Assistant Director of Conservation Action
About The Position
The Assistant Director of Conservation Action oversees the planning, operations, and evaluation of Shedd’s conservation action efforts that activate people and communities to act for animals. Shedd’s conservation action work utilizes an equity lens to restore and protect natural areas, prevent future environmental degradation, and mobilize various stakeholders and communities to act for a healthier future. The assistant director is responsible for managing all aspects of implementing environmental restoration projects and delivering conservation action outreach programs. Working closely with other Shedd departments, the assistant director will contribute to interdepartmental collaboration, coordinate training and education on key conservation issues, centralize important resources for conservation messaging, and track outputs and outcomes. The assistant director also manages external partnerships, playing a key role in developing new relationships and delivering on collaborative efforts with nonprofits, elected officials, businesses, community groups, and others.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Conservation, Science, Education, Communications, Non-Profit Management, or related field or a combination of experience and education/training.
- 3+ years of experience managing diverse teams required.
- 5+ years of experience with program coordination, community engagement, public outreach, and presentation delivery, preferably in a non-profit setting.
- Demonstrated ability to handle a large workload in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
- Excellent communication skills and a talent for planning and delivering educational activities.
- Aware of current, local, national, and international conservation issues, with the ability to effectively and clearly communicate them to various audiences.
- Poised, articulate professional with diplomacy, a sense of humor, a positive attitude, and charisma.
- Driven, highly organized self-starter.
- Confident, outgoing, and enjoys socializing with diverse audiences.
- Appreciation for and strong attention to detail.
- Passionate about the environment.
- A lifelong learner.
- Must be able to work flexible hours, including frequent nights, weekends, and early mornings, as necessary, and walk/stand/sit for extended periods of time, both indoors and outdoors.
- Must be comfortable working outdoors in all weather.
- The position requires handling live animals.
- Position requires frequent local travel.
- Must be able to do moderate lifting to transport equipment and material to sites.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with volunteer management or community environmental stewardship is desired.
Responsibilities
- Annual Planning and Budget Oversight
- Program, Project, and Team Management
- Conservation Engagement Planning
- Deepen Shedd’s diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) efforts internally and externally
- Community Engagement and Partnership Building
- Communications & Public Awareness
- Other duties
Benefits
- Medical Insurance, including FSA and HSA plan options
- Vision and Dental Insurance
- Accrued Paid Time Off
- Up to 12 Paid Holidays
- Life Insurance
- Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
- 401(k)
- Discounted Parking and Public Transit Subsidies
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Wellness program, including Preventive Care Incentive
- Employee Discounts
- Employee Tickets
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
