Position Title: Director of Rivers and Lands
Job Classification: 250006/ Grade 8
Status: Exempt, Full time (35 hours/week)
Location: Massachusetts (actual work location flexible)
Salary: $96k- $111k (depends on the location of selected candidate)*
A LITTLE ABOUT US
Founded in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we strive for a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Working in 72 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.
*TNC has eight different geographic tiers, utilizing competitive market data in establishing salary ranges. Each location where we work is assigned a geographic tier based upon the cost of hiring talent in that market and the salary ranges are adjusted accordingly. For more about our culture and benefits, visit Culture at The Nature Conservancy.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Massachusetts Director of Rivers and Lands has primary responsibility for ensuring the success of The Nature Conservancy’s engagement at the intersection of healthy freshwater, lands, and people, leading development and execution of strategies that help people and nature thrive. The Director develops key partnerships with public and private organizations and negotiates complex and innovative solutions in a social-ecological context. The position may work with programs throughout the Conservancy, particularly on regional working teams developing initiatives for freshwater and terrestrial habitat protection and climate mitigation and adaptation.
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
- Defines strategic direction for Massachusetts Rivers and Lands Program. Aligns MA priorities with larger Conservancy priorities. Integrates Rivers and Lands Program with other Conservation programs, Development, and Operations.
- Implements high-level conservation strategies including policy, place-based, and science-based methods and outcomes.
- Connects science to strategy by cultivating inquiry and understanding of what conservation and social science is informing us about where and how we should work.
- Inspire, guide and supervise a high-performing team of conservation professionals including staff, post-docs, interns and/or volunteers and maintain staff commitment, performance, and well-being.
- Foster an open and inclusive environment and encourage team to be active participants in diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings, learning opportunities, and initiatives.
- Collaborates with Conservancy scientists, government relations and conservation managers to further TNC conservation and public policy goals
- Provides technical expertise on equitable conservation, aquatic and terrestrial resources and management to the Conservancy’s related divisional, regional and global programs and initiatives
- Communicates complex conservation and climate issues to diverse (technical and non-technical) audiences; including professional presentations and media interviews.
- Writes grant proposals, project reports, press releases, and peer reviewed publications.
- Represents TNC at public meetings and on committees where technical and policy input is required; engage stakeholders.
- Obtains grant funding and supports private fundraising.
- Works in a complex matrix organization environment and leads cross functional teams.
- Frequently makes independent, strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and judgment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BA/BS degree in environmental or natural resource management, planning or related fields and 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
- Experience building strong relationships across an organization and with partners such as nonprofit organizations, businesses, public agencies, tribes, donors, and/or volunteers.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Knowledge of environmental or natural resource topics such as climate change, water policy, forest management, and coastal resilience.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong commitment to incorporating dimensions of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in conservation strategy and practice; Experience working across race, socio-economic class and language differences appreciated. Multi- lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Graduate degree in environmental or natural resource management, planning, sustainability science, or related discipline
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans including monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Understanding of the implications of climate change on urban and rural communities and, preferably, experience collaborating with communities on land use planning, watershed/coastal management, and/or climate adaptation.
- Familiarity with best available social science and practices for community engagement and communication.
- Experience with real estate and land acquisition and ability to structure and negotiate a deal.
- Exposure to various economic sectors to appreciate the vastness of experience and expertise of others outside their field of interest, such as financial, health, manufacturing, technology, government, bioscience, education, etc.
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means.
- Success in developing proposals for private, federal, and state funding.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES
- Builds Relationships: Builds productive relationships by interacting with others in ways that enhance mutual trust and commitment.
- Collaboration & Teamwork: Works collaboratively with stakeholders across levels, geographies, backgrounds, and cultures to improve decisions, strengthen commitment, and be more effective.
- Communicates Authentically: Communicates proactively and in a timely manner to share information, persuade, and influence with the appropriate level of detail, tone, and opportunities for feedback.
- Develops: Others; Takes ownership to help develop others’ skills, behaviors, and mindsets to help them maximize their workplace contributions.
- Drives for Results: Sets challenging goals and objectives based on a strong sense of purpose and high-performance standards and steadfastly pushes self and others for tangible results, while ensuring work-life balance.
- Leverages Difference: Demonstrates commitment to harnessing the power of differences strategically; consistently sees, learns from, and takes strategic action related to difference; and demonstrates the self-awareness and behaviors to work across differences of identity and power respectfully and effectively with all stakeholder. Actively seeks to build and retain a diverse workforce and fosters an equitable inclusive workplace by drawing upon diverse perspectives.
- Systems Leadership: Thinks and acts from a broad perspective with a long-term view and an understanding of 1) the dynamic nature of large-scale challenges and 2) the need for integrating five key practices: skillfully engaging appropriate people; providing a clear process for change; taking a holistic view of situations; focusing on a small number of strategic actions, while learning from and adapting them over time; and being aware of how one’s own thinking or patterns of behavior may be limiting change.
This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.
TO APPLY
Visit www.nature.org/careers and search for job #51509 no later than 11:59 pm EST on June 24, 2022.
Please be sure to upload a resume and cover letter.