The Conservation Director oversees all aspects of a significant program area covering numerous projects and a large, complex geography. Provides strategic leadership and support for the Conservancy’s conservation planning work and establishes overall conservation priorities for one or more divisions or major initiatives.
The Conservation Director serves as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community. They may play a leading role in donor identification, cultivation and stewardship for the program. Disseminates best practices, provides training and analyses to best implement organizational measures of success, and develops key partnerships. The Program Director IV establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within the area of responsibility, defines conservation priorities in the area of responsibility, plays a leading role in managing major public agency and elected official relationships, plays leading role in public and private fundraising programs of the program, and leads and manages a large team which implements conservation efforts. They build strategic, scientific and technical capacity in the field, develop key partnerships with public and private organizations in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices, and develop innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address the natural system needs. They engage First Nations, local community and key influential support for local, division, and global conservation efforts, negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, major institutions, and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities, and develop and implement cutting edge conservation strategies in a high profile geography and major philanthropic market.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Geographic size and scope is that of a large, complex business unit, major geographic region within a very large business unit, multiple smaller business units, and divisional regional or at the national/global level.
- Designs, implements, and directs complex and diverse projects, encompassing multiple programs and coordinating the work of other professionals, inside and outside the organization. Incorporates cross-disciplinary knowledge to support program objectives.
- Highly diversified work involves participation in the formulation and evaluation of broad policies and/or long-term programs, or making decisions, which typically have broad organizational impact.
- Directs major program of strategic importance to the Conservancy through management of multi-disciplinary teams, such as a whole system program.
- High level management and leadership responsibility for 10+ staff members, both internal and external to the organization.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and context.
- May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
- Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines.
- Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.
- 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 networking with high level conservation contacts.
- Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
- Experience conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives.
- Experience in negotiating.
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.