Job Details

Tri-State Business Unit Director

The Tri-State Business Unit Director functions as manager and conservation strategist for a very large, highly complex Business Unit (BU) consisting of three states (Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana). 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 business 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 their ecoregion(s)/operating unit and in areas beyond their 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 Tri-State BU Director oversees fundraising and finances for the BU. They support philanthropy and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private, bilateral and multilateral government) to meet fundraising goals. They are responsible for a significant portion of the BU's direct fundraising, typically in major market areas. They have a dotted line to marketing staff supporting and servicing the BU and play a central role in planning and executing marketing strategy and activities in collaboration with the Division Marketing Director and team.

The staff comprising the various BU functions may be structured as needed or shared with other units as efficiency dictates to meet the needs of the unit. The Tri-State BU Director reports to the Southern US Division Director and works closely with the local trustees/advisory board.

Ideal candidate will reside in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama.

What We're Looking for You:

The Tri-State BU Director will assist with integrating three existing BUs (Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi) including their staff and boards into one new tri-state BU. This integration is just beginning, and the new director will play a role in helping to finalize the details of the integration and will lead the staff and board through the integration. The Tri-State BU Director helps create a multi-state vision for how to maximize conservation outcomes within Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and the broader Southern U.S. Division, comprised of 10 state chapters from Virginia and Kentucky southward to Florida and Louisiana. Increasingly and fundamentally, the State Director collaborates with others across the Southern Division and beyond to build partnerships and support the most critical organization-wide impacts, strategies, and projects that align and meet the overall initiatives of the Tri-States, the Southern Division and organization.

The Tri-State BU Director leads staff and works closely with the local trustees/advisory board, cultivates new and existing donors, expands partnerships, and builds a broader constituency for conservation across the state. As a leader in the conservation movement, the BU Director plays a primary role collaborating with partner organizations, government agencies, elected officials, and other key decision-makers to build alliances that advance science-driven conservation outcomes in these three states, across the South, and globally. The BU Director is accountable for the BU's success in implementing TNC's global conservation approach, producing measurable results, upholding organizational values, and supporting the ongoing work of equity while leading an inclusive workplace culture.

• Overall responsibility for conservation results that are equitable and fair, philanthropy activities and goals of the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama operating units, and for integration of regional and global priorities
• Manages the development and execution of the chapter's strategic conservation plan, three-year budget and financial plans, and annual work programs, all delivered on time and within budget
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of on-the-ground land management conservation
• Applies the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in conservation work and workplace culture
• Incorporates organizational values and competencies as foundational elements in all aspects of work
• Cultivates and maintains a workplace culture that creates a psychologically safe and trusted environment
• Empowers and engages staff in setting priorities and determining workload that enables a healthy work/life balance

• Recruits, leads, and develops high quality and effective staff
• Provides leadership in public policy efforts within the chapter and the region
• Ensures that programmatic commitments, financial standards and legal requirements are met
• Presents and represents the chapter's and TNC's vision in a compelling and engaging manner to internal and external audiences as lead spokesperson
• Delivers effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on complex topics to employee groups, managers at all levels, board members and outside organizations
• Directs, prepares, presents and/or participates in negotiations of project proposals with governmental, bilateral and/or multilateral agencies
• Routine travel throughout these states, regionally and globally as required, up to 40 percent at times
• Works flexibly, sometimes beyond the normal workday, including weekends, as necessary, during deadline periods
• Works well under pressure

In addition to the state specific responsibilities of the BU Leader, they are responsible for the collective success of the division by being a member of the Divisional Leadership Team, whose focus is on strengthening a culture that collaborates strategically, thoughtfully and aggressively across geo-political and management lines. Through this approach, called Empowering Divisions, it 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 2030 goals across the division.

Specific responsibilities as a member of the Divisional Leadership Team include:

• Collectively determining divisional conservation targets and committing staff and financial resources to those agreed upon multi-year priorities.
• Shared development and management of fundraising goals through greater coordination of donor prospects and strategies and an increased focus on the wealth markets with the greatest potential not being realized.
• Identifying operating models and implementing shared services such as financial management, human resources support, DEIJ strategy and marketing and communications tactics across the division that maximize effectiveness and efficiencies.
• Developing greater consistency of approach in budgeting, evaluating risk and utilization of financial resources
• Aligning their individual Business Unit's portfolios of work (which includes de-prioritizing/divesting misaligned work)

What You'll Bring:

• 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 objective and manage the performance of a large multi-disciplinary team.
• Written and verbal fluency in English and fluency in the predominant language of the operating unit if other than English.
• Superb communication and presentation skills required.
• Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent.
• Experience in fundraising and budget management.

Desired Qualifications:

• 7-10 years' experience as a proven leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area, including demonstrated experience producing results and meeting program/department goals.
• Experience gained both in and outside the U.S. preferred. Demonstrated commitment to developing and practicing global literacy a must.
• Success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence. Proven managerial talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management.
• High energy, forward thinking, creative individual with high ethical standards. Outstanding leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
• Proven technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus. Demonstrated operational, implementation and detail-oriented perspective.
• Well organized and self-directed; politically savvy and a team player.
• Successful experience in marketing or fund raising desired.

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.