State Director

ABOUT US

Founded in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable.  One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we strive for a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Working in 72 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit http://www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

SUMMARY

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the State Director functions as the executive director and conservation strategist for the Massachusetts Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and plays a leading role in the New England Division, which spans six states and supports major cross-boundary initiatives to conserve lands and waters, address climate change, and more. The State Director is accountable for the Chapter’s success in implementing TNC’s global conservation approach, producing measurable conservation results and upholding organizational values. The State Director reports to the New England Division Director and is a member of the New England Leadership Council.

In Massachusetts, we’re working with diverse partners to ensure healthy, rivers, estuaries, coastlines and fisheries; conserve forests and the benefits they provide; and tackle climate change, working with communities and governments to take action, and with nature to adapt to its impacts. The State Director plays a key role in this important work by leading the chapter staff, developing new and existing donors, forming partnerships, and building a broader constituency for conservation across the state. 

ESSENTIAL
FUNCTIONS

The key role of the State Director is to lead, manage, and inspire the staff and trustees of the Massachusetts Chapter to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization’s mission. Responsibilities include:

·       Articulate a conservation vision for Massachusetts that inspires and motivates staff, donors, trustees, and partners, and aligns with TNC’s regional and global Shared Conservation Agenda, including demonstrating outstanding management skills and engaging with public agencies.

·       Provide leadership in fundraising in support of local, regional and global outcomes. The Massachusetts Chapter has the potential to significantly advance the organization’s resources and capabilities at multiple levels.

·       Cultivate and steward strong and cooperative partnerships with governmental leaders and agencies, corporations, foundations, academic institutions, and other conservation organizations—engaging the highest levels of leadership.

·       Support strategic government relations and advocacy efforts on a variety of topics for local and regional impact. TNC is a non-partisan organization with demonstrated ability to convene and engage a wide array of stakeholders.

·       Sponsor the Connecticut River Program, spanning four New England states. Working with a diversity of partners, TNC seeks to restore and ensure the future of the river and its undeveloped tidal estuaries.

·       Serve as the primary spokesperson for TNC in Massachusetts: engaging internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners), inspiring support and promoting TNC’s mission and vision.  Consistently demonstrate authenticity and credibility in communications, and exert influence by being

a role model leader of people, programs and ethics.

·       Engage in a collaborative, shared leadership approach within Massachusetts and the New England Division. Actively participate in the New England Leadership Council and Division teams, collaborating on innovative, cross-boundary projects and funding efforts. Support seasoned and emerging leaders as well as volunteers in service of shared organizational goals and outcomes. Support a culture of collaboration, personal accountability, innovation, and high morale. Professional development is a priority for all levels of staff.

·       Promote diversity, equity and inclusion within Massachusetts teams and projects, among staff, trustees and volunteers, across the organization and with partners. Demonstrate progress by recruiting for diversity, nurturing a safe environment, focusing on equitable conservation results, and building an inclusive culture.

·       Engage and build a volunteer Board of Trustees that provides strategic leadership and guidance in setting program goals and active fundraising. Shepherd opportunities to expose the Board of Trustees to ongoing work in the field to develop a sense of ownership, teamwork, shared understanding and knowledge. Work closely with the Board Chair in a variety of areas, including recruitment and fundraising.  Currently numbering 17active members and 10 active former members, the Board of Trustees convenes formally four times per year, as well as for activities related to fundraising and trustee engagement.

·       Ensure program commitments, financial standards, and legal requirements are met. Key factual data and metrics include: 33 staff members, budget of $6.1 million and 5 project offices across the state. The Massachusetts Chapter is part of the New England Division which includes the Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine Chapters. The State Director reports to the New England Division Director and is a member of the New England Leadership Council.

·       Routine travel throughout Massachusetts, regionally and globally as required, up to 40 percent at times, and some weekends.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

·       Bachelor’s degree and minimum of seven years of experience as a leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, a related for-profit area, or equivalent.

·       Management experience including experience in motivating, leading, setting objectives, facilitating evidence-based decision making, and managing performance of a large multi-disciplinary team.

·       Superb communication and presentation skills required, including experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent.

·       Experience in fundraising and budget management.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

·       Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

·       An understanding of the natural resources of New England, their conservation challenges, and current management approaches.

·       Strong competency working effectively across differences such as race, culture, disabilities, socio-economic class and language groups. Experience cultivating strong interpersonal engagement and relationships in a global, multicultural context and developing relationships to drive organizational outcomes.

·       Able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.

