JOB VACANCY: Director, Invasive Species Initiative

The Nature Conservancy
Saving the Last Great Places
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Executive Director is responsible for leading an organization-wide initiative to: 1) enable all units of The Nature Conservancy to address the threats to biodiversity posed by invasive non-native species using public policy, research, communications and the best management practices available; and 2) generate major new public and private funding to address this threat. S/He also develops and maintains partnerships with U.S. and international efforts to prevent and abate invasive species impacts on biodiversity, and with business, government, and conservation interests to elevate the political profile of this issue. The Executive Director directs a multi-faceted program by providing leadership and working collaboratively with staff, Conservancy leadership, landowners, corporations, donors, government agencies and Board/Trustee members. The Director is responsible for program funding, budget administration and monitoring. Work includes strategic leadership at a global scale, as well as development of projects that test or demonstrate key strategies in specific geographic areas of interest to the
Conservancy. Position typically involves working across state and
geographical boundaries and requires the ability to work with and influence others in leadership positions both within and outside of the Conservancy. The Executive Director will recruit and supervise a small professional staff, including a Program Coordinator in the World Office in Arlington, Virginia, a senior technical staff housed at UC-Davis, a Liaison with the Global Invasive Species Programme, and administrative support. This position is a full-time exempt position supervised by the Director, Conservation Strategies Group.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:
1. Advanced degree in natural sciences or public policy or related fields, and at least 7 years related experience, including previous experience working at a senior level, or equivalent combination. Positive reputation for excellence within discipline. 2. Demonstrated understanding of the invasive species threat to biological diversity from both science and policy perspectives, and a positive reputation as a leader on this issue. 3. Experience successfully leading teams linked by common purpose rather than by lines of authority or supervisory structure to accomplish major results. 4. Extensive management experience, including ability to motivate, lead, set individual and program-wide objectives, and manage performance of a large multi-disciplinary team. 5. Proven success in planning and implementing large scale projects and strategies, utilizing analytical, strategic, and systematic thinking. Creativity and strategic vision essential. 6. Proven success in working with government and private sector leaders to garner support for major programs. 7. Demonstrated ability in major gift fundraising, marketing and developing significant public sources of support. 8. Exceptional leadership and communications skills, and a successful record of hiring and motivating strong staff to achieve results. 9. A strong belief in the mission and values of The Nature Conservancy.
COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
1. Highly diversified work involves participation in the formulation and evaluation of broad policies and/or long-term programs, or making decisions, which typically have broad organizational impact. 2. Direct major program of strategic importance to the Conservancy through collaborative management of multi-disciplinary teams and multiple locations. 3. Develop, propose and implement procedures to enhance overall performance in accordance with strategic goals, sort and long term objectives. Creative thinker. 4. Negotiate complex high profile or sensitive agreements.
DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
1. Progress depends on developing collaborative partnerships with other leaders internal and external to the organization, sustaining a clear strategy in the face of ambiguity, with little reliance on formal authority to force decisions. 2. Make sound decisions based on analysis, consultation with others, experience, and judgement. Decisions may affect organization’s public image, positively or negatively, as well as impacting the work of many throughout the organization. Errors in judgement could have wide scope and lasting effect. 3. Decisions may have significant financial and/or legal impact on the organization. 4. Maximum opportunity to act independently.
RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT –FINANCIAL & SUPERVISORY:
1. Broad management and leadership responsibility. Recruit, retain, and manage high quality and effective staff. 2. Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors in support of program activities. 3. Overall responsibility for financial management of program, including setting goals, analyzing results, and taking corrective action. 4. May commit significant financial resources of the Conservancy within this program’s budget.
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
1. Superb communication and presentation skills; ability to persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups including major donors, corporate executives, board members, and others who are critical to the organization’s overall prosperity. 2. Leverage constructive and effective relationships inside and outside the Conservancy. Work in partnership with other organizations in a collaborative or advisory role. 3. Command attention; change tactics midstream when necessary. Manage group processes.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
1. Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines. 2. Ability to work an irregular schedule including weekends and unpredicted schedule change, travel extensively and on short notice.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 22, 2004
SUBMIT COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO:
jobs@tnc.org (please indicate job title in subject line)
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer