Montana State Director

The Nature Conservancy • Helena, MT

4d • $152,000 - $180,000

About The Position

What We Can Achieve Together: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks its next Montana State Director to lead the Montana Business Unit (BU) and serve as a partner with colleagues in TNC’s Western US and Canada Division as we execute on our ambitious conservation goals. With about 40 staff across the state, an operating budget of approximately $10M, an 18-member volunteer board, and a strong conservation agenda in place, this role offers a unique opportunity to help shape a resilient future for Montana, western North America, and the globe. The Montana State Director functions as the visionary leader, senior manager, and principal ambassador for a mid-size, complex BU. The Montana State Director will lead an effective and seasoned team creating durable conservation outcomes in some of Montana’s most critical grasslands, forests and sagebrush steppe regions. The Montana Chapter achieves large-scale land and water protection and management outcomes, ecologically-focused stewardship, and common-sense policy outcomes through effective partnerships with community-led organizations, private landowners, NGOs, and Tribal, Federal, State and Local agencies. The State Director is accountable for the BU’s success in implementing TNC’s conservation approach, producing measurable conservation results and maintaining organizational values. They ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the BU’s responsibilities, and contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of priority cross-boundary efforts. They support the alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to address the most critical organization-wide projects, threats and strategies. They are responsible for collaborating with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities established by TNC, both in their ecoregions or BU and in areas beyond their span of authority. They serve as the primary local spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners) and cultivate those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision. The Montana State Director oversees the leaders of conservation, external affairs, fundraising, and finance for the BU and partners with Division-wide leaders of marketing/communications, finance, conservation, and HR. Leadership will include approving budgets, setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals, supporting philanthropy, resources and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private, bilateral and multilateral government) to meet fundraising goals. They are responsible for a significant portion of the BU’s direct fundraising. In addition to their responsibilities leading and managing the Montana BU, the Montana State Director serves on the Leadership Team for the Western US & Canada Division. The Division’s current priorities include cross-boundary, system-scale initiatives in Indigenous-led Conservation, major river restoration, forest, grassland and sagebrush steppe health, climate and renewable energy, and federal policy and public lands. The Montana State Director will lead fundraising efforts and deploy staff to support these Division-level initiatives. The Montana State Director plays a leadership role in local-to-global fundraising for The Nature Conservancy. The Montana State Director reports to the Western US and Canada Division Director and works closely with the local Trustees. We’re Looking for You: Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of “Work that You Can Believe in” where you can feel like you are helping to address the most pressing environmental issues and are making a difference every day. The successful candidate will demonstrate relationship-building excellence by immediately engaging with trustees, staff, donors, and key leaders across sectors—including tribal business councils, NGOs, elected officials, business leaders, artists, and more—to build trust, gather insights, and strengthen partnerships. They will uphold uncompromising integrity and transparency, modeling the highest ethical standards in all interactions and fostering trust across the organization. With strategic vision and systems thinking, they will lead efforts to shape conservation initiatives for Montana and the Western US & Canada and align financial management with long-term sustainability and mission-driven impact. The candidate will bring operational and organizational acumen, quickly understanding how different parts of the business interconnect—especially in development and strategic dynamics—to guide effective decision-making. They will embody a One Conservancy spirit, promoting unity and collaboration across teams and departments. As a people leader, they will manage and empower a team of 30+ staff fostering comprehensive leadership and accountability. Finally, they will demonstrate cultural competency and Indigenous right relations through respectful partnerships and experience working with Indigenous tribes and sovereign nations, understanding tribal governance and priorities. Please note that this role includes ~40% of time traveling within the state of Montana and ~10% traveling out of state. During the initial 3-4 months, travel may be as much as 75% of total time.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 7 years of management experience or equivalent relevant combination.
• Leading and managing a mid-size multi-disciplinary team with the strong ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage performance.
• Direct experience working and operating in Montana state.
• Experience in natural resources and/or the environment more broadly.
• Strategic planning and systems thinking for large, complex initiatives.
• Financial experience managing a multi-million-dollar budget.
• Experience communicating with and presenting to different types of audiences, including donors, board members, employees, and outside partners.
• Experience working with Indigenous tribes and sovereign nations.
• Fluency in English; excellent written and oral communication skills.
• This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program . Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page under the FAQ section. 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

• 10+ years’ experience as a proven leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area, including demonstrated experience producing results and meeting program/department goals.
• Experience demonstrating general knowledge of the natural resources of Montana and the Western US, their conservation challenges, and current management approaches.
• Experience in fundraising and commitment to increase program fundraising success in support of the Conservancy's global, regional, and local priorities, especially by identifying innovative forms of fundraising, cultivating major donors, and forging relationships and results in the Montana market.
• Experience building partnerships or multi-lateral agreements across business and/or government.
• Experience creating and fostering an environment that allows staff to feel empowered and creating a culture of trust, fairness, and development.
• Experience cultivating strong interpersonal engagement and relationships in a global, multicultural context and developing relationships to drive organizational outcomes.
• Experience demonstrating skills in board development and recruitment for fundraising and influencing results.
• Exposure to policy influence and development.
• Navigating and leading within a global, matrixed organization.
• Experience demonstrating knowledge of the tech industry, such as key organizations and navigating contacts within them.
• Politically savvy.

Responsibilities

• Lead an effective and seasoned team creating durable conservation outcomes in some of Montana’s most critical grasslands, forests and sagebrush steppe regions.
• Achieve large-scale land and water protection and management outcomes, ecologically-focused stewardship, and common-sense policy outcomes through effective partnerships with community-led organizations, private landowners, NGOs, and Tribal, Federal, State and Local agencies.
• Accountable for the BU’s success in implementing TNC’s conservation approach, producing measurable conservation results and maintaining organizational values.
• Ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the BU’s responsibilities, and contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of priority cross-boundary efforts.
• Support the alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to address the most critical organization-wide projects, threats and strategies.
• Collaborate with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities established by TNC, both in their ecoregions or BU and in areas beyond their span of authority.
• Serve as the primary local spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners) and cultivate those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.
• Oversee the leaders of conservation, external affairs, fundraising, and finance for the BU and partners with Division-wide leaders of marketing/communications, finance, conservation, and HR.
• Approve budgets, setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals, supporting philanthropy, resources and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private, bilateral and multilateral government) to meet fundraising goals.
• Responsible for a significant portion of the BU’s direct fundraising.
• Serve on the Leadership Team for the Western US & Canada Division.
• Lead fundraising efforts and deploy staff to support these Division-level initiatives.
• Play a leadership role in local-to-global fundraising for The Nature Conservancy.

Benefits

• TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.
• We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager