Deputy Director, Strategy & Operations

USA The Nature Conservancy; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 112,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in the United States seeks a Deputy Director of Business Strategy, Culture, and Operations to lead organizational effectiveness, culture, and operational excellence within the Business Unit. This senior role translates strategy into actionable plans and aligns resources, processes, and capabilities to advance conservation outcomes.

In partnership with the Business Unit Director, you will oversee business planning, compliance, facilities, safety, finance, sourcing, and HR,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience or equivalent combination, including 3 years managing operations functions.
• Financial / Accounting experience.
• Experience generating financial reports and analyzing and interpreting data.
• Experience developing and administering departmental budget or equivalent.
• Experience managing and supervising a multidisciplinary team.
• Fluent English is required for programs outside the US.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Business Unit's deputy leader and delegated authority for strategic priorities.
• Provide leadership for facilities planning, safety, procurement, and sustainability.
• Foster employee engagement, culture, and organizational health across the unit.
• Lead complex cross‑functional initiatives and organizational change.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and other functions to align resources and priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

People & culture development

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together: The Deputy Director, Business Strategy, Culture, and Operations serves as a member of the Business Unit Leadership Team and as the principal strategic partner and delegate to the Business Unit Director, providing leadership for organizational effectiveness, business operations, culture, and operational excellence. Working in close partnership with the Business Unit Director, the Deputy Director shares responsibility for the overall effectiveness, capacity, culture, and success of the Business Unit. The role is responsible for translating business strategy into actionable operational plans, ensuring alignment of resources, priorities, processes, and organizational capabilities to achieve conservation outcomes. The Deputy Director serves as the Business Unit's senior operational and organizational leader and may assume delegated authority for significant portions of business unit strategy, operations, workforce planning, organizational culture, and implementation of key priorities. The Deputy Director oversees key operational functions including business planning, compliance, employee engagement, facilities, safety, sourcing and supplier management, and other operational services. As the delegated representative of the Business Unit Director, they facilitate cross-functional coordination, drive strategic initiatives, support organizational change, and promote an effective, engaged, and high-performing workplace culture. The Deputy Director serves as a critical link between the Business Unit and divisional and global functions. Working closely with functions such as People, Finance, Conservation, Philanthropy, and External Affairs, the Deputy Director ensures effective collaboration, alignment, and execution across a matrixed organization. They represent the Business Unit in divisional and enterprise initiatives and help ensure organizational priorities are implemented effectively across programs and functions. The Deputy Director cultivates strong partnerships with staff, leadership teams, board members, donors, volunteers, vendors, community partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to advance business unit priorities and strengthen organizational effectiveness. The Deputy Director serves as a member of the Business Unit Leadership Team and strategic partner to the Business Unit Director, helping shape organizational priorities, resource allocation decisions, and operating approaches necessary to achieve conservation outcomes. As the Business Unit's deputy leader, the Deputy Director works closely with the Business Unit Director to ensure the overall health, effectiveness, and success of the organization. They help establish priorities, facilitate decision‑making, remove barriers, and coordinate implementation of strategic initiatives across functions and programs. The Deputy Director leads operational planning efforts, including organizational capacity planning, workforce and resource alignment, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives that enable achievement of short‑ and long‑term business objectives. They serve as a principal strategic advisor to the Business Unit Director and Leadership Team on organizational effectiveness, operating models, talent and workforce planning, risk management, culture, and business strategy. The Deputy Director leads complex cross‑functional initiatives, organizational change efforts, and enterprise projects involving multiple stakeholder groups and business functions. They ensure effective stakeholder engagement, communication, risk management, and adoption of new organizational priorities, structures, processes, and ways of working. The Deputy Director champions employee engagement and organizational culture initiatives that strengthen the employee experience and foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high‑performing workplace. They also provide leadership and oversight for facilities planning, sourcing and supplier management, purchasing decisions, fleet strategy, insurance administration, sustainability initiatives, safety programs, and other operational services required to support business unit success. This role will require 3 days a week of in‑person attendance at our Conshohocken, PA office. Harrisburg, PA office alignment can be considered.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Business Strategy: Serve as the Business Unit's deputy leader, exercising delegated authority on behalf of the Business Unit Director and ensuring continuity of leadership, decision‑making, organizational performance, and execution of strategic priorities.
• Share accountability with the Business Unit Director and Leadership Team for overall business unit performance, organizational health, employee engagement, workforce capacity, and achievement of strategic priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership across business unit functions, helping align conservation, philanthropy, external affairs, operations, and administrative resources to maximize organizational effectiveness and impact.
• Lead organizational capacity planning efforts to ensure staffing, operational capabilities, structures, and resources are aligned with current and future business needs.
• Advise Business Unit leadership on organizational design, operating models, staffing approaches, and resource deployment strategies that support long‑term objectives.
• Provide leadership in business planning and execution to ensure alignment between strategy, workforce capacity, and operational delivery.
• Evaluate organizational effectiveness and recommend changes to structures, processes, and operating practices to improve performance and achieve conservation outcomes.
• Serve as a principal advisor to the Business Unit Director and Leadership Team on operational strategy, organizational effectiveness, risk management, workforce planning, and business priorities.
• Act as a delegated representative of the Business Unit Director on operational and strategic initiatives.
• Lead complex organizational change initiatives involving multiple functions, stakeholder groups, and business processes.
• Assess organizational readiness, identify barriers to adoption, and develop strategies that support successful implementation of new organizational priorities, structures, processes or operating models.
• Develop implementation plans, stakeholder engagement strategies, communication approaches, and progress monitoring mechanisms for major initiatives.
• Serve as lead project manager for strategic business unit projects.
• Conceive, design and manage complex and diversified projects, including directing work of staff and ensuring program accountability.
• Manage strategic initiatives through collaboration with stakeholders in order to enhance performance in accordance with short and long‑term objectives.
• Make strategic decisions; decisions made may have program‑wide impact and may bind the organization financially or legally.
• Partner with Business Unit leadership to establish organizational priorities, monitor performance, and align resources to achieve strategic goals.
• Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high‑profile, or sensitive agreements.
• Represent the Business Unit in divisional and enterprise initiatives and influence organizational policies, operating practices, and strategic priorities across the Division.
• Monitor organizational performance and recommend adjustments to resources, investments, operating approaches, and organizational structures to improve business results and achieve conservation priorities.
• Culture and Employee Engagement: Serve as the Business Unit's lead for employee engagement, organizational culture, and organizational health, partnering closely with Divisional Human Resources, Culture & Engagement, and Business Unit leadership to advance employee experience, inclusion, belonging, workplace effectiveness, and long‑term organizational success.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement, collaboration, and staff experience across the Business Unit.
• Ensure alignment with divisional and enterprise culture, engagement, and workforce priorities while adapting approaches to local business unit needs.
• Build leadership and team effectiveness by fostering high‑trust relationships, strengthening manager capabilities, communication, collaboration, feedback practices, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership.
• Partner with Human Resources and Culture & Engagement to identify development needs and support learning, mentoring, coaching, and leadership development opportunities.
• Champion cross‑functional collaboration and knowledge sharing by strengthening partnerships within the Business Unit and across the Division, including shared staffing models, fellowship programs, communities of practice, and other initiatives that improve organizational effectiveness.
• Lead onboarding, integration, recognition, employee engagement, and community‑building efforts that foster connection, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a shared sense of purpose across teams and Business Units.
• Lead employee listening and organizational health efforts, including engagement surveys, listening sessions, workforce assessments, and other feedback mechanisms.
• Partner with Divisional Human Resources and Culture & Engagement to analyze findings, identify opportunities and risks, and support leaders in translating insights into meaningful actions and measurable outcomes.
• Serve as a key change leader for the Business Unit, supporting organizational transitions and helping leaders and teams successfully adopt new priorities, structures, processes, and ways of working.
• Promote awareness and adoption of Culture & Engagement resources, programs, and learning opportunities.
• Amplify divisional and enterprise initiatives, share local successes and lessons learned, and foster values‑based communication that strengthens understanding, participation, and connection across the Business Unit.
• Operations: Ensure compliance with organizational policies, operational standards, regulatory requirements, and business processes.
• Provide leadership for facilities planning and operational infrastructure decisions.
• Oversee fleet strategy and governance.
• Lead safety planning, emergency preparedness, and business continuity efforts.
• Champion sustainability initiatives and environmental stewardship practices within business operations.
• Ensures technology procurement and asset management strategies support organizational effectiveness, workforce needs, risk management, and long‑term Business Unit priorities.
• Conceive and lead new programs/initiatives that will ensure program and organization‑wide goals are achieved; Ensure that programmatic commitments, Conservancy policies and procedures, and financial standards are met and managed for ethical compliance.
• They will oversee and manage their business unit’s compliance regarding data, information and record management and youth safety programs.
• Minimize legal risk to the Conservancy and ensure legal compliance with applicable state and local regulations.
• Lead, coach, and develop operations and administrative staff, fostering accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and high performance.
• Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with board members, donors, volunteers, vendors, community organizations, government agencies, and other external partners whose relationships contribute to business unit success.

