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Program Director, Coast & Natural Resources

Employer
The Trustees of Reservations
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Aug 2, 2021

View more

Sector
Academic / Research
Field
Conservation science
Discipline
Sustainability
Salary Type
Salary
Employment Type
Full time
Program Director, Coast & Natural Resources - Boston, MA & Statewide

Level Management

Job Location Boston Office - Boston, MA

Position Type Full Time

4 Year Degree

Travel Percentage Up to 50%

Description

The Opportunity.

The Program Director for Coast & Natural Resources sets an agenda and direction for natural resources and coast within one of the largest and most innovative land conservation and stewardship organizations - focused on connecting people to places. Internally, the Director will collaborate to implement program objectives within a matrix environment, ensuring integration with cross-department and property teams' objectives. Externally, the Director will develop the program's technical leadership and help to promote the visibility of The Trustees as a leader in conservation and sustainability of natural resources. Critical to the success of the program, the Director will build strong relationships and partnerships with government, non-profit, academic and corporate sectors to advance our ecological priorities.

Are you a match? This role requires an educational background in natural resource stewardship or administration, along with no less than 8 years of progressively responsible management of staff, properties, and programs in the natural resources and/or coastal field. Qualified applicants will possess a demonstrable track record of delivering mission-based vision alongside technical program leadership. Successful candidates will have implemented high quality ecological strategies and tactics while successfully scaling team and programmatic impact. Familiarity with Trustees broader mission areas including cultural resources, agriculture, land conservation, visitor service, recreation or tourism industries is a plus.

In This Role You Will:

Develop, articulate, and promote the vision and goals for the organization's natural resources areas.

Lead implementation of natural resource and coastal visions/strategies, serving as both director and collaborator to achieve natural resources goals. Provide:

Internal leadership in identifying and broadly advocating for statewide coast and natural resource priorities.

Focused and strategic activation of staff team expertise and coordinated implementation efforts with regional and property-based colleagues.

External leadership by representing and promoting Trustees through communications, partnerships, and peer exchange and elevating members of the natural resources staff teams to do the same.

Define outcomes and metrics for natural resources and coastal work; create new or utilizing existing frameworks and tools to support tracking, measuring, and celebrating progress.

Oversee development and delivery on policies, guidelines, and other organizational standards for our natural resources areas.

Attend to condition standards of our natural resources; participate in tracking conditions, advocating for needs, and building a stronger understanding of natural resource excellence.

Author and contribute to Trustees property planning processes to forecast and present natural resource and coastal implementation priorities.

Serve as an active partner in building support for natural resources and coast by cultivating volunteer participation and leadership, corporate and foundation giving and private philanthropy.
  • Provide program administration and coordination by:
    • Managing the natural resources team, providing professional development and growth opportunities for team of six (three coastal ecologists, coastal project manager, inland ecologist, and habitat specialist).
    • Overseeing all aspects of the program's budget and provide direction and accountability for the team's operating, capital, and philanthropic expenditures.
    • Individually and with other Program Director, contribute expertise, strategic vision, and in some cases, direction, to guide new property acquisitions and major property investments and decisions
    • Supporting the natural resources team's role in project management and delivery
    • Coordinating actively with other departments, including.
      • Finance & Admin, to support operating, capital, and special project fund management
      • Communications & Marketing, in promoting success and opportunity for the program and in collaboratively designing and delivering on coastal plan implementation
      • Vice-Presidents of Regions and the Managing Director of Resources and Planning to coordinate implementation of coastal vision and ongoing stewardship of natural resource projects on property.

Carrying out other duties as assigned, with or without accommodation.

Other Information

Skills and Professional Background:

Core competencies in natural resource management and sustainability, ecology, coastal and marine science, or similar work.

Passion for the values, mission and purpose of The Trustees.

Ability and experience influencing multi-disciplinary teams and projects without formal authority.

Outstanding communication and presentation skills and the experience and proclivity to be a superb relationship and partnership builder.

Prior success leading teams of subject matter experts.

Experience managing and accommodating recreation, public access and enjoyment while protecting natural resources.

Demonstrated comfort with or close knowledge of the value and approaches to fundraising, institutional funding and grants management, outreach and public education.

A strong understanding of how to work effectively within complex, matrix organizational structure.

Sound computer, digital media and technological skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

A working knowledge of equipment and vehicles associated with property stewardship is a plus.

Organizational Relationships & Scope:

This position reports to Managing Director of Resources and Planning and will provide direct oversight of the six-person Ecology Team with two direct reports.

Working Conditions:

The position requires travel across the state; access to a personal vehicle required. Largely the Director will perform office work, with periodic outdoor experiences in variable conditions. Most travel will be to our Boston office, Crane / North Shore properties, Island properties, and occasionally agriculture and nature properties. Some evening and weekend work can be expected.

Compensation and Benefits:

In addition to competitive pay, The Trustees offers the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team across New England who believe in celebrating and protecting our special places, for everyone, forever. In support of our staff and their families, we provide comprehensive top-notch benefits and an array of special perks. Full-time, year-round staff can enjoy:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer premium contributions ranging from 75%-85%.

Traditional and Roth 401(k) plan with 5% employer match after one year of employment.

Employer-paid life and disability plans.

Paid vacation, sick and personal time; thirteen paid holidays; eight early release Fridays.

Day of Service to travel to another site to work in a division and location other than your own in a fun group project such as reinforcing beach shorebird fences, planting seedlings or bulbs, organizing archival documents, or making phone calls to thank donors.

Day of Wonder to explore the wonders of any of our Trustees properties.

Complimentary Member-level access and discounts and 50% discount for Trustees summer camps.

Reciprocity program offering free and discounted admissions and memberships to more than 50 Massachusetts museums and cultural institutions.

And much more!

About the Natural Resources Team & Program

The Coast and Natural Resources Program leads the coastal strategy ‘Responding to Coastal Change' and is responsible for the vision and care of our natural resources of The Trustees. The program brings a forward thinking focus on natural resource protection, habitat restoration, natural climate solutions and innovation in the face of climate change to ensure healthy, resilient habitats and native species will continue to inspire us in the future. The program includes one Director, two ecology teams (Coastal and Inland) comprised of 4 ecologists and one habitat specialist. Seasonal positions include various ecology technicians, such as shorebird technicians, which assist in various surveys, baseline assessments, and shorebird conservation. These subject matter experts work statewide, each focused on certain ecosystems rather than strict geographies and properties. Both teams conduct routine baseline assessments of priority habitats (Ecological Landscape Units or ELUs), rare species surveys, and habitat restoration and management projects as well as assist each other on key projects to maximize efficiency and expertise. In addition, the teams oversee innovative project development; pre- and post-monitoring of projects; build community and professional partnerships for project buy-in, development, and permitting; and write grants and seek funding opportunities for our work.

About The Trustees

The Trustees is one of Massachusetts' largest non-profits and the nation's first conservation and preservation organization. Today, the places we care about are going fast, and the forces undermining them, including climate change, are moving faster. Our passion is to protect and share with everyone the irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures under our care. We are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and more than 60,000 member households.

The Trustees has been featured in the Top 100 Women-Led Organizations in Massachusetts for six consecutive years.

In addition to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, The Trustees aims to create a thriving, inclusive workplace that values each member of its team. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees is a signer of the Boston Women's Workforce Council and a Member of the Boston College Center for Work and Family.

We kindly request that you do not call to inquire about the status of your application. Those candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted.

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