WY Director of Conservation Programs

USA The Nature Conservancy; United States; On-site; USD 112,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) match

Parental leave

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming seeks a Wyoming Director of Conservation Programs to provide strategic leadership across a large, complex geography. You will set conservation priorities, guide planning, manage a multidisciplinary team of 10+ and serve as the primary liaison to government agencies, donors, foundations, and academic partners.

You will develop partnerships, oversee portfolio execution, and translate scientific methods into practical solutions.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree and 10 years of conservation practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management and supervision of multidisciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
• Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant disciplines and geographic regions.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience developing partnerships with non-profit partners, community groups, and government agencies.
• Experience negotiating.
• Experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
• Experience with financial management of a large program.

Responsibilities

• Create, execute, and evaluate the impact of the Wyoming BU’s conservation program portfolio, ensuring strategies align with priorities.
• Align and mentor staff to achieve programmatic goals and adjust as needed.
• Ensure portfolio reviews and division priority strategy deadlines are met.
• Serve as donor engagement liaison and collaborate with Development Team on funding proposals.
• Provide reporting and insights for leadership and partners.
• Recruit, retain, and manage 10+ staff in a multidisciplinary team.
• Develop long-term strategies and achieve strategic goals.

Skills

Strategic planning

Leadership

Fundraising

Partnership development

Staff management

Communication

Education

BA/BS degree

10+ years conservation experience

Job description

What We Can Achieve Together

The Wyoming Director of Conservation Programs oversees all aspects of a significant program area encompassing a large, complex geography. Provides strategic leadership and support for the Conservancy’s conservation planning work and establishes overall conservation priorities for one or more divisions or major initiatives. The Director serves as the principal contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community, and may play a leading role in donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship for the program.

The Director disseminates best practices, provides training and analysis to implement organizational measures of success, and develops key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues while communicating solutions, innovative scientific methods, and frameworks to address natural system needs.

They establish the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within their area of responsibility, define conservation priorities in Wyoming, lead and manage teams that support and improve conservation efforts, and build strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field.

Responsibilities & Scope

Serve as a key member of the Wyoming BU’s Senior Leadership Team and perform duties including strategic planning, resource allocation, employee engagement, and partnership building.

• Create, execute, and evaluate the impact of the Wyoming BU’s conservation program portfolio, ensuring strategies and tactics align with WUSCAN Division Priorities and 2030 Outcomes.
• Align and mentor staff to achieve programmatic goals; direct mid-course corrections and decisions to transition out of work that is least impactful or can be executed by others.
• Ensure the BU meets division expectations and deadlines for annual conservation portfolio review and division priority strategy reviews.
• Act as a natural partner assisting on donor engagement events; create and develop funding proposals in collaboration with the Development Team.
• Serve as point person for HUB metric development and reporting to the Division Conservation Portfolio Director and NAR partners, ensuring reporting deadlines are met.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Wyoming Trustee Strategic Program Review Committee (SPaRC) and engage Trustees to provide insights and resources for TNC work.
• Recruit, retain, and manage high-quality multidisciplinary staff, oversee performance management, training, and career development for 10+ staff members.
• Develop long‑term strategies and achieve strategic goals and objectives.
• Make independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience, and judgment.
• May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours.
• May work in variable weather conditions, remote locations, difficult terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

We’re Looking for You

Are you looking for work you can believe in? The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience designing, organizing, and directing complex projects. We’re looking for a passionate, motivated problem‑solver dedicated to developing credible science‑based solutions that deliver transformative and sustainable outcomes.

What You’ll Bring

• BA/BS degree and 10 years of experience in conservation practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management and supervision of multidisciplinary teams and meeting deadlines.
• Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant disciplines and geographic regions.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience developing partnerships with non‑profit partners, community groups, and government agencies.
• Experience negotiating.
• Experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state or country level.
• Experience with financial management of a large program.

Desired Qualifications

• Multilingual and multi‑cultural experience appreciated.
• 10–12 years of experience in conservation practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives, and experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Strong written, spoken, and graphical communication skills in English and other relevant languages.
• Politically savvy.

Benefits

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other life and work well‑being benefits.

Salary Information

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally between $112,000.00 and $118,710.00 for U.S. candidates, with final pay determined by location, qualifications, and experience.

EEO Statement

TNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, cultures, genders, and identities to apply. The successful applicant must meet the requirements of TNC's background screening process.