TITLE: Director of Conservation
DEPARTMENT: Conservation Department
SUMMARY: The Director of Conservation provides strategic leadership, organizational coordination, and program oversight for Teton County's ecosystem stewardship and natural resource initiatives. The position directs the work of the Conservation Department through effective planning, staff management, resource allocation, and cross-departmental coordination. The Director provides oversight and leadership for the Natural Resources, Planning, and Building Divisions. The Director serves as the County's primary integrator of conservation priorities across the county including Public Works, Parks & Recreation, General Services, and external partners, ensuring that water quality, wildlife, open space, and long-range stewardship goals are proactively embedded in County policies, programs, and investment decisions.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodation will be provided as required. The job description is subject to change at any time by the employer.
Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Provides leadership and oversight for the Natural Resources, Planning, and Building Divisions by directing department-wide management functions and establishing, implementing, and evaluating strategic and tactical objectives to ensure division operations align with County goals.
• Develops and implements countywide conservation strategies and tactical goals aligned with the Comprehensive Plan and ecosystem stewardship; evaluates strategies and determines program needs, resource requirements, and deliverables.
• Develops and leads a proposed Conservation Department, including strategic planning, work plan development, quality assurance, and staff development; builds collaborative relationships across County departments and regional partners.
• Serves as a critical "conductor," integrator, and collaborative leader between the County staff, County
Commissioners, partners, and the public on topics of conservation, natural resources, and ecosystem
stewardship, providing guidance on cross-departmental initiatives, long-range stewardship strategies,
conservation investments, and interagency coordination.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates conservation projects, programs and services, including wildlife crossings, water quality monitoring, wetland protections and restoration, wildlife habitat, open lands, habitat restoration and monitoring, recreation ecology, and cross-jurisdictional ecosystem priorities; monitors environmental trends and policy implications.
• Integrates conservation priorities into public works, planning and development review processes, including policy development, regulatory frameworks, long-range planning, and alignment with land use systems and
infrastructure decisions.
• Oversees departmental budget development, administration, and financial planning, including conservation funding strategies, grants, and capital planning alignment.
• Directs the establishment of performance measures and reporting systems for conservation outcomes and departmental operations; ensures transparency and accountability across programs.
• Facilitates interagency and regional partnerships, maintaining strong working relationships with federal, state, nonprofit, and academic partners; represents the County in regional stewardship and conservation initiatives.
• Leads public communication and community engagement related to conservation, including presentations, workshops, advisory board engagement, and public-facing stewardship initiatives; communicates complex environmental tradeoffs clearly and effectively.
• Supports relationships between County staff, County Commissioners, wildlife and land management agencies and the public by demonstrating courteous and collaborative behavior.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, natural resources, ecology, planning, public administration,
conservation biology, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in natural resource management, ecosystem stewardship, planning, infrastructure, or related public sector work.
• Experience in interagency coordination, collaborative governance, and program or departmental leadership.
• Experience with public processes, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.
• Preferred: Master's degree in a related field; local government leadership experience; familiarity with mountain or high-amenity Western communities.
Required Licenses and Certifications:
• Valid Wyoming/Idaho Driver's License.
• Professional certifications (e.g., conservation-related credentials or AICP) preferred.
Required Knowledge of:
• Ecosystem stewardship, ecology, wildlife habitat, watershed systems, restoration, vegetation management, recreation ecology, and conservation principles.
• County policies and procedures; state and federal laws and regulations related to conservation, environmental protection, water resources, and land development.
• Environmental review processes, long-range planning, and integration of conservation priorities into planning systems.
• Public sector administrative management, including budget development, contract oversight, grant management, and performance evaluation.
• Collaborative governance, intergovernmental partnerships, and cross-sector coordination models.
Required Skills in:
• Strategic leadership, systems thinking, organizational development, and cross-disciplinary integration.
• Analyzing conservation issues, evaluating alternatives, and developing solutions based on scientific, policy, and community considerations.
• Developing teams, leading staff, delegating tasks, coaching, and supervising program areas.
• Building partnerships, convening stakeholders, and facilitating collaborative processes.
• Interpreting and applying environmental policies, planning regulations, and conservation frameworks.
• Managing multiple complex programs and aligning them with long-term stewardship goals.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing, including public presentations.
• Operating a personal computer and specialized software including GIS.
Physical Demands/Work Environment:
• Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment, with periodic field visits and onsite coordination related to natural resource management, interagency collaboration, and project review
Pay Range: $149,529 - $173,827 per year
