NC Conservation Lead

The Nature Conservancy•Durham, NC

9d•$125,000 - $145,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The North Carolina (NC) Conservation Lead is responsible for advancing strategic conservation actions and overall management of TNC’s conservation portfolio within the North Carolina Business Unit (NCBU). They provide leadership and support for the Conservancy’s work statewide and ensure conservation outcomes deliver on organizational goals. The Conservation Lead directs and supports teams to advance integrated actions and scientific and technical capacity across priority landscapes. They ensure cross-boundary and cross-program collaboration to achieve effective delivery of strategic conservation actions including protection and management of resilient lands and implementation of natural climate solutions. The Conservation Lead serves on the Chapter’s Management Team, and informs decision-making with broad policy, reputation, and conservation impacts.

Requirements

BA/BS degree and 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
Ability to define goals and deliverables, track progress, and develop and manage teams.
Proven management expertise, including the ability to create, motivate, and lead teams, set objectives, manage performance, and demonstrate a commitment to fostering an environment of creativity and professional growth.
Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.
Experience negotiating complex agreements.
Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
Experience with writing, securing, and managing public grants.
Experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
Valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.
Must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in natural, environmental or biological sciences, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated knowledge of ecological restoration and management and protection of land through acquisition of conservation interests.
Knowledge of North Carolina’s ecosystems, natural landscapes, freshwater and coastal resources, with demonstrated skill in developing and applying scientific concepts to guide tangible conservation outcomes.
Understanding of principles and issues related to climate change, ecosystem resilience and freshwater and near-shore marine systems.
10-12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
Politically savvy.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction for conservation initiatives across the North Carolina Business Unit.
Direct and support teams to advance integrated conservation actions and strategic scientific and technical capacity across field programs.
Ensure conservation portfolio investments align with organizational priorities and effective delivery of conservation outcomes including protection and management of resilient lands and implementation of natural climate solutions.
Develop key partnerships to advance collaborative conservation solutions and innovative scientific analysis, tools and frameworks that address natural system needs.
Disseminate best practices, provide training and analyses to implement organizational measures of success, and negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, tribal communities, and landowners.
Identify and help secure public and private funding in support of conservation programs across the state.
Oversee portfolio management including program and strategy reviews with project and strategy teams to ensure milestones and outcomes are achieved on schedule and within budget.
Serve on the Chapter’s Management Team.
Report directly to the North Carolina Executive Director.
Manage cross functional strategy and support teams.
Provide leadership for execution of integrated conservation actions across priority geographies and programs, including protection of resilient and connected lands and advancing natural climate solutions.
Ensure coordinated implementation and delivery of measurable impacts at scale while balancing innovation, risk, and organizational capacity.
Lead or guide standing and as-needed teams to advance scientific understanding, shared learning, and continuous improvement; cultivate shared expertise across disciplines and with external partners to maximize conservation impact.
Oversee conservation portfolios, including land assets, lead design and execution of regular reviews to assess progress of conservation actions against milestones, timelines, and budgets.
Oversee use of data and performance metrics to track progress, evaluate outcomes, and inform strategic decisions.
Partner with Finance, Philanthropy, Grants and senior leadership to develop, manage, and monitor financial sustainability and responsible stewardship of resources.
Ensure conservation portfolio investments align with strategic priorities and deliver timely outcomes within approved budgets.
Support and advance fundraising efforts by partnering with Philanthropy to align funder interests and conservation priorities.
Engage directly with major donors, foundations, and institutional partners to communicate strategy, demonstrate impact, and cultivate long-term investments; develop funding proposals for individual donors, foundations, and public grants.
Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners, including NGOs, public agencies, Indigenous and local communities, academic institutions, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders.
Promote collaborative approaches that leverage diverse expertise, address shared conservation challenges, and advance equitable conservation outcomes.
Serve on the Southern Division conservation cabinet, providing subject matter and programmatic expertise while ensuring the North Carolina Business Unit is a major contributor in both shaping and delivering the Division Conservation Portfolio.
Participate as needed on annual conservation portfolio reviews.
Provide leadership for and ensure all NCBU contributions to organizational goals are represented in TNC's centralized conservation data system and ensure BU teams meet division expectations regarding Hub reporting deadlines.
Engage with government relations teams to advance conservation objectives.
Support policy development and implementation efforts that enable durable conservation outcomes while respecting TNC’s nonpartisan role.
Serve as a senior representative and spokesperson for TNC, articulating conservation strategies, priorities, and results to internal and external audiences.
Represent the organization in public forums, partner meetings, and high-level engagements as appropriate.