The Wilderness Society · 2 days ago
Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs
Washington, DC
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$295K/yr - $325K/yr
15+ years expThe Wilderness Society is a national conservation organization dedicated to protecting America’s wild places. The Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs will lead the organization’s conservation, policy, legal, and communications work, overseeing programmatic departments to ensure seamless integration of the organization’s mission and goals.
AssociationWildlife Conservation
Hiring Manager
Julie Shackett, PHR
Responsibilities
Develop TWS’s strategy to advance its mission through programmatic work that includes place-based collaboration, lobbying, administrative advocacy, science, litigation and communications. Work with TWS’s program VPs to create and execute TWS’s short and long-term programmatic goals
Collaborate with TWS’s President, Executive Team, and Board to set organizational priorities, drive equitable outcomes, and foster a culture of excellence, inclusion, and accountability
Manage and serve as thought partner to the Vice President, Federal Policy; Vice President, Conservation and Communities; Vice President, External Affairs; and the Executive Director of the Wilderness Society Action Fund
Champion cross-functional integration, ensuring TWS regional offices and national teams, and the TWS Action Fund work cohesively to deliver on their strategic goals and annual work plans
Represent TWS externally, filling in for TWS’s President at key meetings, events, and with major partners, donors, and policymakers when needed, ensuring organizational priorities are effectively represented
As a member of the executive team, collaboratively participate in decision-making that guides the entire organization. Actively participate in developing and executing organizational initiatives
Collaborate with TWS’s entire leadership team to build an organization and public lands movement as diverse as the landscapes we seek to protect
Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative conservation campaigns, legislative and regulatory advocacy, litigation, and science initiatives
Ensure programmatic work is responsive to evolving needs environmental, political, and social landscapes
Drive continuous improvement, leveraging best practices and lessons learned to maximize organizational and community impact
Model and promote TWS’s values both internally and externally
Adhere to and ensure compliance with all TWS policies and procedures (including finance, human resources, and legal), holding staff accountable for adhering to these standards to promote an ethical, compliant, and efficient workplace
Mentor and develop senior programmatic staff, building a leadership pipeline and empowering teams to achieve their full potential
Serve as a trusted thought partner to the president and boards of The Wilderness Society and The Wilderness Society Action Fund. Champion innovation, encouraging creative approaches to conservation challenges and organizational growth
Collaborate closely with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure seamless integration of financial objectives and programmatic priorities. This includes jointly developing and implementing strategic plans that align resource allocation, budgeting, and forecasting with the organization’s mission-driven program goals
Cultivate and steward relationships with government agencies, partner organizations, community leaders and donors, serving as a visible ambassador and amplifying the organizations’ voice and influence
Support the Vice President of Giving and Impact in building trusted philanthropic partnerships with donors to help secure resources in support of TWS’s and TWSAF’s missions
Perform other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Minimum 15 years of experience in conservation, with at least 8 years in leadership role
Proven track record of designing and executing successful conservation campaigns that achieve results
Exceptional management skills with experience building, leading and empowering high performing teams with a rich mix of talent, backgrounds and perspectives
Committed to mentoring and developing senior staff while fostering a culture of growth, accountability, and inclusion
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments while maintaining a constructive and professional approach
Deep commitment to the protection of wild places and public lands
Demonstrates emotional intelligence, self-awareness and the ability to bring levity
Exceptional political judgment, with the ability to assess risk, navigate complex dynamics, and make sound strategic decisions
Exceptional writing and communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively
Ability to travel to nationally to regional offices, partner sites, and key stakeholder meetings as needed to advance organizational priorities
Preferred
Experience with 501(c)(4)s preferred
Benefits
Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
Pet insurance
Sick and vacation leave
A sabbatical program
A retirement plan with employer contribution subject to certain limits and requirements
Company
The Wilderness Society
We are the leading American conservation organization working to protect our nation’s shared wildlands.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Alex Biswas
Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships
Joe Hergert
Strategic Partnerships Manager
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