Missouri State Director

ROME GROUP; Missouri; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy is seeking Missouri State Director to lead conservation strategy, philanthropy and external partnerships across Missouri. The role oversees a large team and a multi-million-dollar budget, reporting to the Great Plains Division.

The Director will align local goals with division and global priorities, cultivate donors, and build collaborations with agencies, universities, and communities to advance conservation outcomes in Missouri and beyond.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of leadership in conservation or non-profit sectors.
• Extensive management experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Fluency in English required; strong written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, inspire, and motivate staff to advance conservation goals.
• Oversee conservation, policy, fundraising, and operations plans for Missouri chapter.
• Drive resources to high-impact work and measurable results.
• Create a culture of trust, inclusion, and professional growth.
• Act as a key fundraiser with donors, corporations, and foundations.
• Engage and empower a governing Board of Trustees as ambassadors.
• Collaborate with government, academia, and partners to advance priorities.
• Ensure financial health and compliance of the chapter.

Skills

Management experience

English fluency

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in conservation or related field

Job description

Missouri State Director

The Missouri State Director leads The Nature Conservancy's interests at the state level, leading conservation strategy, philanthropy, and external partnerships across Missouri's chapter, which ownsnearly15,000acresand has helped protect more than100,000 acresstatewide. They oversee a network of preserves and Centers for Conservation Innovation, and work in close partnership with state agencies, academic institutions, and local organizations to advance the Conservancy's mission in Missouri. They supervise seniorprogramand development staff who also representthe organization’s interests before these entities.

The Missouri State Director functions as manager and conservation strategist for a large, complex Business Unit (BU). They are accountable for the BU's success in implementing TNC's conservation approach, producing measurable conservation results and maintaining organizational values. They ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the operating unit's responsibilities, and contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of priority cross-boundary efforts.They support alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to address the most critical organization-wide projects, threats and strategies.They are responsible for collaborating with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities established by TNC, both in her/his ecoregion(s)/operating unit and in areas beyond her/his span of authority.They serve as the primary local spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners) and cultivates those audiences to support and promote TNC's mission and vision.

The Missouri State Director oversees fundraising for theBU, including approving budgets and setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals. He/she supports philanthropy, resources and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private,bilateraland multilateral government) to meet fundraising goals.Theyare responsible fora significant portionof theBU'sdirect fundraising, sometimes in a major market area.

The staffcomprisingthe various BU functions may be structured as needed or shared with other units as efficiency dictates to meet the needs of the unit.The Missouri State Director reports to theGreat PlainsDivision Director and works closely with the local trustees/advisory board.

Responsibilities & Scope

• 1. Lead, manage, inspire, and motivate a teamof staff to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization's mission andgoals whilemaintainingculture and engagementin theBU.


• 2. Oversee the development and execution of conservation, policy, fundraising, and operations plansin Missouri to ensure chapter goals and strategies are aligned with TNC's priorities at the Division, Region, and Global levels and grounded in local context. Drive resources to highest impact work and produce measurable results.


• 3. Create, model, and cultivatea workplace culture where staff feel empowered – grounded in trust, fairness, inclusion, and opportunities for professional growth.


• 4. Act as a key fundraiser in support of local, divisional, and global outcomesby partnering with staff to engage donors, corporations, and foundations to support organizational goals and priority projects in Missouri, the Great Plains Division, the United States, and globally.


• 5. Engage and foster a volunteer Board of Trusteesbyleveragingtheirexpertiseand empowering them to serve as ambassadors for TNC – activelyparticipatingin fundraising, networking, advocacy, and strategic leadership.


• 6. Represent TNC's interests with key community members, specifically governmental leaders and agencies, partner organizations, corporations, foundations, and academic institutions (in the realms of agriculture, wildlife, natural resources, energy, climate, water, policy, economic development, ecosystem services, or related fields), to cultivate and steward strong, cooperative partnerships inMissouri.


• 7. Ensure the organizational health and financial sustainability of the Missourichapterby stewarding a strategic conservation plan, program commitments, a multi-million-dollar budget and associated financial standards, and legal requirements.


• 8. Serve on the Great Plains Division Leadership Team,which is responsible for the collective success of the division and helps shape the strategy, identifies the division's conservation priorities, and develops, funds and deploys talent to execute cross-boundary initiatives that can deliver the greatest impact to TNC's goals in the Great Plains.

Demonstrates a willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout the geography and globally as required (estimated 40%); and works flexibly, sometimes beyond the normal workday, including weekends, as necessary, during deadline periods. Must belocatedwithin Missourior abletorelocateto Missouri, with a preference for the Greater St. Louis area. May be based in a TNC or home office.

Minimum Qualifications

• -Bachelor's degree and minimum of 7 years of experience as a leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area.


• -Extensive and proven management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a large multi-disciplinary team.


• -Written and verbal fluency in English is required as well as fluency in the predominant language of the operating unit if other than English.


• -Superb communication