The primary responsibility of the Director of People and Operations (DPO) is to provide strategic direction and leadership for the 70 staff team in the Oregon Business Unit (BU) on matters pertaining to people and human resources support including talent management, performance management, employee engagement and wellbeing, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. They are also responsible for overall leadership of business operations such as facilities and fleet management, workplace safety, and may support high level financial management in collaboration with the Finance Manager, Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and the Board of Trustees. The DPO reports to the Oregon State Director and, as a member of the executive team, shares responsibility for the overall performance of the BU. The DPO is a leader and authentic collaborator in establishing, designing and implementing structures, programs and/or practices – as well as modeling their own behaviors and actions -- that nurture an inclusive, psychologically safe, courageous and vibrant organizational culture in support of The Nature Conservancy’s organizational goals, mission and values.

The Director of People and Operations will collaborate with Directors of Operations in other BUs and TNC’s People Team at the Divisional, Regional and Global levels to deliver effective services and programs to advance TNC’s goals for employee experience and engagement, including some of the following functions: recruiting, talent management, performance management, staff development and training, managerial excellence, employee relations, compensation, and organizational development. They co-manage a small team of HR professionals shared across the Oregon, Washington, and Colorado Business Units. Depending on experience, they may also directly manage finance, volunteer programs and other administrative support staff. The DPO will serve as the BU leader in ensuring our recruitment and retention practices for staff and interns are positioned to achieve our goals to have a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Along with the HR team, they will support hiring managers with the staffing process including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding. They will also ensure effective and consistent implementation of TNC’s performance management process. The DPO will drive development of the networks and partnerships we need to help us connect with people who may not have previously thought of TNC as a place for them – matching their skills, experience, and passion with the critical roles we are looking for to advance our mission.

The DPO will serve as an executive team sponsor of the BU’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team and play a key role to support the team as well as the implementation and evolution of the Oregon BU’s DEI Action Plan.

They will be responsible for ensuring that programmatic work is a collaborative and well-integrated effort across the BU and, where appropriate, across multiple BU’s. They will reinforce consistency in the organization's policies and procedures and provide direction related to human resources and operations. They will use a curious and learning mindset to adapt and evolve programs and structures to meet business needs. The DPO will provide guidance as well as promote and/or deliver learning development programs that grow staff skills and competencies, strengthen organizational culture, and support organizational goals and values. They will lead diverse activities, develop and improve processes, develop goals, and initiate solutions in order to improve effectiveness. The DPO will leverage constructive and effective relationships with a wide range of people, including staff colleagues in and outside Oregon, Trustees, and external partners.