Director of Conservation Career Pathways & Partnerships

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance•Denver, CO

About The Position

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) is a leader in animal care, wildlife conservation, and education. We are passionate about our commitment to excellence in support of our mission of Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations. DZCA honors our animals, staff, and guests by conducting ourselves at the highest level of integrity through our Core Actions -- Inspire Awe: Safety, Care, Connect, and by embracing our Core Values of: Welcoming, Curious, United, Courageous, and Transformative in all that we do. The Director of Conservation Career Pathways & Partnerships will support the DZCA mission through organization-wide leadership for WILD Futures, DZCA’s flagship external workforce development initiative spanning youth, experiential learning, collegiate, and early-career conservation pathways. This role is accountable for designing and governing a structured, multi-year workforce pipeline system, including establishing standards, performance measures, and cross-functional governance to ensure alignment with DZCA’s strategic priorities and conservation goals. The Director holds responsibility for external workforce pathway strategy, partnership portfolio development, and outcome measurement, ensuring consistent application of program standards and evaluation frameworks across all externally facing initiatives. This includes oversight of partnership design and stewardship, program effectiveness metrics, and alignment of resources to support workforce development outcomes. The role serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and a cross-functional integrator across departments, ensuring organizational alignment in support of conservation workforce pipeline objectives. It leads DZCA’s external representation and partnership strategy with higher education institutions, workforce systems, philanthropy, NGOs, and conservation organizations, strengthening DZCA’s position as a national leader in conservation workforce development. Our team is made up of passionate and diverse professionals dedicated to providing excellent care for our animals while creating meaningful experiences for our guests. If you're excited to contribute your skills in a collaborative and innovative environment, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is the place for you!

Requirements

4-year degree required, Master’s degree preferred in Education, Psychology, Social Work or Public Administration, or in a related field, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in conservation education, community engagement, youth development, workforce development, environmental education, or related field.
At least 5 years of experience leading, developing, and mentoring high-performing professional teams is required.
Experience designing and implementing cross-functional strategies, managing complex initiatives, cultivating community and institutional partnerships, and evaluating program impact is strongly preferred.
An equivalent combination of professional experience, lived experience, education, and demonstrated competencies will be considered.
Demonstrated knowledge of conservation education, youth development, workforce development, experiential learning, and inclusive community engagement practices.
Strong strategic planning, systems thinking, and change management skills, with the ability to translate organizational vision into measurable goals and actionable plans.
Exceptional leadership skills with experience building, coaching, and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
Outstanding relationship-building, facilitation, and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences, including staff, executive leadership, educators, community partners, funders, volunteers, and government agencies.
Proven ability to develop and sustain cross-sector partnerships that advance conservation, education, and workforce development goals.
Experience managing complex, multi-year initiatives, balancing competing priorities, and delivering high-quality results in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to use qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate program effectiveness, inform decision-making, and communicate impact.
Demonstrated financial and operational management skills, including budget oversight, resource allocation, grant implementation, and strategic planning.
Advanced problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills, with sound judgment and the ability to navigate complex organizational and community environments.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using project management, CRM, learning management, or data management systems (e.g., Tessitura, Salesforce, or similar platforms) to support collaboration, reporting, and evaluation.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing belonging, accessibility, and inclusive practices, with the emotional intelligence, cultural humility, and resilience needed to lead across differences and foster environments where people and communities feel valued, respected, and empowered.
Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug and alcohol screen.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred in Education, Psychology, Social Work or Public Administration, or in a related field

Responsibilities

Establish and lead the organization's conservation workforce development strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, workforce needs, and industry trends.
Serve as the organizational authority for conservation career pathway programs, establishing standards, governance structures, and accountability measures for internships, apprenticeships, fellowships, and experiential learning initiatives.
Develop and monitor organization-wide performance indicators related to workforce development, including participation, retention, conversion, partnership effectiveness, and career outcomes.
Evaluate pathway initiatives and recommend strategic investments, program modifications, and resource allocations to improve organizational impact and sustainability.
Provide strategic counsel to executive leadership regarding workforce development opportunities, risks, emerging trends, and long-term talent pipeline needs.
Develop, steward, and evaluate a portfolio of strategic partnerships with academic institutions, nonprofits, government agencies, professional associations, and industry partners that advance conservation workforce development objectives.
Negotiate and oversee partnership frameworks, agreements, and collaborative initiatives related to conservation career pathways and experiential learning.
Represent the organization in regional and national workforce development, education, and conservation networks to strengthen organizational visibility and influence.
Establish partnership performance measures and regularly assess outcomes, impact, and alignment with organizational priorities.
Identify and pursue opportunities to expand organizational influence, funding, and collaboration related to workforce development and career pathway initiatives.
Direct the strategic governance and continuous improvement of WILD Futures as the organization's flagship workforce development initiative.
Establish organization-wide standards and accountability measures for experiential learning programs, including internships, apprenticeships, mentorship practices, participant support, and learning outcomes.
Partner with Human Resources, Operations, Conservation, Education, and Legal teams to ensure pathway programs align with organizational policies, risk management requirements, workforce practices, and operational capacity.
Oversee evaluation frameworks, dashboards, and reporting systems that measure workforce pipeline effectiveness, participant success, and long-term career outcomes.
Advise executive leadership on workforce development trends, pathway performance, and strategic opportunities emerging from WILD Futures initiatives.
Establish organizational standards, policies, and operating guidelines related to conservation career pathway programs and experiential learning systems.
Recommend workforce development priorities, partnership investments, and strategic resource allocations to senior leadership.
Hold accountability for organizational outcomes related to pathway participation, partnership effectiveness, workforce development impact, and career pathway performance.
Influence cross-functional decision-making and organizational planning related to workforce development and emerging conservation talent pipelines.
Leads and develops a team of managers. Responsible for hiring, coaching, and building a high-performing, inclusive team culture.
Responsible for developing and managing departmental budgets and securing external funding.
Oversees grants, partnerships, and resource stewardship aligned with workforce pathway strategy.