Massachusetts State Director

 

A trusted name in conservation within the state and beyond, The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts strives to create a resilient and sustainable future for nature and people by conserving priority landscapes, restoring freshwater and marine systems, and advancing climate solutions that elevate the role of nature. The State Director functions as executive director in Massachusetts and plays a leading role in TNC’s 10-state Northeast Division, which supports major cross-boundary initiatives to conserve lands and waters and address climate change. At present, the Massachusetts Chapter is comprised of 31 talented staff and 22 engaged members of the board of trustees, all engaged in an authentic culture committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead the design and implementation of a strategic approach to Massachusetts’s conservation priorities. 

 

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 furthers this impactful work by leading the chapter staff and trustees, developing new and existing donors, forming partnerships and building a broader constituency for conservation across the state. As a leader in the Massachusetts conservation movement, the State Director plays a primary role in working 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 Massachusetts, across the region, and around the world. 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 Massachusetts State Director essential functions include:

 

·       Lead, manage, inspire and motivate staff, donors, trustees, and partners, to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization’s mission and 2030 Goals. 

·       Provide fundraising leadership in in support of local, regional, and global outcomes. Oversee fundraising and marketing and partners with staff to secure increased private and corporate support for conservation, engaging with major donors, corporations and foundations and supporting staff in donor cultivation. Approves budgets and sets priorities that dictate private and public fundraising goals. 

·       Provide demonstrated leadership in fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and justice within Massachusetts teams, strategies, and projects; among staff, trustees, and volunteers; across the organization and with partners. Demonstrate progress by successfully creating and leading a diverse workplace culture, nurturing a safe and inclusive environment for all, and focusing on equitable conservation processes and results.

·       Engage and build a volunteer Board of Trustees that provides strategic leadership and guidance in setting program goals and active fundraising. The Board of Trustees convenes as a whole four times per year, in addition to committee meetings as well as for activities related to fundraising and trustee engagement.

·       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. 

·       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 Northeast Division. Actively participate in the Northeast Leadership Council and Division teams, collaborating on innovative, cross-boundary projects and funding efforts. Support seasoned and emerging staff and volunteer leaders in service of shared organizational goals and outcomes. Support a culture of collaboration, personal accountability, innovation, and high morale.

·       Ensure program commitments, financial standards, and legal requirements are met. Key factual data and metrics include: 31 staff members, budget of approximately $9 million and 3 offices across the state. The Massachusetts Chapter is part of the Northeast Division which also includes the WV, PA/DE, NH, NJ, CT, RI, VT, MD/DC and ME Chapters. The State Director reports to the Northeast Division Director and is a member of the Northeast Leadership Council. 

 

 

·       Overall responsibility for conservation results that are equitable and fair, philanthropy activities and goals of the Massachusetts Chapter, and for integration of regional and global priorities

·       Manages the development and execution of the chapter’s strategic conservation plan, three-year budget and financial plans, and annual work programs, all delivered on time and within budget

·       Demonstrates a strong understanding of on-the-ground land management conservation

·       Applies the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in conservation work and workplace culture

·       Incorporates organizational values and competencies as foundational elements in all aspects of work

·       Cultivates and maintains a workplace culture that creates a psychologically safe and trusted environment

·       Empowers and engages staff in setting priorities and determining workload that enables a healthy work/life balance

·       Recruits, leads, and develops high quality and effective staff

·       Provides leadership in public policy efforts within the chapter and the region

·       Ensures that programmatic commitments, financial standards and legal requirements are met

·       Presents and represents the chapter’s and TNC’s vision in a compelling and engaging manner to internal and external audiences as lead spokesperson

·       Delivers effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on complex topics to employee groups, managers at all levels, board members and outside organizations

·       Directs, prepares, presents and/or participates in negotiations of project proposals with governmental, bilateral and/or multilateral agencies

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

·       Works flexibly, sometimes beyond the normal workday, including weekends, as necessary, during deadline periods

·       Works well under pressure

 

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

·      Management experience including leading and managing a large multi-disciplinary team.

·      Written and verbal fluency in English is required.

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

·      Experience in fundraising and budget management. 

·      Proven ability to convene a diversity of groups to find common ground and implement shared solutions.

 

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

·       Extensive experience in fundraising and commitment to increase program fundraising success in support of the Chapter and the Conservancy's global priorities, especially by identifying innovative forms of fundraising, as well as forging relationships and results in the Boston market. 

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

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

·       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. 

·       Proven skills in diverse board development and recruitment for fundraising and influencing results. 

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

·       Success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence. Proven managerial talent in hiring, developing, and retaining staff.

·       High energy, forward thinking, creative individual with strong 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 judgment, and strong operational focus.  Demonstrated operational, implementation and detail-oriented perspective.

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

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

 

 

 

 

Please apply to Job 53233 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.

 

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $165,000 – 211,000 for annual base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

 

 

 

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.