Director of Conservation

Maine Tasting Center; Waldoboro (ME); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Midcoast Conservancy seeks a Director of Conservation to unite land and water initiatives, translating strategy into coordinated programs across the service area. You will lead a team, engage communities, and drive conservation outcomes from Damariscotta Lake to regional waterways.

The role oversees 2 FTEs, reports to senior leaders, and participates in organization-wide planning and budgeting while advancing partnership work for land and water priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science-related or natural resource management field and 7+ years of relevant experience; graduate degree preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise and working knowledge of land conservation and management strategies.
• Experience and understanding of water quality, watershed management, or aquatic resource protection.
• Familiarity with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices.
• Proven supervisory experience, with the ability to lead a team across distinct but related program areas.
• Experience with local, state, and federal rules and regulations related to water resource and land conservation, including shoreland zoning.
• Experience leading community outreach or public engagement efforts.
• Experience with fundraising, grant writing, or donor relations.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with community members, partners, and organizational leadership.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other department leads (e.g., Director of Stewardship) without direct authority over their operations.

Responsibilities

• Unified Land and Water Conservation Strategies: refine and implement landscape-scale conservation strategy; identify and advance conservation opportunities; track outcomes; supervise staff; coordinate with Stewardship; guide aquatic habitat restoration and watershed protection; manage land protection pipeline; liaise with agencies and partners; promote collaborative culture; participate in planning and budgeting as senior leadership.
• Community Outreach: lead outreach on land and water priorities; build relationships with community members and stakeholders; plan conversations and events; strengthen partnerships with other conservation groups.
• Fundraising for Special Projects: identify fundraising opportunities; draft grant proposals; build relationships with funders; track fundraising goals and report progress to leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Fundraising

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Community outreach

Education

Bachelor's degree in science or natural resource management

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

ArcGIS

GPS

Job description

About Midcoast Conservancy

Midcoast Conservancy is an innovative conservation organization with a mission to protect and restore vital lands and waters on a scale that matters. We achieve this mission through collaborative land, water, and community programming.

Position Overview

The Director of Conservation will unite and advance Midcoast Conservancy’s land and water conservation work, translating the organization’s landscape-scale conservation strategy and ensuring activities are coordinated across the service area, with particular emphasis on land conservation, conservation planning, water quality, watershed protection, and aquatic habitat. This role oversees 2 current FTEs in land and water conservation, and will work closely with the Director of Stewardship, to ensure conservation strategy and on-the-ground stewardship are coordinated. The role also leads community outreach efforts and fundraising for special projects in support of both land and water conservation. Reporting to the Co-Executive Director of Operations and Co-Executive Director of Engagement, this role is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for ensuring work activities are focused on the organization’s strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Unified Land and Water Conservation Strategies

• Refine and implement Midcoast Conservancy's landscape-scale conservation strategy across the freshwater-to-marine continuum, integrating land and water priorities rather than pursuing them as separate tracks
• Identify, evaluate, and help advance conservation opportunities (land acquisition, easements, water-related conservation activities on Damariscotta Lake, Sheepscot River, and Medomak River)
• Track and report on conservation outcomes and progress toward strategic goals
• Supervise land and water conservation staff and support their annual work planning
• Coordinate with the Director of Stewardship so that conservation strategy and day-to-day stewardship operations are aligned; this role does not manage stewardship operations
• Guide aquatic habitat restoration and connectivity projects, and oversee management of invasive aquatic species
• Guide implementation of Watershed Protection Plans
• Oversee the land protection pipeline: intake, tracking, prioritization, and advancement of projects, and maintain and update processes as needed
• Work with municipalities, state and federal agencies, and regional partners
• Practice and promote Midcoast Conservancy's shared leadership model and organizational culture, valuing collaboration, inclusiveness, and open communication
• Participate in organization-wide planning, budgeting, and effectiveness metrics as a member of senior leadership

Community Outreach

• Lead community outreach efforts on behalf of the organization’s conservation work, representing both land and water priorities in public-facing engagement
• Build and maintain relationships with community members, partner organizations, landowners, and other stakeholders
• Plan and lead community conversations, meetings, and events related to conservation priorities
• Assist with strengthening partnerships with neighboring conservation organizations and regional and state coalitions
• Serve as a public-facing spokesperson for conservation strategy, in coordination with the Co-Executive Directors and other staff

Fundraising for Special Projects

• Identify and pursue fundraising opportunities for special conservation projects spanning land and water, including but not limited to land acquisitions, easement funding support, river restoration projects, and healthy watershed education and outreach
• Draft grant proposals and funding requests in support of conservation initiatives, in coordination with development staff where applicable
• Build relationships with funders, donors, and grant-making organizations relevant to conservation priorities
• Track special-project fundraising goals and report on progress to the Co-Executive Directors and Board

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science-related or natural resource management field, and 7+ years of relevant experience (or an equivalent combination); graduate degree preferred
• Demonstrated expertise and working knowledge of land conservation and management strategies
• Experience and understanding of water quality, watershed management, or aquatic resource protection
• Familiarity with land conservation transactions and Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices
• Proven supervisory experience, with the ability to lead a team across distinct but related program areas
• Experience with local, state, and federal rules and regulations related to water resource and land conservation, including shoreland zoning
• Experience leading community outreach or public engagement efforts
• Experience with fundraising, grant writing, or donor relations
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with community members, partners, and organizational leadership
• Ability to work collaboratively with other department leads (e.g., Director of Stewardship) without direct authority over their operations

Preferred qualities:

• Local knowledge of midcoast Maine, and watersheds of Damariscotta Lake, Sheepscot River, and Medomak River
• Experience with technical tools such as ArcGIS, GPS, and other statistical or analytical software

Schedule

This is a 40-hour-per-week position, Monday–Friday

Midcoast Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.