Arizona Culture & Engagement Director

The Nature Conservancy•Tucson, AZ

6d•$87,760 - $93,245•Hybrid

About The Position

The Culture and Engagement Director for the Arizona Business Unit will provide strategic guidance, strengthen organizational knowledge, skills and expertise, foster community collaboration, implement best practices, and lead the implementation, measurement and evaluation of the Business Unit’s culture, engagement and equitable conservation initiatives. The Culture and Engagement Director will help set the Business Unit’s strategic direction on internal culture and employee engagement and external equitable conservation. They will lead the implementation of the Business Unit’s Equity Blueprint, an internal action plan developed by staff that outlines the Business Unit’s culture and engagement direction, by coordinating cross‑departmental efforts, managing timelines and budgets, ensuring accountability for progress and taking a hands-on role in implementing key components. They will build and sustain relationships with communities and partners while identifying staff knowledge, skills, and expertise gaps and overseeing culture‑, engagement‑ and equitable conservation-related development. They will support and guide relevant employee groups and provide expertise on organizational change, inclusive leadership practices, and equitable conservation. They will collaborate closely with teams and colleagues throughout the Arizona Business Unit and across the organization to advance shared goals, share best practices and advance collective learning. The position reports to the Arizona Deputy State Director and serves as a strategic advisor to Business Unit Leadership and Board of Trustees. This person will work mainly in our Tucson office and travel to our Phoenix location often.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 5 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
Demonstrated experience leading organizational culture and inclusion initiatives, and advancing equitable conservation and/or community engagement
Experience leading and implementing complex projects while navigating cross-functional relationships in a highly matrixed setting
Experience in creating an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally competent work environment
Experience with current dynamics and best practices in the culture and engagement discipline
Experience working with teams across an organization to develop and achieve shared goals
Experience, coursework, or other training in principles, practices, and procedures of relevant field
Youth certified (within initial 30 days of employment; annually thereafter)
Valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program
Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Nice To Haves

Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated
Demonstrated experience (5+ years) advancing organizational culture, inclusion, and equitable conservation strategies with the ability to advise Business Unit leadership, staff, and board members
Ability to translate organizational culture and inclusion concepts into practical programs and day-to-day practices
Ability to apply an equity lens across conservation planning, decision-making, and implementation
Strong facilitation and training skills, with experience designing and delivering learning workshops
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to navigate sensitive conversations with empathy and clarity
Skilled in relationship-building, collaboration, and conflict resolution
Track record of successful experience working directly and building relationships with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and other communities
Ability to analyze data, identify trends and communicate insights to diverse audiences
Ability to influence without authority and build trust across all levels of the organization
Strategic thinker with ability to manage details and drive implementation
Background in organizational development, change management, or human resources is a plus
Ability to work in partnership with all levels of staff in a collaborative or advisory role
Strong organization skills, time management, accuracy, attention to detail and ability to multi-task
Ability to analyze data to measure impact and make decisions in a metrics-driven environment

Responsibilities

Foster a workplace grounded in belonging, psychological safety, and shared responsibility for equity
Coordinate implementation of and iteration on existing staff-developed Equity Blueprint across relevant departments and staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability for progress
Regularly evaluate the Equity Blueprint’s effectiveness and recommend updates based on data and staff feedback
Support and guide Arizona Business Unit staff in embedding equity across all aspects of our work to advance durable, holistic, and equitable conservation outcomes for people and nature
Facilitate relationships with strategic audiences, communities, and local partner organizations
Partner with the Learning and Organizational Development Team and other relevant teams as needed to identify staff knowledge, skills, and expertise gaps, and oversee staff development related to culture, engagement, and equitable conservation
Serve as a strategic advisor to the Arizona Leadership Team on issues related to organizational/team culture, inclusion and belonging, and equitable conservation
Partner with the Legal Team and the Global Culture and Engagement Team in establishing any relevant Business Unit employee resource groups, and provide support and guidance to those groups once they are in place
Partner with Western US and Canada Division Human Resources Team to identify and address systemic barriers affecting staff retention and advancement
Provide guidance on relevant policy development, organizational change, and inclusive leadership practices ensuring compliance with TNC policies, procedures, and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements
Present culture and engagement insights, progress reports, and recommendations to Arizona Leadership Team and Arizona Board of Trustees
Model collaborative leadership by influencing without authority and fostering alignment across interdepartmental teams to coordinate the work of peers
Work in close collaboration and coordination with the Global Culture and Engagement Team, the North America Region Human Rights and Equity in Conservation Team, the Western US and Canada Division Human Resources Team, the Learning and Organizational Development Team, the Arizona Engagement and Operations Director, the Arizona Conservation Director, and other relevant Western US and Canada Division colleagues and teams
Connect with counterparts in other business units across the organization to identify and share best practices, tools and resources to cultivate shared learning
Develop and track staff metrics to identify gaps, disparate experiences, and opportunities, and to assess program effectiveness
Travel on short notice and work long and flexible hours as needed