The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”
WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER
The Point Reyes Project Director for the TNC California Land Program oversees all aspects of land stewardship, restoration, collaborations and community relations for TNC’s partnership with the National Park Service to manage and restore 16,000 acres on the Point Reyes National Seashore. This will include providing strategic, technical and programmatic leadership for all dimensions of TNC’s collaboration with the National Park Service to implement a program of ecological land management and restoration on lands recently retired from intensive grazing and dairy production. The goals of this work will be to implement targeted grazing and ecosystem restoration to achieve specific ecological management objectives that include creating an ecosystem that allows wide-ranging species, including tule elk, to move freely across the leased lands; restore previously degraded areas and to manage grassland, wetland and other ecosystems to increase native plant and wildlife biodiversity, including the protection and recovery of several endangered species. The Point Reyes Project Director will be a leader in shaping and implementing this highly collaborative enterprise aimed at transforming the ecological integrity, visitation experience, and diversity of this iconic landscape. The lessons learned and approached demonstrated here will have broad relevance to the management of coastal ecosystems broadly.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU
Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together.
We’re looking for someone who is a passionate and motivated problem-solver with the drive and initiative to build this partnership at Point Reyes. The Land Program in California is committed to protecting, connecting and restoring conservation lands across California in ways that maximize recovery of biodiversity, produces replicable models of best practice in stewardship, fosters strategic relationships, and drives innovation at the forefront of conservation, restoration and science.
As the Project Director for Point Reyes, you will develop from the ground-up, oversee and manage a portfolio of land management and restoration efforts at Point Reyes, being the leader of a unique, if not unprecedented, public-private partnership. This will require providing strategic and operational leadership for a matrixed team of TNC land stewards, scientists, and partners to implement conservation efforts at the Point Reyes National Seashore. You will serve as the principal contact and ambassador to the National Park Service, other government agencies, conservation organizations, foundations, and the academic community, as well as establish the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within Point Reyes region, building community support in a socially and politically complex landscape. Given that this involves co-management of federal land with the National Park Service, the Project Director will be responsible for negotiating and implementing complex and innovative projects and agreements with government agencies, partners, and interested parties to conserve and protect the natural communities at Point Reyes. All of this will require a proactive leader able to actively engage with local and regional partners to shape and implement collaborative management programs, public speaking to build support internally and externally. The Project Director will also be responsible for budget management that may involve managing public and private funding sources, as well as supporting fundraising via grant writing and cultivation of donor relationships. Frequent travel domestically, with evening and weekend hours. May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
- BA/BS degree and 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
- Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating.