Director of Conservation & Partnerships

BioPark Society; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Job summary

The New Mexico BioPark Society (NMBPS) seeks a strategic and collaborative conservation leader to guide the next phase of conservation growth, including managing the IUCN SSC Center for Species Survival: New Mexico partnership. This role provides strategic oversight of the BioPark’s conservation portfolio and strengthens partnerships across local to international scales.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Conservation will lead the BioPark’s conservation program, align strategy

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in conservation biology, environmental science, ecology, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Advanced degree preferred but not essential.
• Approximately eight or more years of relevant experience in conservation leadership, program management, partnerships, or applied conservation strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusted relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, with international experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the BioPark’s conservation program across local, regional, national, and international scales.
• Steward and strengthen key partnerships with the IUCN Species Survival Commission, government agencies, Indigenous and Tribal partners, NGOs, research institutions, and conservation networks.
• Support alignment between conservation priorities, institutional strategic planning, collections planning, and operational decision‑making across the BioPark and NMBPS Society.
• Guide and support a multidisciplinary conservation team, fostering a collaborative, mission‑driven, and strategically focused culture.
• Provide responsible financial and operational stewardship of conservation programs, including oversight of budgets, grants and donor‑funded activities, and support effective planning and delivery of field and program operations.
• Represent the BioPark and Society in strategic conservation forums, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives.
• Support partnership cultivation, and strategic fundraising initiatives aligned with conservation priorities.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

International partnerships

Education

Bachelor’s degree in conservation biology, environmental science, ecology, natural resource management, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

The New Mexico BioPark Society (NMBPS) seeks a strategic and collaborative conservation leader to guide the next phase of conservation growth, including managing the IUCN SSC Center for Species Survival: New Mexico partnership. This role provides strategic oversight of the BioPark’s conservation portfolio and strengthens partnerships across local to international scales.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Conservation will lead the BioPark’s conservation program, align strategy