Director of Conservation Partnerships, Mid-Atlantic

About the Role:

The Director of Conservation Partnerships for the Mid-Atlantic fosters enduring collaborations with the National Wildlife Federation state affiliate organizations and other partners, both individually and collectively, to create a more inclusive and impactful conservation movement. The Director also develops and implements conservation and education programs and advocacy campaigns in the Mid-Atlantic with affiliates and other partner organizations in furtherance of the National Wildlife Federation's strategic plan (A Common Agenda for Wildlife) and our Equity and Justice Strategic Plan. 

The Director of Conservation Partnerships reports to the Regional Executive Director and works closely with the regional staff, the national Partnerships Team, and colleagues in other teams/departments in our highly matrixed organization.

Location: The location of this position is flexible within the region, with a strong preference for close proximity to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center office in Annapolis, MD. Due to COVID-19 employees are working remotely until we make return to office decisions. 

Travel: Once safe travel resumes, extensive travel throughout the region and to national meetings will be required. Anticipate 5-8 days every month, 30-60 nights per year.

About the National Wildlife Federation:

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America's largest and most trusted environmental conservation organization with more than six million members and supporters and 53 state and territorial affiliates—autonomous, nonprofit organizations that take the lead in state and local conservation efforts and collaborate with NWF to conduct advocacy activities on national issues. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. In order to save wildlife and ourselves, the National Wildlife Federation believes that we need to ensure that everyone in the United States of America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21st century.

Principal Duties:

In this role you will serve as the primary liaison with the National Wildlife Federation’s state affiliates in the region, contribute to national efforts to advance Federation conservation and organizational strategies, and build authentic partnerships with a diversity of individuals and organizations in furtherance of shared goals.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading strategic growth with key Mid-Atlantic affiliates as determined by regional priorities, candidate interest, and location
• Ensuring consistent engagement of affiliates with NWF governance and leadership processes such as our annual governance meeting and affiliate leadership conferences
• Developing relationships with regional board member(s) and cultivating a diverse board recruitment pipeline
• Working with the Regional Executive Director and program leads to more strategically implement existing programs and advocacy/policy campaigns and to develop new initiatives with affiliates and partners
• Collaborating with regional and national staff to identify and implement innovative and sustainable ways to raise funds to support joint programs of NWF, affiliates, and partners
• Providing guidance to refine and re-invent norms at NWF for cross-organizational collaboration to advance programmatic work, transparent communication, equity and justice priorities, and authentic relationships
• Working with the national Partnerships team to continue the development of a cohesive and aligned Federation that supports the further capacity development and evolution of affiliates to create a force-multiplier effect at the state, regional and national levels

Required Qualifications:

Strong candidates for this position will have demonstrated proficiency in building and maintaining authentic partnerships with a diversity of individuals and organizations. Additionally, candidates are required to have:

• a strong foundation in environmental, sustainability, environmental justice, and/or conservation principles and practices through their educational background and/or professional experience in conservation, science, public policy or a related field
• significant experience working with nonprofit organizations and depth of understanding of nonprofit governance, operations, and fundraising principles
• well-developed strategic thinking and prioritization skills and ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously and autonomously
• excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills

Note: These proficiencies are typically consistent with at least five years of professional experience.

Required Competencies:

The individual selected for this role is expected to exemplify the National Wildlife Federation’s core values (collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus) and demonstrate leadership competencies including:

Self-Awareness & Learning

• Dedicated to deepening understanding of cultural and systemic racism and the intersectionality of multiple forms of social inequality
• Demonstrates awareness of positional power and privilege (both personally and professionally) and its attendant impacts
• Consistently brings a high level of empathy, emotional intelligence, and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions

Authentic Relationships & Community Partnerships

• Maintains a sophisticated understanding of how group dynamics impact organizational culture, partnerships, campaigns and coalition work
• Demonstrates capacity to maintain relationships across difference
• Openly holds space, and invites others into conversations during sensitive engagements, exhibiting a responsible and respectful demeanor with colleagues and partners

Direct Communication

• Exhibits strong interpersonal skills rooted in teamwork, diplomacy, and respect
• Strives to match intent and impact in all interactions
• Acknowledges when mistakes are made and harm is done; works to repair breaches in relationships

Power Sharing 

• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members
• Keeps colleagues and partners informed of decisions that impact them
• Works to implement collaborative decision-making processes and structures that include voices from different programs and different levels of the organization so that decisions do not belong to a single person but can be collectively owned

Innovation

• Actively seeks new solutions to persistent problems by engaging a diversity of perspectives and experiences
• Practices both/and thinking and the ability to accept ambiguity

Equity Analysis & Action

• Motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
• Committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement
• Demonstrates awareness of the attributes associated with a white dominant culture and takes actions to dismantle hierarchies of oppression within that culture
• Dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work

Note: The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. 

Compensation and Benefits:

• The starting salary for this position is $80,000 and is based upon a wage analysis across the organization.
• The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, open wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options. 
• In addition, our benefits package includes:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks.
  • Click here to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply on Company Website" below. 
• Candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted through July 31.
• If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
• If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.

The National Wildlife Federation is committed to increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.