Western Lake Erie Basin Project Director

The Nature Conservancy (TNC), an international nonprofit conservation organization with more than a million members, is known for a balanced approach to conservation that provides for human needs while protecting native animals and plants by safeguarding the lands and waters they need to survive. TNC has protected more than 119 million acres of land and more than 5,000 river miles around the world. The Great Lakes Project, a joint project of TNC's eight state programs within the Great Lakes Basin, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), is initiating the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) Project through its Indiana, Ohio and Michigan programs.

This project has evolved from efforts initiated in 1992 to improve water quality and habitat in the Fish Creek/St. Joseph River watershed, one of the Great Lakes Basin's most diverse warm water river systems, to a project today that is focused on improving the hydrologic function of the watersheds which flow into the Western Lake Erie Basin. The Western Lake Erie Basin Project Director works in conjunction with TNC staff, existing conservation groups, agencies, and local units of government, individual private land owners/managers and others already working in the basin.

POSITION SUMMARY
The WLEB Project Director is in a position of leadership, and will work collaboratively and strategically to align multi-state resources and staff toward a common watershed goal. TNC's on-the-ground conservation experiences and partner relationships in the WLEB span local, state, and federal levels in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. TNC has a core technical support team in place to support the implementation of conservation activities, and direct them to locations where they will result in measurable system scale outcomes. It will be the role of the WLEB Project Director to manage the implementation of conservation strategies and activities identified in the WLEB conservation action plan, and represent The Nature Conservancy across the basin to achieve effective partnerships that maximize efficiency of resources and impact.

The Project Director will also work closely with elected officials and their staff, municipalities, state and federal agencies, and other non-profits across the basin to achieve measurable results in hydrologic restoration, reduced nutrient concentrations, decreased sedimentation, and improved habitat by helping to facilitate on-the-ground work and policy leverage that will lead to conservation results at a large scale. The WLEB Project Director will be supervised by Indiana's Central Tillplain Eco-Region Director.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
* Work with TNC staff from MI, OH, and IN to implement key strategies outlined in the WLEB Conservation Action Plan.
* Develop TNC's existing relationships with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, state Departments of Natural Resources, state Environmental Protection Agencies, universities, Environmental Defense Fund, Ohio Environmental Council, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and relationships with additional entities to advance the conservation goals outlined in the WLEB CAP.
* Develop an engagement plan utilizing TNC staff from MI, OH and IN to advance the adoption of emerging conservation practices like two stage ditch construction and other channel design alternatives into the institutional processes and financial assistance mechanisms of federal, state and local conservation agencies, and assist with the development of public entities to promote and financially support conservation activities where inadequate institutional infrastructure currently exists.
* Promote the targeting of conservation programs and practices within the WLEB watershed to achieve the greatest impacts in biodiversity, water quality and improved hydrologic function.
* Collaborate with TNC staff to develop and implement a plan to identify, monitor and analyze indicators of site and system scale conservation outcomes across the basin.
* Develop and implement outreach and communication programs to recruit and engage private owners/managers to participate in conservation programs and activities and identify barriers to private land owner/manager participation. Knowledge of socioeconomic and public aspects of current environmental and conservation issues.
* Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
* Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means.
* Successful experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc.) including extensive networking with high-level conservation contacts; political savvy.
* Proven interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
* Experience writing and securing grant funding for program support.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
* BA/BS degree and 10 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
* Experience applying scientific concepts/principles to achieve measurable 'on the ground' conservation outcomes at multiple scales.
* Strong oral and written communication skills and experience working in teams across a wide geographic region with diverse audiences.
* Experience working in the region with current trends and practices in conservation programs, drainage issues, or water quality.
* Experience in partnership development (partners, community, government, etc.);experience with high level conservation contacts.
* Demonstrated skills in leadership and innovation that result in delivery of practical, adaptable
products and services to customers.
* Experience working with state and local conservation agencies, and especially with USDA Farm Bill programs and practices.
* Demonstrated experience influencing and implementing conservation policy and plans at the state and/or regional level.

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
* Builds cooperative relationships and collaborates with diverse groups, including land owners, conservation partners, government officials, donors, board members, and the general public, to recruit support for the Conservancy and publicize Conservancy efforts.
* Commands attention, changes tactics midstream as necessary, and manages group processes during presentations or discussions.
* May speak with and in front of varied audiences on scientific topics and the Conservancy's mission; interacts and provides input/guidance to senior managers.
* Ability to establish excellent working relationships with outside partners, state/local/federal agencies, land managers, private landowners and the academic community. Maintains constructive and effective relationships inside and outside the Conservancy.
* Works effectively in high-tension situations and maintain composure under pressure, diffuses high-tension situations comfortably.
* Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people including: scientists, project staff, general audiences, and others to provide and obtain needed information.
* Ability to articulate lessons learned regarding conservation initiative successes and failures.
* Creates and communicates a compelling vision; practices the Conservancy's core values.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Although the WLEB Project Director will primarily be based in an office setting, occasionally duties may include working in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions may:
* require occasional physical exertion and/or muscular strain
* present occasional possibility of injury
* require long hours in isolated settings
* require frequent travel domestically and/or internationally
* require evening and weekend hours

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION
This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy'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." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.

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.

BENEFITS
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to position number 12018, submit resume and cover letter as one document.

Western Lake Erie Basin Project Director
The Nature Conservancy
Indiana

You can view and apply for this job at:
https://careers.natu...=1&PostingSeq=1

All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 27, 2010. Failure to complete all of the required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. The information entered in the education and work experience sections are auto screened by the system based on the basic qualifications of the position.

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EOE STATEMENT
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Dang it, it's a year too early! Grrrrr.

Thanks for posting all these Matt. I do forward them on, if not read them with interest like this one. I saw you had a thread and hadn't had time to respond to it. I think a couple of them have resulted in resumes getting sent in.