Indigenous Right Relations Director

WHO WE ARE

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground 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 and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Indigenous Right Relations (IRR) Director oversees all aspects of the Indigenous Right Relations program including the Buffalo Restoration Program, the Land Return & Stewardship Initiative and other numerous projects. This role establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner, plays a leading role in public and private fundraising for the program and leads and manages a team which implements conservation efforts.  

This role manages a team of eight, including supervising five staff members. They establish overall priorities for the IRR program and serve as the principle contact to internal business units, external partners, Native Nations and other Tribal and Indigenous organizations. They disseminate best practices, provide training and analyses, and develop key partnerships. The IRR Director works within a matrixed decision-making structure and uses influence, relationship and expertise to provide strategic leadership. They build capacity for TNC’s North America Region to be in right relations with Indigenous communities by informing conservation practices, increasing resources and enabling conditions, and developing tools for colleagues and partners to achieve our objectives: 

• Embed processes and practices across North America conservation priorities
• Co-create with business units and initiatives  as they apply and discover new ways of working with Native Nations, Indigenous communities and others
• Guide and align leadership to set a regional tone and consistency on how to authentically work in right relations and create the enabling conditions to adopt strategies, approaches and operational practices
• Track the organization’s partnership progress towards right relations with Native Nations and Indigenous partners

This role builds strategic, functional and technical capacities in the field, and develops key partnerships with internal staff, external partners, and Tribal and Indigenous communities and other organizations. This role relies on identifying and resolving complex matters and to widely communicate solutions and best practices, and develop innovative methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address the programmatic needs. The IRR Director works with individuals and teams across a breadth of experience, ranging from those new to working with Native Nations and Indigenous communities to those with experience and with deep, long-term relationships.
This position may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. May require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally and evening and weekend hours.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Are you passionate about elevating the voices, choices, and actions of Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities and organizations in conservation? We’re looking for a skilled relationship-builder and an excellent communicator who is grounded in cultural knowledge and capability gained through experience and motivated by working collaboratively with others. Are you a community builder, bridge builder, storyteller, advocate, educator? We’re looking for someone with lived and professional experience with Indigenous communities. The IRR program has a relationship first focus, and a new strategic plan ready to be implemented. In this role, you’ll collaborate and find alignment with colleagues who work within individual business units and outside of the North America region, including the Global director of Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing the work of our team! 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• BA/BS degree and 12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation.
• Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines.
• Experience working with Native Nations and Indigenous communities within the North American region.
• 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 networking with high level conservation contacts.
• Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives.
• Experience conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives.
• Experience negotiating.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Cross-cultural experience, multi- lingual and multi-cultural appreciated, including lived and/or professional experience working with Native Nations and Indigenous communities.
• Experience developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
  Knowledge of politics and society with respect to environmental affairs.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Politically savvy.
  

WHAT WE BRING

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world! 

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.