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in leading a diverse, multi‑disciplinary team. The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience designing, organizing, and directing complex projects. 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 and 8 years related experience or equivalent combination, including 3 years managing operations functions.
• Financial / Accounting experience.
• Experience generating financial reports and analyzing and interpreting data.
• Experience developing and administering departmental budget or equivalent.
• Experience managing and supervising a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience developing, managing and implementing multiple projects and strategic goals.
• Experience working with cross‑functional teams across multiple organizational levels.
• Experience, coursework, or other training in principles, practices, and procedures of relevant field.
• Fluent English is required for programs outside the US.

Desired Qualifications:

• Multi‑lingual skills and multi‑cultural or cross‑cultural experiences are appreciated.
• Effective training skills.
• Excellent communication skills including presentations, conversations, and documents.
• Experience managing a geographically dispersed team.
• Expert knowledge of current and evolving trends in relevant discipline.
• Proficiency in synthesizing materials from multiple sources into a coherent and accurate summary.
• Proficiency in working independently as well as jointly with colleagues on a team.
• Accounting degree and CPA certification.
• Non‑profit GAAP accounting experience.
• Understanding of best practices in non‑profit management.
• Experience providing support in Human Resources processes.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $112,115 - $137,105. 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.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. 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’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor. One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience.

To quote a popular saying at TNC, "you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people."

What We Bring:

• We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well‑being of the people we employ.
• TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well‑being benefits.
• Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Global Presence:

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide‑ranging environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, we impact conservation in 79 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation impact and 42 through partners. To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.