Southern Division Freshwater Program Director

The Nature Conservancy • Monroeville, VA

3d • $94,000 - $150,000

About The Position

The Southern Division Freshwater Program Director is responsible for establishing and overseeing the programmatic implementation of the Southern U.S. Division’s Resilient and Connected Freshwater program of the Southern US Division Conservation Portfolio. This effort is implemented across a large, complex geographic region covering the Southern Division’s ten states. The Director applies a broad understanding of freshwater strategies, initiatives, and planning, demonstrates excellent collaboration and team building skills, and has experience in U.S. freshwater policy. They also have experience managing efficiently and effectively in a matrixed organizational structure which will be necessary to achieve the program’s outcomes. They assist Business Units and related programs in establishing the enabling conditions necessary for advancement of sub-portfolio strategies and help with identifying, advancing, and scaling successful initiatives across the Division and North America. The Director informs and oversees development of strategic conservation and policy recommendations to maximize the program’s contributions towards TNC’s 2030 goals. They ensure effective communication and build relationships with SUSD BUs and with the North America Region. They manage the annual planning and portfolio management cycle for the Resilient and Connected Freshwater program (strategy, portfolio, and budget review), identifying key milestones and measures and reports of success for the year. The Director works with dedicated support from Business Units and Programs within the SUSD and across Whole Systems/Divisions to: ` 1) Establish annual programmatic work plans based on resources and funding. Provide high-level oversight and integration of the portfolio of priority freshwater strategies and identify opportunities to scale these strategies across the Division. 2) Identify, evaluate, and prepare cross strategy and/or cross geography public grant opportunities. 3) Develop and monitor the Freshwater program’s budget. 4) Incorporate scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to achieve desired outcomes. 5) Address division-wide gaps in support impacting strategy implementation (e.g. deployment of short-term resource needs). 6) Evaluate the freshwater program holistically across all SUSD geographies and bodies of work and make portfolio recommendations to leadership on portfolio refinements. 7) Monitor the program’s contributions toward the 2030 goals. The Director works in tandem with the Government Relations team on state and federal programmatic policy (e.g., FWS, NOAA, USACE, NRCS) and legislation that removes implementation barriers and supports implementation of TNC’s work and may serve as the principal government agencies’ contact for aspects of our freshwater work. They work with the philanthropy team to support donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship for the program and play a lead role in public and private fundraising for the program. The Director is responsible for working collaboratively with high level TNC staff and high-level state and external partners to increase and leverage partner capacity and accelerate strategy implementation. They serve as a liaison to TNC North America and Global on efforts involving the alignment of TNC’s freshwater work to meet the organization’s 2030 goals. This position can be located in any of the states located in the Southern region. They include Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee or Kentucky.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree and 10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
• Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
• Experience negotiating.
• Experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
• Experience with financial management of a large program.
• 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."
• 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

• 10-12 years’ experience in freshwater conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of United States local, state, and federal political environment with respect to environmental and conservation matters.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives and experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Experience working on freshwater within the southeastern United States.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means including persuade and influence with the appropriate level of detail, tone, and opportunities for feedback.
• Five (5) years supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Politically astute.

Responsibilities

• Establish annual programmatic work plans based on resources and funding.
• Provide high-level oversight and integration of the portfolio of priority freshwater strategies and identify opportunities to scale these strategies across the Division.
• Identify, evaluate, and prepare cross strategy and/or cross geography public grant opportunities.
• Develop and monitor the Freshwater program’s budget.
• Incorporate scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to achieve desired outcomes.
• Address division-wide gaps in support impacting strategy implementation (e.g. deployment of short-term resource needs).
• Evaluate the freshwater program holistically across all SUSD geographies and bodies of work and make portfolio recommendations to leadership on portfolio refinements.
• Monitor the program’s contributions toward the 2030 goals.
• Work in tandem with the Government Relations team on state and federal programmatic policy (e.g., FWS, NOAA, USACE, NRCS) and legislation that removes implementation barriers and supports implementation of TNC’s work and may serve as the principal government agencies’ contact for aspects of our freshwater work.
• Work with the philanthropy team to support donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship for the program and play a lead role in public and private fundraising for the program.
• Work collaboratively with high level TNC staff and high-level state and external partners to increase and leverage partner capacity and accelerate strategy implementation.
• Serve as a liaison to TNC North America and Global on efforts involving the alignment of TNC’s freshwater work to meet the organization’s 2030 goals.

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.

What This Job Offers

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