Groundwater Project Director, California Chapter

OFFICE LOCATION

Negotiable within California, USA.

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 holding the middle ground in American politics and civic life and doing our part to make conservation a shared national value. 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 are not activists. We do not litigate. We do not take public stands on matters unrelated to our purpose. We welcome everyone. Everyone in our organization should therefore be adept at working with people who may not share their personal values or opinions. We ask all employees to embrace the critical strategic position of our brand and organization as centrist and non-partisan. It is the foundation of our success.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Groundwater Project Director establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within the area of groundwater management and planning. The Groundwater Project Director defines conservation priorities and long-term conservation strategies, builds strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field and develops key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices. They support the development of innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools and frameworks to address the natural system needs, engage local community support for local conservation efforts, and negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities. They develop scopes of work and budgets for contracts, manage contractors, write and manage public grants, schedule and facilitate meetings, and present our work and guidance in meetings, workshops, and conferences.

The Groundwater Project Director leads regional partner engagement with farmers, irrigation districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, and other NGOS. They support partner capacity-building, expand funding sources, and push for the local and regional planning and coordination needed to ensure that groundwater management considers ecological function and restoration. They identify a pipeline of future projects, evaluate new project opportunities, test effective strategies, and foster the relationships needed to succeed at the local, regional, state, and federal levels.   

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

The Nature Conservancy’s California Water Program is working to secure a more prepared and sustainable future by developing the science, tools, demonstrations and enabling conditions to ensure we can meet the water needs of communities, nature, and the economy. Our multi-disciplinary team employs a variety of innovative strategies to provide natural areas with the water and habitat they need, including by developing ground-breaking science, engaging through policy, and collaboratively managing water resources with communities, farms, and ranches. The Healthy Rivers strategy is working to ensure that rivers are protected as an integral part of a more resilient water future for California. Our team focuses on three main drivers of river flow alteration: groundwater depletion, ill-timed or unsustainable diversions, and dams.

The Groundwater Project Director will advance efforts to improve flows in priority rivers through groundwater management and integrate those efforts with projects that increase statewide protections of ecosystems that rely on groundwater and reduce groundwater demand. This position will focus on replenishing aquifers—nature’s underground reservoirs—by reducing pumping and piloting infiltration methods and close technical and policy gaps at the state and local level to ensure the groundwater law protects against overdraft.  The Groundwater Project Director oversees some or all aspects of protection, science, stewardship, and community relations for the Healthy Rivers groundwater portfolio. The Project Director serves as the principle contact for partner conservation organizations, government agencies, foundations, and the academic community.  

The Groundwater Project Director will support, and be supported by, a senior scientist with expertise in groundwater dynamics, as well as Senior Project Directors who lead strategy and partnerships. This position will report to the Water Program Associate Director within TNC California. The location for this position is anywhere within California and the Project Director will need to be available to travel occasionally to project sites across the state.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• BA/BS degree and 7 years’ experience in water policy or management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Familiar with California groundwater policy and regulation.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
  Experience managing complex or 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
• Experience negotiating.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• 7-10 years’ experience in water policy or management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and/or implementing groundwater policy or plans.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in groundwater science, planning, and management.
• Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.
• Politically savvy.

AUTO SAFETY POLICY

This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program.

Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered “high risk drivers.” To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee’s motor vehicle record.

SALARY INFORMATION

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $93,600 – $120,000  for annual base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. 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. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.