Southwest Regional Director

Title:                    Southwest Regional Director

Supervisor:       US and Canada Operations and Great Lakes Vice President

Location:             Southwestern City, flexible

Salary:                 Estimated at $120,000; Based on experience

Application Deadline: August 30, 2024

Position Summary:

This position is a full-time position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC). The Southwest Region generally includes the U.S. Southwest and adjacent areas in northern Mexico, extending from southern Texas, western New Mexico and Colorado west to south-central California and south to northern Mexico. The Southwest Regional Director (RD) is responsible for leading and/or coordinating ABC conservation programs and projects in the Southwest, fundraising, and building high level relationships with public and private partners and conservation stakeholders. National and international level duties include but are not limited to liaising with the Central Grasslands Roadmap and the JV8 initiative, as well as other cross border efforts with Mexico (and sometimes Canada). The Southwest RD is supervised by the Vice President, U.S. and Canada Operations, and also supervises ABC staff across the Southwest Region, including the Rio Grande Joint Venture, and other full time and/or contract positions as needed and as funding is available. The RD will also help oversee grants and agreements in the region. This position works closely as part of ABC’s Regional Leadership Team that includes the Western, Great Lakes, Central, and Southeast Regional Directors and with ABC’s International, Communications and Advocacy teams. The Southwest RD also works closely with ABC’s Together for Bird Vice President to advance justice, diversity, equity and inclusion with ABC and throughout the bird conservation community.

This position requires the Regional Director to have knowledge of all ABC programs and structures. The RD maintains a great deal of contact, in person and by telephone and correspondence, with the public, government agencies, companies, and potential and existing donors. This work requires initiative, excellent supervisory skills, excellent communication skills, experience in getting on-the-ground results for bird conservation, strong selling and writing skills, ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities, ability to work independently and as part of a team, and attention to detail. The RD must be articulate and responsive in representing ABC internally as well as with partners and others within the bird and broader conservation community.

Primary Duties:

• Lead efforts to develop and implement priority bird conservation programs and projects in the Southwest to get measurable results with particular relevance to solutions to the 3 Billion Bird loss.
• Develop and implement ABC’s BirdScapes conservation initiatives in the region.
• Supervise ABC staff and contract positions in the Southwest, including training, mentoring, developing work plans, and regular contact to assess progress against goals and recognize accomplishments.
• Assist with identifying and raising funds from regional, national, and international funding sources for the program in coordination with the Development Division.
• Develop excellent working relationships with all of the major conservation stakeholders and funders in the Southwest Region including federal and state agencies, corporations, and conservation organizations to advance bird conservation.
• Lead strategic planning efforts and develop annual plans and budgets for the Southwest Region as part of ABC’s strategic and annual planning processes.
• Provide regular content on Southwest Region bird conservation to ABC’s Communication team for use on our web, social media, publications and press releases.
• Work with ABC Advocacy team to monitor policy and threats in the region and work with the team to support ABC’s initiatives.
• Work with ABC’s Together for Birds Vice President and others to advance justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within the region and in collaboration with other ABC regions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements:

• Master’s Degree preferred or Bachelor’s Degree and at least seven years work experience in wildlife conservation, habitat management and restoration, riparian restoration, development, or other appropriate combination of education and experience. Master’s degree preferred.
• Ability to work independently, efficiently, accurately, and keep deadlines.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people at all levels.
• Exceptional selling, communications, and problem-solving skills, in person and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically plan annual and long-term programmatic goals and develop budgets to support achieving those goals.
• Knowledge of the Southwest Region birds and habitats preferred.
• Ability to communicate in Spanish, both in writing and speaking, preferred.
• Willingness to travel frequently.
• Background check required.
• Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents only

Benefits:

• Excellent benefits package includes medical, dental, flexible spending accounts, and employer-matched retirement savings, flexible schedule, etc.
• Paid vacation days (starting at 15 days annually and increasing to 20 days after 1 year of employment), paid holidays (including both US holidays and additional ABC holidays) and sick leave.
• Lodging, meals, and transportation covered for work-related travel away from home.
• Rental vehicle or personal mileage reimbursement where applicable.