Utah State Director

About this role

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks its next Utah State Director to lead the Utah Business Unit (BU) and serve as a partner with colleagues in TNC’s Western US and Canada Division as we execute on our ambitious conservation goals.

This role is based in Salt Lake City, Utah or within commuting distance. This role is primarily in-person with some flexibility for hybrid.

With 24 staff across the state, a 22-member volunteer board, and a strong conservation agenda in place, this role offers a unique opportunity to help shape a resilient future for Utah, the Western US, and the globe.

The Utah State Director functions as the visionary leader, senior manager, and principal ambassador for the Utah Business Unit (BU). Some of the current strategic conservation initiatives that the Utah State Director will lead include 1) restoring and protecting Great Salt Lake, 2) advancing water security across the Colorado River Basin, 3) conserving the Sagebrush Sea, 4) supporting resilience in western dry forests, and 5) advancing climate and renewable energy solutions. 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 BU’s responsibilities, and contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of priority cross-boundary efforts. They support the 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 ecoregions or BU 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, Tribal leaders, community leaders and other partners) and cultivate those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.

The Utah State Director oversees the leaders of policy/government relations, fundraising, and finance for the BU and partners with Division-wide leaders of marketing/communications, finance, conservation, and HR. Leadership may include approving budgets, setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals, and supporting philanthropy, resources 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.

In addition to their responsibilities leading and managing the Utah BU, the Utah State Director serves on the Leadership Team for the Western US and Canada Division. The Division’s current priorities include cross-boundary, system-scale initiatives in Indigenous-led Conservation, major river restoration, forest, grassland and sagebrush steppe health, climate and renewable energy, and federal policy and public lands. The Utah State Director will lead fundraising efforts and deploy staff to support these Division-level initiatives. The Utah State Director plays a leadership role in local-to-global fundraising for The Nature Conservancy.

The Utah State Director reports to the Western US and Canada Division Director and works closely with the local Board of Trustees.

We’re Looking for You:

We’re looking for a visionary and collaborative leader who is excited to advance ambitious conservation outcomes for Utah and the broader Western US. This role offers the opportunity to lead work on some of the region’s most urgent conservation priorities, including Great Salt Lake, the Colorado River Basin, the Sagebrush Sea, western dry forests, and climate and renewable energy solutions. The ideal candidate will bring strong knowledge of Utah, leadership, partnership-building, fundraising, and communication skills, along with a commitment to cultivating trusted relationships with staff, donors, Tribal Nations, government agencies, community leaders, and other partners.

Please note that this role includes ~40% of total time spent traveling, much of it locally via car or public transit yet some spanning statewide and other locations for broader TNC leadership opportunities.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 7 years of senior management experience or equivalent relevant combination.

• Leading and managing a large multi-disciplinary team with a proven ability to motivate, manage, set objectives, and manage performance.

• Experience working and operating in Utah.

• Experience in natural resources and/or the environment more broadly.

• Strategic planning and systems thinking for large, complex initiatives.

• Financial experience managing a multi-million-dollar budget.

• Experience communicating with and presenting to different types of audiences, including donors, board members, employees, and outside partners.

• Experience working with Tribal Nations and sovereign governments.

• Fluency in English; excellent written and oral communication skills.

Desired Qualifications: • 7 to 10 years’ experience as a proven manager in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area, including demonstrated experience producing results and meeting program/department goals.

• General knowledge of the politics and natural resources of Utah and the Western US, their conservation challenges, and current management approaches.

• Experience in fundraising and commitment to increase program fundraising success in support of the Conservancy’s global, regional, and local priorities, especially by identifying innovative forms of fundraising, cultivating ma

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