Land Program Associate
OFFICE LOCATION
NEGOTIABLE:
San Francisco, California, USA. Office Location Negotiable: Chico,California. Los Angeles,California.Sacramento,California. San Diego,California.Santa Cruz,
California.
a Little About Us
Founded in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we strive for a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Working in 72 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, 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.
YOUR POSITION WITH TNC
The Land Program in The Nature Conservancy of California develops new land conservation strategies that address the key challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, drought, and catastrophic fire. We do this by employing our statewide portfolio of property interests as a platform for developing innovative new approaches and technologies that enhance and accelerate conservation action. We then seek to scale these solutions up via new policy, funding and technology programs at the regional, state and federal levels. To that end, the Program Associate helps manage core functions and processes of the Land Program. A principal responsibility is to coordinate public and private fundraising activities, including preparation, submission, and management of grants, in partnership with Program leadership and Development, Finance and Operations staffs. The Associate also helps facilitate annual planning, budgeting, and performance review cycles; administers contracts; manages core Program projects; facilitates team communications in multiple forms; and, serves as a liaison to other Program teams, and to other Conservancy departments such as External Affairs, Development, Marketing, Finance, and Operations. The Associate reports to the Director of the Land Program.
The Land Program Associate
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Coordinates the Program’s public and private fundraising activities including assisting in proposal development, writing, reporting, and tracking deadlines; serves as a key liaison to Development staff
- Assists with contract management, including interacting with external parties to develop contracts, as needed, and manage contractors to ensure project success
- Tracks and coordinates Program deliverables related to annual planning, budgeting, and performance management cycles
- Facilitates communications within the Program and between the Program and other key Conservancy staff
- Manages core Program projects and document file systems, as needed, using project management methodology; tracks deliverables for Program
- Conducts targeted research needed to further programmatic or fundraising goals
- Schedules, plans and prepares for team meetings and external meetings, as appropriate; helps facilitate and provide needed follow-up; and tracks deliverables and deadlines
- In coordination with other departments, curates Program’s conservation documents and products to increase efficiency in fundraising and communications
- Communicates with stakeholders, partners and public agency staff to advance the goals of the Program, as directed
- With other Program Associates, assists with broader Conservation Programs & Science department coordination, meeting execution, and general support
Responsibilities & Scope
- Supports Land Program leadership and staff to improve fundraising success for Program priorities
- Coordinates and in some cases leads research and writing tasks for both internal and external audiences
- Coordinates the work of cross-functional, cross-divisional teams towards a desired outcome
- Works closely with Program Associates in other Programs to continually improve support across Conservation Programs and increase efficiency; identifies and executes process improvements
- Works closely with operations and finance staff to complement support provided through those functions
- Supports Land Program staff in the development of strategic communication materials including communication plans and materials (e.g. briefs, messaging, talking points, video, web, social media content)
- Plans, schedules, manages and helps facilitate team and partner meetings and events
- Performs tasks with minimal supervision and makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience, and judgment.
Minimum Qualifications
- BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience with oral and written communication skills
- Experience with organizational skills and attention to detail
- Experience managing and tracking multiple projects"
Desired Qualifications
- Master’s degree and 2 years’ experience in natural resource management or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation
- Knowledge of land conservation issues in California
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Experience in communications and outreach including developing and/or managing the development of materials e.g., websites, brochures, factsheets, infographics, social media posts
- Basic understanding of The Nature Conservancy’s mission and its niche in the conservation field
- Skills in building and managing relationships with diverse partners, e.g., media, government officials, non-governmental organizations and scientists.
To apply to this position, please visit www.nature.org/careers and click on Current Job Opportunities. Please submit your resume (required) and cover letter separately using the upload buttons.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.