Great Plains Division Director

OFFICE LOCATION

United States

WHO WE ARE

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Great Plains Division of the North America Region includes eight programs (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota/North Dakota/South Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma) with a combined annual budget of approximately $65 million, 316 staff and annual fundraising in excess of $50 million.  The Division Director facilitates cross-boundary approaches to significant conservation outcomes that have a tangible, lasting impact on the environment and the people that rely on it. Together, the Division develops and advances innovative solutions that address the systemic root causes of the challenges facing nature and people.

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 making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in leading a diverse, multi-disciplinary team.

The Division Director (“Director”) is the senior conservation leader and manager for the Conservancy’s Great Plains Division of the North America Region.  They will lead the Division (made up of state programs, or “Chapters”) to advance The Nature Conservancy’s highest priorities through the Shared Conservation Agenda, develop and ensure execution of project plans, raise funds, engage volunteer trustees across borders, and develop emerging leaders.  The Director adds value by building and leading highly effective, nimble, teams that deliver tangible results at significant scale.

The Director exercises collaborative leadership to engage and execute across geographic (e.g., other Divisions, North America Region, Global) and programmatic boundaries and cultivates mutually beneficial agreements and relationships.  They foster alignment, teamwork, collaboration, innovation, cooperation, team spirit, and synergy amongst the divisional leadership team. The Director invites and engages the differences each person has and leverages them for greater outcomes.  They promote inclusion, a diverse workforce, diversity of thought, and shared ownership and commitment to the organization’s highest priorities.  

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

The Division Director holds the authority and is ultimately responsible for the financial performance and effective administration of the programs and projects within the Division.  The Director actively manages the performance of Business Unit (BU) Leaders and holds them accountable for conservation and fundraising goals, compliance and risk management.  The Director works with BU Leaders to allocate financial and human resources across the organization by approving budgets and advancing organizational priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals.  They work closely with Chapter trustee/advisory boards to advance The Nature Conservancy’s strategies.

As one of the leading conservation spokespeople for the Conservancy, the Director fundraises with public and private donors and ensures that sufficient resources are available to achieve the Conservancy’s organizational goals. They represent the Conservancy internally and externally to an array of communities, partners, policy makers and other audiences, advocating for and raising the visibility of The Nature Conservancy.  The Division Director reports to the North America Region Managing Director, and is a member of the North America Council (NAC).  As such, the Director plays a significant role in the strategic direction of the North America Region.  

Success in the position will be demonstrated by:

•     Staff across the Division has a shared ownership of TNC’s Shared Conservation Agenda, and is effectively collaborating to deliver maximum conservation impact and in achieving TNC’s 2030 Goals
•     Continually increasing commitment of both division and regional resources (people and funding) to TNC’s priority conservation strategies and outcomes
•     Engaged and diverse workforce in division and region (measured by Our TNC survey engagement scores and diversity statistics)
•     Increasing funding for strategies that advance TNC’s Global priority conservation outcomes

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

•     Bachelor’s degree, plus 12 years senior level experience in natural resource conservation, or equivalent experience.
•     Experience in leading and managing a large multi-disciplinary team, including managing senior level leaders.
•     Experience leading others through change and a general openness and comfort with accepting change.
•     Experience in evaluating and/or negotiating complex, high profile or sensitive contracts and agreements.
•     Experience working with a variety of political, business, not for profit, and environmental sectors and with varied local communities in the North America Region.
•     Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, members of government or equivalent.
•     Experience in fundraising, including cultivation of major donors.
•     Fluency in English; excellent written and oral communication skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

•     Graduate degree in business, law, natural resource management, or other relevant field.
•     Experience working with Tribal Nations.
•     Experience in DEIJ, equity, or other related work.
•     Understanding of the political environment of the Great Plains region.
•     Nonprofit experience appreciated.
•     Multi-lingual skills appreciated.

WHAT WE BRING

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $250,000- $286,000 for annual base salary. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:

•     Division Director can be based in any major TNC Office located within the Division.
•     Willingness to travel frequently, at least 50% of the time, often on short notice.
•     Work requires only minor physical exertion and/or physical strain.  Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements.

APPLY NOW

Please apply to Job 55167 at www.nature.org/careers.  Submit required cover letter and resume separately using the upload buttons.  Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. If you experience technical issues, please refer contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.