·       Success as an inspirational leader who has effectively motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence. Proven managerial talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management. 

·       Successful experience in marketing or fund raising. Well organized and self-directed. Politically savvy.

·       A good listener, agile, and effective in managing group processes during presentations or discussions.

·       Exercises sensitivity and empathy in working in an advisory role with partner organizations.

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES

Builds Relationships

Builds productive relationships by interacting with others in ways that enhance mutual trust and commitment.

Collaboration & Teamwork

Works collaboratively with stakeholders across levels, geographies, backgrounds and cultures to improve decisions, strengthen commitment and be more effective.

Communicates Authentically

Communicates proactively and in a timely manner to share information, persuade, and influence with the appropriate level of detail, tone and opportunities for feedback.

Develops

Others

Takes ownership to help develop others’ skills, behaviors, and mindsets to help them maximize their workplace contributions.

Drives for Results

Sets challenging goals and objectives based on a strong sense of purpose and high-performance standards and steadfastly pushes self and others for tangible results, while ensuring work-life balance.

Leverages Difference

Demonstrates commitment to harnessing the power of differences strategically; the skills for consistently seeing, learning from and taking strategic action; and the self-awareness and behaviors to work across difference of identity and power respectfully and effectively with all stakeholders. Actively seeks to build and retain a diverse workforce and fosters an equitable inclusive workplace climate by recruiting and hiring for relevant differences and drawing upon the diverse perspectives of all.

Systems Leadership

Thinks and acts from an integrated, complex systems perspective and takes a long-term view on the organization’s challenges and opportunities to develop strategies to optimize the achievements of conservation goals over time.

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

APPLICATION DEADLINE: prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 18, 2019

The key role of the State Director is to lead, manage, and inspire the staff and trustees of the Massachusetts Chapter to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization’s mission. Responsibilities include:

·       Articulate a conservation vision for Massachusetts that inspires and motivates staff, donors, trustees, and partners, and aligns with TNC’s regional and global Shared Conservation Agenda, including demonstrating outstanding management skills and engaging with public agencies.

·       Provide leadership in fundraising in support of local, regional and global outcomes. The Massachusetts Chapter has the potential to significantly advance the organization’s resources and capabilities at multiple levels.

·       Cultivate and steward strong and cooperative partnerships with governmental leaders and agencies, corporations, foundations, academic institutions, and other conservation organizations—engaging the highest levels of leadership.

·       Support strategic government relations and advocacy efforts on a variety of topics for local and regional impact. TNC is a non-partisan organization with demonstrated ability to convene and engage a wide array of stakeholders.

·       Sponsor the Connecticut River Program, spanning four New England states. Working with a diversity of partners, TNC seeks to restore and ensure the future of the river and its undeveloped tidal estuaries.

·       Serve as the primary spokesperson for TNC in Massachusetts: engaging internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners), inspiring support and promoting TNC’s mission and vision.  Consistently demonstrate authenticity and credibility in communications, and exert influence by being

a role model leader of people, programs and ethics.

·       Engage in a collaborative, shared leadership approach within Massachusetts and the New England Division. Actively participate in the New England Leadership Council and Division teams, collaborating on innovative, cross-boundary projects and funding efforts. Support seasoned and emerging leaders as well as volunteers in service of shared organizational goals and outcomes. Support a culture of collaboration, personal accountability, innovation, and high morale. Professional development is a priority for all levels of staff.

·       Promote diversity, equity and inclusion within Massachusetts teams and projects, among staff, trustees and volunteers, across the organization and with partners. Demonstrate progress by recruiting for diversity, nurturing a safe environment, focusing on equitable conservation results, and building an inclusive culture.

·       Engage and build a volunteer Board of Trustees that provides strategic leadership and guidance in setting program goals and active fundraising. Shepherd opportunities to expose the Board of Trustees to ongoing work in the field to develop a sense of ownership, teamwork, shared understanding and knowledge. Work closely with the Board Chair in a variety of areas, including recruitment and fundraising.  Currently numbering 17active members and 10 active former members, the Board of Trustees convenes formally four times per year, as well as for activities related to fundraising and trustee engagement.

·       Ensure program commitments, financial standards, and legal requirements are met. Key factual data and metrics include: 33 staff members, budget of $6.1 million and 5 project offices across the state. The Massachusetts Chapter is part of the New England Division which includes the Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine Chapters. The State Director reports to the New England Division Director and is a member of the New England Leadership Council.

·       Routine travel throughout Massachusetts, regionally and globally as required, up to 40 percent at times, and some weekends.