Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We are conserving lands, waters, and oceans at unprecedented scales while helping communities use nature to adapt to and mitigate climate change. We’re guided by our values and rooted in our mission, and know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. To learn more, visit www.nature.org.

What We Can Achieve Together

We are currently seeking an engaging and innovative State Director to lead the Mississippi Business Unit, while partnering closely with the Southern Division as we execute on our ambitious conservation goals. This position provides the unique opportunity to have a significant conservation impact in Mississippi, regionally, and beyond.

Since 1965, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been working to conserve lands and waters in Mississippi. TNC has played a key role in protecting and restoring some of Mississippi’s most iconic landscapes, totaling over 150,000 acres across the state. The Chapter currently has a talented staff of 11 located across the state, an operating budget ranging from $5 million to $10 million, an engaged board of trustees, and a robust conservation agenda framed by a recently adopted Strategic Plan.

Since The Nature Conservancy’s founding in 1951, it has become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world touching down in six continents and over 70 countries world-wide. The organization is currently focused on the dual and related conservation threats of climate change and biodiversity loss and has established a set of 2030 conservation goals that the organization is working together to achieve.

The Mississippi State Director has the unique opportunity to help create a shared, multi-state vision for how to maximize conservation outcomes within Mississippi, across the Southern Deltas (Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas), and across the broader Southern U.S. Division, comprised of 10 state chapters from Virginia and Kentucky southward to Florida and Louisiana. Increasingly and fundamentally, the State Director collaborates with others across the Southern Division and beyond to build partnerships and support the most critical organization-wide impacts, strategies, and projects that align and meet the overall greater initiatives of Mississippi, the Southern Division and organization. The State Director reports to the Southern Division Director.

The State Director leads staff and trustees, cultivates new and existing donors, expands partnerships, and builds a broader constituency for conservation across the state. As a leader in the Mississippi conservation movement, the State Director plays a primary role collaborating with partner organizations, government agencies, elected officials and other key decision-makers to build alliances and shared agendas that advance science-driven conservation outcomes in Mississippi, across the South, and globally. The State Director is accountable for the chapter’s success in implementing TNC’s global conservation approach, producing measurable results, upholding organizational values, and supporting the ongoing work of equity while leading an inclusive workplace culture. The State Director is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) in the Chapter’s work and culture.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

We’re looking for someone with strong experience in leading a diverse, multi-disciplinary team and who is a passionate, motivated problem-solver and an excellent communicator. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication, listening and collaboration skills, while also being able to make hard, transparent decisions in a matrixed and sometimes ambiguous environment. The ideal candidate will also have the emotional intelligence and disposition to build trust and lead the organization forward in ways that are equitable, fair and inclusive, while also being willing/able to navigate difficult or potentially contentious conversations. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be a big picture thinker who can articulate and align Mississippi’s strategies, programs, and projects with the larger TNC organization. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing and shaping the work of our team!

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

· Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) and minimum of 7 years of management experience as a leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy or related for-profit areas.

· Extensive and proven management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a large multi-disciplinary team.

· Written and verbal fluency in English is required.

· Superb communication and presentation skills required.

· Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, governmental officials, etc.

· Experience in marketing and communications, fundraising, and budget management.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Familiarity with Mississippi including its natural systems, environmental stressors/threats, politics, and key stakeholders.

· Success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence.

· Proven managerial talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management.

· High energy, forward thinking, creative individual with high ethical standards. Outstanding leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.

· Proven technical skills, analytical ability, good judgement, and strong operational focus.

· Ability to lead with empathy while creating a culture of accountability.

· Well organized and self-directed; politically savvy and a team player.

· Experience gained both in and outside the U.S. preferred. Demonstrated commitment to developing ad practicing global literacy a must.

· Awareness of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)) principles and practice in the conservation field, and commitment to advancing DEI in operational and programmatic contexts.

· Proven talent in hiring, developing, and retaining staff.

· Proven skills in board development, recruitment, and engagement.

WHAT WE’LL BRING

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive compensation and 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 on 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!

How to Apply

Please apply to Job 54047 at www.nature.org/careers, or apply directly HERE. 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 to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

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

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