Central Appalachians Project Director
The Nature Conservancy
Full-Time
About Us:
The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 69 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we are committed to a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Visit www.nature.org to learn more.
Summary:
The Central Appalachians Project Director for the Kentucky Chapter will oversee all aspects of project management and implementation for effective conservation programs in this region, and will collaborate with multiple adjacent states within the Central Appalachians. Specific emphasis with this new role will be in developing and implementing the Working Woodlands program, TNC’s voluntary forest carbon program. The position is based in Eastern Kentucky.
Essential Functions:
- The Central Appalachians Project Director serves as the regional lead for conservation programs and projects and fulfills the following essential functions:
- Conservation Vision and Leadership
- Serves as chief partner to the Director of Conservation in developing compelling conservation vision and agenda, shaping strategies and priorities, and achieving meaningful deliverables for conservation in the Central Appalachians, with specific emphasis on Working Woodlands Program.
- Works with The Nature Conservancy’s Central Appalachian Whole System project team to contribute to ecosystem-scale conservation strategies benefiting both people and nature and to translate Whole System vision into tangible actions. This includes serving as primary liaison to TNC’s Central Appalachians Whole System, a priority TNC program aimed at conserving the globally significant connected, climate resilient landscape stretching from Tennessee to Pennsylvania.
- Conservation Program Management
- Oversees the development and implementation of all aspects of Kentucky’s voluntary forest carbon program.
- Collaborates with Kentucky’s Director of Protection, Director of Conservation, and Central Appalachians Whole System staff to implement science-based objectives, metrics for monitoring, and adaptive management frameworks for implementation of the Working Woodlands Program in Kentucky as part of the chapter’s first Forest Conservation Business Plan.
- Serves as key working group member, and lead for Kentucky, within the Central Appalachians Whole System project.
- External Leverage and Influence
- Maintains and enhances the Conservancy’s role as a leading conservation organization, an innovator, a reliable and trustworthy partner, and a source of credible information.
- Build, cultivate, and maintain key partnerships and relationships with public agencies, private organizations and key stakeholders in Eastern Kentucky.
- Seek out and pursue significant public and private funding opportunities that will deliver resources needed to advance the Central Appalachians Whole System vision.
- Collaborate with philanthropy staff to support effective fundraising for the Central Appalachian Project Area, including participation in donor events, communications and marketing efforts, and gift solicitations.
Responsibilites & Scope:
- Oversees conservation programs in the Central Appalachians of Kentucky
- Instrumental in defining The Nature Conservancy as a key player in the economic transition of Eastern Kentucky towards nature-based solutions (e.g. forest carbon, sustainable energy).
- Programmatic scope may require cross-boundary work and relationships.
- May be responsible for leading or co-leading a whole system program.
- Leads and manages team or project to support and improve conservation efforts.
- Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the department or program while controlling costs and administering budgets.
- Responsible for ensuring that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs.
- Builds cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Frequently makes independent decision based on analysis, experience, and context.
Minimum Qualifications:
- BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in forestry, conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.
- 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 developing, leading, and participating on cross functional teams.
- Knowledge of key conservation issues and partners in Eastern Kentucky and the surrounding coalfield region.
- Knowledge of current conservation and forestry/natural resource management trends and practices.
- Extremely well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
- A valid driver’s license and compliance with the Conservancy’s Auto Safety Program.
- Basic computer literacy, including experience with Microsoft Office suite of programs.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Experience:
- 5-7 years’ experience in forestry, conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and
experience.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
- Experience fundraising and/or writing, securing, and managing grants.
- Relationship building skills to work closely with a variety of individuals, i.e., landowners, community leaders, media,
government officials, academia, and internal Scientists.
- Politically savvy.
- Experience working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including spatial data analysis and map
development.
- Experience with prescribed burning and supportive of fire as a management tool.
Organizational Competencies
- Accountability for Outcomes
- Pushes for excellence.
- Establishes challenging goals for self and others to drive performance in
support of the Conservancy’s mission.
- Rewards behavior that achieves these standards and is aligned with the organization’s mission/ values.
- Takes action to address performance problems
in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Builds Organizational Capability
- Builds or adapts organizational structures to accomplish the mission and to improve performance.
- This includes reorganizing organizational systems, structures, processes, procedures,
communication channels or reporting relationships. With the Conservancy’s strategic filter in mind, determines who can contribute, gets the right people involved, and builds bench strength for the future.
- Collaboration & Teamwork
- Shows a willingness to put the needs and goals of a global organization before
personal/local/departmental needs.
- Works with others across organizational boundaries.
- Makes decisions, sets priorities, and allocates resources to help the organization as a whole achieve results.
- Communications
- Effectively expresses messages verbally and in writing.
- Actively listens to others.
- Fosters open exchange of issues.
- Is timely with information.
- Courage & Decisiveness
- Makes decisions and stands by them.
- Makes timely decisions even under pressure and when lacking complete information.
- Has the courage to modify decisions and admit why and how they were wrong.
- Flexibility & Innovation
- Flexible to changing circumstances.
- Takes innovative approaches towards work.
- Takes calculated risks and makes dependable decisions in the face of uncertainty.
- Influences for Results
- Achieves results by persuading, convincing, or influencing others.
- Adapts approach to the individual or group and knows how and when to use complex influence strategies.
- Uses success stories and passion for the mission to generate enthusiasm and support.
- Open to Learning
- Versatile learner and committed to self-improvement.
- Employs strengths effectively.
- Willingly shares knowledge with others.
- Seeks coaching on areas needing improvement.
- Adjusts behavior/performance as needed.
- Views mistakes as learning opportunities.
- Organizational Awareness
- Understands the basics of our business.
- Knows how local job relates to the big picture & contributes to the overall strategy.
- Knows how/why things work inside TNC.
- Easily moves through internal networks and channels for success.
How to Apply:
https://careers.nature.org/psp/tnccareers/APPLICANT/APPL/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_SCHJOB&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1
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