Associate Director, Oceans Program

OFFICE LOCATION

California, USA

Location for this role is negotiable within California. 

#LI-AM1

WHO WE ARE

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Grounded in science, we develop innovative solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity; respect for people, communities, and cultures; and a collaborative, nonpartisan approach. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world. 

The California Chapter is TNC’s largest state program and one of the largest, most dynamic conservation organizations in the country. With approximately 275 employees, from financial analysts and fundraisers to ecologists and economists, we are currently invested in 14 strategies to address the biggest challenges facing California and the world, including numerous community-based projects designed to increase the pace, scale, and effectiveness of conservation. Over the past six decades, we have protected 1.4 million acres, 5,000 miles of streams, and 3.8 million acres of ocean habitat in California and off the coast. 

The California Chapter believes that we are most effective when we are embedded in our state’s communities, politics, media, and environmental issues. For this reason, and to reduce our carbon footprint when meeting in person, all staff live in California, including those in a home office.

Finally, we are passionate about the middle ground in American politics and life. The hallmark of The Nature Conservancy is its “big tent” approach, engaging people across the political and ideological spectrum to find solutions that last. We ask all employees to embrace this critical strategic position of our organization.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Associate Director for the California Oceans Program leads a matrixed team of scientists, technologists and conservation practitioners in the exploration and development of innovative technology, finance, and policy solutions to overcome existing challenges to scaled restoration of coral reefs. In this role, you leverage cross-disciplinary knowledge of design, entrepreneurship, finance, science, policy, and conservation practice to lead and manage all aspects of this dynamic team and initiative from defining the strategy and goals, to developing and deploying innovative solutions, to supporting communications and fundraising. To do so, you will work with TNC colleagues, engineers, industry partners, and restoration practitioners to understand the challenges on the ground, scope solutions, test hypotheses, synthesize learnings, and advance solutions that have the potential to catalyze the scaling of coral reef conservation and restoration globally. You will also play a central role in developing and sharing compelling communication materials with key audiences including public and private funding entities. Finally, you will lead and support this growing and multidisciplinary team of hard-charging experts.

In this role, you will lead an early-stage and ambitious conservation effort aimed at addressing one of the most important biodiversity challenges the world now faces. You will have the opportunity to build and leverage a diverse suite of exciting partnerships, advance work with colleagues and partners in geographies around the world, and truly make a difference in shaping the future for coral reefs globally. You will also join a multi-disciplinary team of ocean conservation practitioners advancing some of the most creative and ambitious work around ocean protection and recovery in the world today.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together.

If you’re looking for a career where you can work with an ambitious and motivated team to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing ocean conservation challenges, come join the California Oceans team at The Nature Conservancy as our Associate Director for Oceans, leading the Coral Strategy.

The California Oceans Program in The Nature Conservancy spearheads innovative and collaborative initiatives to enhance resiliency in marine and coastal ecosystems. Within the Oceans Program, the Coral Strategy includes a diverse body of work aimed at restoring coral reefs around the world at larger scales and lower costs than what is possible today. Our work catalyzes meaningful impact in the water by working with a wide range of stakeholders including practitioners, non-profits, tourism representatives, engineers, local communities, policy makers, and researchers to develop innovative solutions and tools to drive reef recovery on environmentally meaningful scales. A primary objective of our work is to create solutions for scaled coral reef restoration from a technology, policy, and finance perspective. You will be responsible for leading the development and ongoing refinement of a high-impact strategy that maximizes the conservation outcome our team is making. Additionally, you will be coordinating closely with our engineering partners, on-the-ground practitioners in Florida, the Dominican Republic and French Polynesia, contractors, and internal science, finance, and legal teams to design and deploy scalable restoration solutions. This work will demand that you successfully and respectfully engage a diverse suite of partners across a range of geographies and cultures. You will manage complex multi-stakeholder projects and engagements as well as the budget and spending related to this strategy. This role will also require you to communicate our work to various audiences, including non-scientists, media, and donors through presentations and outreach materials. In addition, you will work with the Oceans Program Director and others to identify and pursue funding for this strategy, write funding proposals and reports, and help track deliverables. This role is ideal for a proven leader with a diverse skillset and experience in conservation and/or a related field, with a particular emphasis on design and innovation and building meaningful partnerships.

More than anything, we’re looking for a passionate, motivated leader who loves to collaborate in solving big problems. Our team in California is dedicated to building a future where oceans around the world are thriving and resilient… Join us!

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• BA/BS degree and 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Experience managing complex and multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.  
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies across geographies and cultures.                                      
• Experience diagnosing complex problems and identify solutions.
• Experience leading successful negotiations.
• Experience building products, tools, solutions based on user input and to solve an identified pain point.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7-10 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Familiarity with business and technology development processes.
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation strategies and projects.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
• Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Ability to make key strategic decisions based on limited data.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Politically and business savvy.

WHAT WE BRING

Each person who works at TNC contributes to our goal of protecting nature for future generations. Another one of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe feel that their unique contributions are valued. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “You’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.” To learn more, head to YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.  

We’re proud to support the health and wellbeing of the people we employ. We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package that includes healthcare coverage, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other benefits that support work-life balance. 

If you’re interested in working with us, please apply—we’d love to hear from you.

SALARY INFORMATION

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $110,000 – $160,000 for annual base salary. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate’s location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.