Managing Director, Conservation Nation

Position description

Conservation Nation is a nonprofit based in Washington D.C. dedicated to helping create a thriving planet for people and wildlife sustained by an inclusive and growing network of conservationists. We have a tight focus on diversifying the conservation movement by lifting longstanding systemic barriers that have kept the wildlife conservation field too small and too homogeneous for too long. We do this by giving an equitable leg up through funding and support to wildlife conservationists from underrepresented communities and by educating and inspiring the next diverse generation of wildlife champions and leaders.​

Conservation Nation has an annual operating budget of $3M and 11 dedicated and talented staff.

The CEO of Conservation Nation, Lynn Mento, will be moving to part-time in January 2025. She will become a co-CEO with her partner at Conservation Nation, Tricia Reilly, who also works part-time. They will be focused on building relationships and partnerships, strategic planning, and ideas for mission amplification.

About the Managing Director Position

Conservation Nation is seeking a Managing Director to oversee day-to-day operations, manage and support the staff, ensure successful program implementation, and work with the co-CEOs and team to build and execute successful relationships, partnerships and fundraising. This new, full-time position is for hire for December 2024/January 2025 and reports to the two collaborative and supportive part-time co-CEOs. 

The ideal candidate:

• Has experience in wildlife conservation and/or environmental education
• Has managed a team and led operations
• Believes in the mission to lift barriers for a more diverse and inclusive corps of conservationists to tackle the challenges facing the planet
• Has successful experience raising awareness and engagement with storytelling, marketing, communications, social media, and the organization’s website
• Understands the financial workings of a nonprofit organization
• Is optimistic, enthusiastic, creative, open to suggestions and ideas
• Is low on ego – loves to collaborate, believes in the power of partnerships, wants all boats to rise, believes in ego-less teamwork
• Is local to or willing to relocate to the Washington D.C. area

Job Responsibilities: 

The Managing Director will be charged with ensuring the following responsibilities are met in collaboration with an experienced, creative, and supportive staff. Candidates are encouraged to identify the areas where their expertise best aligns and where they may have room for growth.

Operations and Human Resources

• Manage day-to-day operations, programs, fundraising, communications and the organization’s resources 
• Implement strategic and financial plans by working with senior stakeholders 
• Organize, motivate, and mentor team leaders to strategically grow the organization’s impact, programs, and fundraising, and to effectively fulfill its important mission 
• Assure that the organization makes consistent and timely progress in achieving its mission, goals, and targeted programmatic impact 
• Oversee HR processes such as hiring, separation, ongoing staff development, performance management, and compensation and benefits 
• Identify and address organizational, operational problems and design solutions with guidance from the CEOs
• Oversee the annual audit and 990, including preparation of schedules, compliance, and response to management letter 

Program oversight:

• Help achieve our education goals of broad expansion and impact growth, with guidance on optimal resource allocations
• Help achieve our conservationist support goals of optimal support at various stages of career paths, including the development of new programs, based on new funding 

Culture: 

• Work with the CEOs to foster an enthusiastic, imaginative, collaborative working environment, encourage professional development, recognize positive contributions, promote the values of collaboration and partnership, and champion accountability amongst staff 
• Provide thoughtful leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering 
• Model the organization’s commitment to valuing unique perspectives, identities, cultures, lived experiences, and expertise of all those in our global network, community partnerships, and team

Development/Fundraising: 

• Develop and manage fundraising work, including grants, individual gifts, sponsorships, and endowments
• Help raise funds needed to support the education programs, the conservationist support programs, and general operating expenses
• Joint partnership with the CEOs in various fundraising opportunities
• Ensure maintenance and optimal use of donor and prospect files for individual, foundation, and corporate donors
• Lead development of an appeals strategy, informed by CEOs’ insights 
• Oversee gift processing and acknowledgement, coordinate with team on tailored communications for Advisory Council, Board, and Major Donor contributions   
• Collaborate with the CEOs to engage the board and advisory council in fundraising 
• Coordinate consultants, as needed   
• Assist as needed in the preparation of grant and contract proposal submissions, budgets and reports 

Marketing/communications/storytelling:

• Ensure strong marketing, communications and storytelling to support growth
• Guide optimized use of our social media channels and our website to drive significant growth in interest and engagement
• Encourage regular and frequent content development and distribution
• Oversee creation of communication pieces for donor engagement, including brochures and the annual report

Qualifications

Please know that Conservation Nation recognizes that not every candidate will bring all of the knowledge, skills and experiences listed below, and welcomes candidates with a variety of experiences.

• Passion for the mission of Conservation Nation
• Experience in wildlife conservation and/or environmental education
• Minimum five years of experience serving in a leadership position
• Record of strong operational leadership and the ability to ensure effective and efficient policies and procedures across an organization
• A record of leading trust-based relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders
• Strong and transparent communication skills with the ability to connect with, engage, and build trust with a variety of individuals and organizations

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation band for this position is $120K – $135K with bonus pot

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net