South Carolina is preferred.
- Success as an inspirational leader who has effectively motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence. Proven managerial talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management.
- High energy, forward thinking, creative individual with high ethical standards.
- Outstanding leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization. Excellent people skills
- Proven technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
- Well organized and self-directed; politically savvy and a team player. Works well under pressure.
- Commands attention, is agile, and effective in managing group processes during presentations or discussions.
- Exercises sensitivity and empathy in working in an advisory role with partner organizations.
- Experience in identifying and nurturing talent and fostering a culture of accountability.
- Demonstrates emotional intelligence, and an ability to listen and learn with genuine interest and curiosity.
- Can demonstrate the ability to lead with our core organization values of integrity beyond reproach; respect for people, communities and cultures; conservation results that are tangible and lasting; and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
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.