Missouri State Director

The Nature Conservancy

$170K — $200K *
US-Anywhere
+ 2 other locationsRemote
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree plus 7+ years in conservation or related leadership roles.
  • Proven experience in managing and motivating large, multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional language skills beneficial.
  • Strong presentation skills for diverse audiences including donors and partners.
  • Demonstrated experience in fundraising and budget management.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and inspire a diverse team to achieve organizational goals while fostering a positive culture.
  • Oversee the development and execution of conservation and fundraising plans aligned with TNC’s priorities.
  • Cultivate a workplace culture of trust, inclusion, and professional development opportunities.
  • Act as a key fundraiser, engaging local and global donors to support critical projects.
  • Leverage a volunteer Board of Trustees for networking and advocacy efforts.
  • Represent TNC with key community stakeholders to forge strong partnerships.
  • Ensure financial sustainability and organizational health of the Missouri chapter.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead significant conservation efforts at a state level.
  • Involvement in high-impact fundraising initiatives.
  • Work within a collaborative and innovative organizational culture.
  • Support for professional growth and development opportunities.
  • Engagement with a dedicated Board of Trustees and community leaders.
Full Job Description
What We Can Achieve Together:

The Missouri State Director leads The Nature Conservancy's interests at the state level, leading conservation strategy, philanthropy, and external partnerships across Missouri's chapter, which ownsnearly15,000acresand has helped protect more than 100,000 acresstatewide. They oversee a network of preserves and Centers for Conservation Innovation, and work in close partnership with state agencies, academic institutions, and local organizations to advance the Conservancy's mission in Missouri. They supervise senior programand development staff who also representthe organization's interests before these entities.

The Missouri State Director functions as manager and conservation strategist for a large, complex Business Unit (BU). They are accountable for the BU’s success in implementing TNC’s conservation approach, producing measurable conservationresultsand maintainingorganizational values. They ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the operating unit’s responsibilities, and contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of priority cross-boundary efforts. They support alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to address the most critical organization-wide projects,threatsand strategies. Theyare responsible forcollaborating with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities establishedby TNC, both in her/his ecoregion(s)/operating unit and in areas beyond her/his span of authority. They serve as the primary local spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners) and cultivates those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.

The Missouri State Director oversees fundraising for theBU, including approving budgets and setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals. He/she supports philanthropy, resources and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private,bilateraland multilateral government) to meet fundraising goals. Theyare responsible fora significant portion of the BU’s direct fundraising, sometimes in a major market area.  

The staffcomprisingthe various BU functions may be structured as needed or shared with other units as efficiency dictates to meet the needs of the unit. The Missouri State Director reports to theGreat PlainsDivision Director and works closely with the local trustees/advisory board. 


Responsibilities & Scope

1. Lead, manage, inspire, and motivate a teamof staff to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization’s mission andgoals whilemaintainingculture and engagement in theBU. 

2. Oversee the development and execution of conservation, policy, fundraising, and operations plansin Missouri to ensure chapter goals and strategies are aligned with TNC’s priorities at the Division, Region, and Global levels and grounded in local context. Drive resources to highest impact work and produce measurable results.

3. Create, model, and cultivatea workplace culture where staff feel empowered – grounded in trust, fairness, inclusion, and opportunities for professional growth.  

4. Act as a key fundraiser in support of local, divisional, and global outcomesby partnering with staff to engage donors, corporations, and foundations to support organizational goals and priority projects in Missouri, the Great Plains Division, the United States, and globally.

5. Engage and foster a volunteer Board of Trusteesbyleveragingtheir expertiseand empowering them to serve as ambassadors for TNC – actively participatingin fundraising, networking, advocacy, and strategic leadership. 

6. Represent TNC’s interests with key community members, specifically governmental leaders and agencies, partner organizations, corporations, foundations, and academic institutions (in the realms of agriculture, wildlife, natural resources, energy, climate, water, policy, economic development, ecosystem services, or related fields), to cultivate and steward strong, cooperative partnerships inMissouri.

7. Ensure the organizational health and financial sustainability of the Missourichapterby stewarding a strategic conservation plan, program commitments, a multi-million-dollar budget and associated financial standards, and legal requirements. 

8. Serve on the Great Plains Division Leadership Team,which is responsible for the collective success of the division and helps shape the strategy, identifies the division’s conservation priorities, and develops, funds and deploys talent to execute cross-boundary initiatives that can deliver the greatest impact to TNC’s goals in the Great Plains. 

Demonstrates a willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout the geography and globally asrequired(estimated 40%); and works flexibly, sometimes beyond the normal workday, including weekends, as necessary, during deadline periods.

Must belocatedwithin Missourior able to relocateto Missouri, with a preference for the Greater St. Louis area. May be based in a TNC or home office.

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in leading a diverse, multi-disciplinary team.

The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience designing, organizing, and directing complex projects. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing and shaping the work of our team!

What You’ll Bring:
  • Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 7 years of experience as a leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area.

  • Extensive and proven management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a large multi-disciplinary team.

  • Written and verbal fluency in English is required as well as fluency in the predominant language of the operating unit if other than English.

  • Superb communication and presentation skills required.

  • Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent.

  • Experience in fundraising and budget management.

Desired Qualifications:
  • 7-10 years’ experience as a proven leader in the conservation arena, non-profit sector, advocacy, or related for-profit area, includingdemonstratedexperience producing results and meeting program/department goals.  

  • Experience gained both in and outside the U.S. preferred. Demonstrated commitment to developing and practicing global literacya must. 

  • Success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence. Proven managerial talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management. 

  • High energy, forward thinking, creative individual with high ethical standards. Outstanding leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization. 

  • Proven technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus. Demonstrated operational,implementationand detail-oriented perspective. 

  • Well organized and self-directed; politically savvy and a team player. 

  • Successful experience in marketing or fund raising desired.  

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’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." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the . 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.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $170,000 – $200,000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

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