Southern Ohio Program Manager

The Nature Conservancy; West Union (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site housing

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy is seeking a Southern Ohio Program Manager to lead stewardship at The Edge of Appalachia Preserve and surrounding sites. You will oversee spatial data, visitor experience, FSC certification, and a multidisciplinary team to achieve measurable conservation outcomes across southern Ohio.

You will engage government officials, local citizens, and regional partners to advance the Conservancy’s mission, while adapting to environmental and community contexts.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Direct stewardship activities at The Edge of Appalachia Preserve and other southern Ohio preserves.
• Manage associated spatial data and ensure high-quality visitor experiences.
• Ensure compliance with Forest Stewardship Council certification standards.
• Lead a cohesive team to meet shared conservation objectives.
• Communicate our conservation mission to government officials and local communities.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

GIS

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Southern Ohio Program Manager is part of TNC’s Conservation Team and implements projects and programs that lead to measurable conservation outcomes on-the-ground while supporting visitor experience. They will become part of a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, celebrates innovation, values collaborative approaches, and seeks lasting conservation results.

The Program Manager is responsible for directing stewardship activities at The Edge of Appalachia Preserve and other southern Ohio preserves, and managing associated spatial data, ensuring high-quality visitor experiences, complying with Forest Stewardship Council certification standards, and managing a cohesive team to meet shared objectives. A key responsibility also involves effectively communicating our conservation mission to government officials and local citizens, while fostering engagement with regional partners and tribal communities connected to southern Ohio.

Additional duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Programmatic scope requires cross-boundary work and relationship management.

• Manages multi-disciplinary staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.

• Establishes clear directions and set stretch objectives for direct reports.

• Builds cooperation from outside parties to accomplish program goals.

• Frequently makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and context.

• Ensures program compliance with internal policies and external requirements.

• Negotiates and writes agreements and leases.

• Develops and manages budgets, negotiates and contracts with vendors, and supports fundraising and donor stewardship efforts.

• Performs and directs ecological management tasks such as biological monitoring, invasive species control, and fire management.

• Responds to public inquiries, attends public meetings and addresses complaints.

• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and uneven terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

To effectively conduct the essential functions of the position, the Program Manager is expected to live within a 30 minutes of the Edge of Appalachia, near West Union, Ohio, so they can respond to urgent and routine issues and events on the preserve, including but not limited to security, equipment failures, and other issues that arise.On-site housing is available, and we prefer the successful candidate will take advantage of this option.

We’re Looking for You:

Want to help save the planet? Through the efforts of The Nature Conservancy, 65,000 acres in Ohio have been conserved for people and nature. We’re looking for a collaborative partner who thrives in an environment based on fostering and building relationships within TNC, across the state chapter, and with external partners. That includes being comfortable networking with varied groups, such as: private landowners, conservation partners, local officials, donors, board members and the public to inspire support for the Conservancy’s priorities.

If this sounds like you, this is an exceptional career opportunity for a highly motivated, capable individual interested in joining the world’s leading conservation organization!

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines.

• Sup…