Conservation Finance Director

Save the Redwoods-posted 3 months ago

$143,000 - $160,000/Yr

Full-time • Senior

San Francisco, CA

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Save the Redwoods League seeks a strategic, driven, and collaborative Conservation Finance Director to design and implement financing strategies for League landscape-scale conservation initiatives. This pivotal role is charged with advancing the League’s Landscape-Scale Business Plan, ensuring large, complex redwood forest conservation efforts are long-term, financially sound investments for the League and its partners. In the decade ahead, we aim to accelerate progress toward our Centennial Vision by advancing the permanent protection and restoration of 100,000 acres of commercial timberland, thereby creating healthy ecosystems, thriving communities and lasting benefits for generations to come. This individual will serve as the lead financing expert for landscape-scale transactions—working closely with internal teams and external partners to evaluate, design and build a capital stack, model future costs and revenues, and partner with our land protection project managers to close these high-priority deals. While our land protection team will lead the deal project origination, design and real estate functions, the Conservation Finance Director will position deals externally to structure and secure funding for the capital stack and be primarily responsible for the financial and resource modeling of the projects. In addition to being the League’s expert in conservation finance, the Director will provide built-in accountability and cross-functional leadership, ensuring our conservation ambitions translate into executed projects on the ground.

Serve as the primary driver for implementation of the League’s Landscape-Scale Business Plan.
Collaboratively design and build cross-team work processes for originating, financing, acquiring and managing landscape-scale commercial forest transactions.
Ensure timely advancement of high-impact transactions, managing all moving parts across departments.
Lead the development of special purpose vehicle(s) or other corporate entity formation necessary for long-term risk management of held lands.
Act as the internal project lead for landscape-scale conservation financing initiatives, holding accountability for execution and progress across program, finance, legal, and operational teams.
Coordinate closely with the Executive Team and outside partners to ensure successful implementation of the landscape-scale strategy.
Design and implement funding strategies for both acquisition and long-term stewardship.
Work in close coordination with the Development team to recruit philanthropic elements of the capital stack.
Collaborate with the Finance, Legal, and Conservation Programs teams to design blended finance funding models.
Secure public and private investment through coordination with the Public funding team and external funders.
Collaborate closely with the Director of Land Protection in structuring large-scale transactions.
Build business planning and financial modeling tools that support League planning for landscape-scale acquisitions.
Engage key partners such as timber companies, financing experts, and recreation/public access partners.
Identify, assess, and implement landscape-scale acquisition opportunities aligned with strategic priorities.
Coordinate with Land Protection team in the assessment of acquisition targets.
Support post-acquisition stewardship planning in partnership with the stewardship team.
Work collaboratively with stewardship staff, contractors, and consultants to integrate financial, ecological, and operational considerations into each project.
Build and maintain strategic partnerships with funders, investors, public agencies, and landowners.
Represent the League in relevant coalitions, working groups, and industry forums.

Strong commitment to the mission of Save the Redwoods League.
5–10+ years of experience in conservation finance, large-scale land transactions, natural resource impact investment, public-private partnerships, or related fields.
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in finance, conservation, public policy, or related field preferred.
Demonstrated success leading complex conservation or natural resource deals (ideally timberland) involving multiple funding sources.
Deep understanding and proven track record of land and forest conservation, conservation forest practices implementation, stewardship planning, and the full range of conservation finance mechanisms.
Experience sourcing financing, financial modeling/investment underwriting, understanding of capital markets, cultivating investor/lender relationships, and investment negotiation.
Familiarity with public funding programs and nonprofit capital campaigns.
Proven ability to work across teams and disciplines to drive multi-faceted projects to completion.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and project management skills.
Outstanding written and oral presentation skills.
Demonstrated aptitude for initiating and building relationships with prospective corporate and foundation donors.
Self-starter, able to work independently as well as in a team.
Highly organized with excellent project management skills.
Proficient user of Microsoft Office software.
Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures.

Verbal and written fluency in a language other than English is desirable.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Three weeks of vacation annually plus holidays.
401k retirement plan with an up to 8% company match.
Competitive salaries commensurate with experience and internal/external equity considerations.

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