Executive Director

Conservation Law Foundation; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) seeks a Vice President for Ocean Conservation to lead a high-impact program protecting New England’s ocean health and biodiversity.

You will guide strategy, manage a 10+ member team, and collaborate with leaders across law, science, and campaigns to advance sustainable fisheries, whale protections, and marine habitats. This is a mission-driven leadership role based in Boston with national impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in ocean law and policy.
• Law degree and active bar membership in good standing in any New England state or reciprocity.
• Experience applying core ocean conservation statutes such as MSA, ESA, MMPA, Antiquities Act.
• Strong leadership, people and project management experience.
• Experience building initiatives, teams, or large-scale programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead vision and strategy for CLF’s Ocean conservation work aligned with strategic priorities.
• Manage 10+ member team and foster inclusive workplace culture.
• Build partnerships with communities most affected by ocean issues.
• Guide fundraising, grant proposals, budgets, and reporting with development and finance teams.
• Oversee program budget and cross-team collaboration on campaigns and communications.
• Represent CLF with partners, officials, and other stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Fundraising

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Partnership development

Policy advocacy

Communication

Networking

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a Vice President for Ocean Conservation to join the team working for a healthy and thriving New England for all.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead a high-impact program working to restore and protect New England’s ocean and the biodiversity it supports. This includes work to advance sustainable fisheries; protect and rebuild the North Atlantic right whale population; protect New England’s special ocean places by establishing new and effectively managing existing protected areas in the ocean; advance responsibly developed offshore wind; and defend and support bedrock environmental statutes and institutions governing U.S. ocean resource management.

This is a rare opportunity for a collaborative, mission-driven leader to bring intellectual rigor, strategic judgment and vision, and public-interest commitment to work that will shape the future of marine conservation in New England and the United States.

For nearly five decades, CLF’s Ocean Conservation team has paired sophisticated legal and policy advocacy with up-to-date science and trusted regional partnerships to achieve lasting protection for New England’s ocean. Staff in the Ocean Conservation program bring deep expertise in law, policy, marine science, and public campaigns.

The CLF record includes helping prevent oil and gas development off New England, advancing landmark fisheries protections, establishing the only marine national monument in the Atlantic, developing and implementing the first state and regional comprehensive ocean management plans in the nation, and advancing meaningful right whale protections.

The next Vice President will inherit this distinguished legacy and lead the program into its next chapter—building durable solutions at the intersection of ocean health, climate resilience, and biodiversity. For the right leader, this role offers the platform, mandate, and urgency to deliver consequential impact for the ocean, the communities that depend on it, and generations to come.

This is an exciting opportunity to set programmatic directions and priorities consistent with the organization’s Strategic Plan and CLF’s ocean conservation goals. Through your top-level management skills, you will guide your 10+ member team toward a variety of solutions across New England and nationally.

The role will also ensure that team members are focused on the most strategic use of law, policy, science, and markets to maximize CLF’s impact. This position reports to the Senior Vice President for Law & Policy, with a preferred base at CLF’s Boston office and flexibility for some remote work within New England.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and implement the vision and strategy for CLF’s Ocean conservation work, ensuring it remains aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities;
• Engage in effective and inclusive management practices that support team members and ensure a healthy and inclusive workplace culture;
• Work closely with other senior leaders to build partnerships with people and communities most impacted by the issues we work on and where CLF policy, programmatic and legal actions will have the greatest impact;
• Work with the development team to identify and cultivate philanthropic and individual support and prepare grant proposals, project budgets and reports;
• Work with the Finance team to develop and manage an annual program budget of approximately $1.8 million;
• Work with the communications team and consultants on campaign plans, messaging, and collateral materials targeted to a variety of audiences including CLF members, funders, partners, and other practitioners in the field; and
• Represent CLF before partner communities, public officials, supporters, and other audiences.

Education and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in ocean law and policy. Substantial litigation experience is strongly preferred;
• A law degree and active bar membership in good standing in any New England state or the ability to receive reciprocity for a New England state;
• Experience in applying core ocean conservation and management statutes including the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Antiquities Act is desirable;
• Substantial experience in managing people and projects;
• Demonstrated success in navigating complex policy and programmatic initiatives;
• Experience starting and building new initiatives, teams, or large-scale endeavors;
• A collaborative leadership style, with proven ability to lead, manage, and support interdisciplinary teams;
• Strong skills in networking, fundraising, financial management, and communications;
• Familiarity with multi-faceted advocacy campaigns including policy, legislation, and litigation;
• Strong understanding of the role of science and public and stakeholder engagement in building successful advocacy campaigns; and
• Demonstrated commitment to addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.