Associate Vice President - Florida State Director

Trust for Public Land•Tallahassee, FL

11d•$135,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Who We Are: Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org . Position Summary: The Florida State Director develops and leads Trust for Public Land’s mission delivery in Florida. The Trust for Public Land's work in Florida encompasses land protection, park design and development, community schoolyard creation, trail creation, community engagement, parks planning, and public and private financing for parks and conservation. The State Director manages and mentors the Florida field staff, collaborates with TPL’s national experts and thought leaders, and works in close partnership with the Florida State Director of Philanthropy and other philanthropy colleagues to raise funding needed to both support and grow the office’s programs and operating costs. The State Director is also responsible for working with public agencies, non-profit partners, major donors, elected officials, citizen leaders, and community members to enhance opportunities for success of the organization as a whole and the Florida program specifically. The individual must demonstrate a proven track record working with key individuals in the philanthropic community. The Florida State Director is responsible for implementing TPL’s national strategic plan in the state of Florida. The Florida State Director reports to the Southeast Regional Director and collaborates on strategic mission delivery with other Southeast state programs, particularly Georgia and Alabama. The Florida State Director leads the Florida team in continually developing, implementing, and evolving local programmatic initiatives that deliver on TPL’s mission of creating parks and protecting land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. The Florida office also has jurisdiction over land protection and other programmatic work in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree/advanced degree preferred.
At least 5 years’ experience in an organization focused on land conservation and public urban work.
At least 8 years of relevant non-profit work experience or the equivalent, including at least 5 years of staff management experience.
Experience interfacing with and effectively engaging diverse groups (staff, volunteers, stakeholders, politicians, agency partners, etc.)
Extensive experience working with fundraisers and securing funding for mission support from public and private sources
Experience with public finance techniques, government funding practices and procedures, the foundation community, fundraising, marketing practices, public policy and budgeting practices.
An entrepreneurial spirit, initiative, energy, the capacity to lead, mentor and inspire others, the capacity to be both a high performer and a team player, common sense, and a sense of humor.
Demonstrated experience working with underserved communities and communities of color.
Excellent communication skills including writing and public speaking.
An ability and willingness to travel as required and to work flexible hours outside a 9-5 schedule.
A passionate commitment to The Trust for Public Land’s mission of connecting everyone to the outdoors.
A commitment to TPL’s shared values of Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope

Nice To Haves

Experience serving as an Executive Director preferred, or other positions of leadership.

Responsibilities

Philanthropy: The Florida office and the programs it administers are supported primarily by private philanthropic funding. The State Director will work in close coordination with local, regional, and national TPL philanthropy staff to cultivate and solicit major gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. The State Director will work in partnership with philanthropy staff to create and implement a fundraising plan. The State Director will serve as the primary face of TPL in the donor community.
Program Development and Management : The State Director will be responsible for directing staff and working with program partners, both public and private, to carry out the work throughout Florida. This includes evaluating and delivering new project and program opportunities that create parks, land, trails, and schoolyards in line with our strategic commitments to health, climate, equity, and community. In all of this work, the development and maintenance of positive relationships with key public and non-profit partners, as well as major donors will be paramount. This position collaborates with senior leadership, finance and volunteer leaders in developing and implementing strategies that achieve mission delivery goals, and are compelling and financially viable.
Management/Administration: The State Director is responsible for supervising staff who report to them, and for creating a positive working environment for the entire office, strong staff morale and a culture of teamwork and mutual support among all staff, including philanthropy staff and others who do not report to the Director. The State Director is the budget manager for the state program’s budget, responsible for working with the finance team to develop the office budget and taking necessary actions to meet or exceed the targets and maintain a work climate which attracts, retains and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people.
External Relations : The State Director will be expected to represent TPL and build the organization’s visibility throughout state. This position will develop and maintain relationships for the benefit of TPL in the parks/conservation/environmental sector and in other sectors related to improving community wellbeing. Demonstrated existing relationships and ability to cultivate and maintain new ones with state and local elected officials, staff civic leaders, partner nonprofits, the media, and the philanthropic community.