The Director of External Affairs will oversee all policy engagement for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut. 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 Connecticut’s Congressional delegation. This position will work closely with the State Director and execute on the chapter’s vision by working collaboratively within a cross-functional interdisciplinary team, and participating in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
The Director supervises our External Affairs staff, is a member of the Chapter’s core leadership team and manages a committee of the Connecticut board of trustees. They represent The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut 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 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, 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 Connecticut and collaborates with conservation/science staff to develop policy priorities and strategies.
- Represents The Nature Conservancy with federal, state and local elected officials and agencies, partners, special interest groups, and communities. Builds support for statewide and regional policy objectives.
- Builds and maintains relationships with Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation and key staff in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut.
- 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,
- Testifies, lobbies, and negotiates extensively with legislators, partners, and adversaries at the Connecticut General Assembly, often in the evening during the legislative session,
- Respectfully and responsibly coordinates the efforts of multiple parties (both internal and external) on projects and policy initiatives.
- Coordinates with Connecticut 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.
- Leads Climate Task Force with the Board of Trustees
- Ensures that the Connecticut Chapter complies with TNC policies and procedures and state and federal lobbying laws and regulations.
- May supervise 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 New England Division or Worldwide Office staff.
- Analytical and project management experience. Experience developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic program goals.
- Supervisory experience.
- Experience with communication and presentation skills.
- Experience with negotiation skills.
- 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 l Congress and federal Administration and knowledge of Connecticut legislatures 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.
- Experience 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, 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.
- Visionary with eloquent public speaking skills