NC Conservation Lead

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic direction for conservation initiatives.
• Directs and supports teams to advance integrated conservation actions and strategic scientific and technical capacity across field programs.
• Ensures 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.
• Develops key partnerships to advance collaborative conservation solutions and innovative scientific analysis, tools and frameworks that address natural system needs.
• Disseminates best practices, provides training and analyses to implement organizational measures of success, and negotiates complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, tribal communities, and landowners.
• Serves 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.
• Engages directly with major donors, foundations, and institutional partners to communicate strategy, demonstrate impact, and cultivate long-term investments; develops funding proposals for individual donors, foundations, and public grants.
• Supports and advances fundraising efforts by partnering with Philanthropy to align funder interests and conservation priorities.
• Participates as needed on annual conservation portfolio reviews.
• Engages with government relations teams to advance conservation objectives. Supports policy development and implementation efforts that enable durable conservation outcomes while respecting TNC’s nonpartisan role.
• Represents the organization in public forums, partner meetings, and high-level engagements as appropriate.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.