WA Conservation Transactions Director

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Washington Conservation Transactions Director manages the Conservation Transactions Team in planning, coordinating and implementing real estate and other conservation transactions for The Nature Conservancy's Washington Business Unit and supporting transactions within the Western U.S. and Canada Division. They use the full range of protection tools (gift, easement, purchase, lease registry, conservation brokerage and cooperative projects) with public and private partners as appropriate to build and maintain conservation area systems that are: (1) ecologically representative and climate resilient, (2) effectively managed to deliver conservation outcomes, (3) durable because of sustainable finance, policies, and the commitment of stakeholders/rightsholders, and (4) inclusive in providing voice, authority and benefit to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

We're Looking for You:

The Nature Conservancy is working toward a future where all people benefit equally from clean air and water, and our most critical lands and waters are connected, protected, and managed to sustain nature and communities in the face of climate change. As WA Conservation Transactions Director, you are responsible for leading a key functional team while engaging collaboratively and cooperatively with a broad range of staff and leaders to collectively advance conservation priorities in Washington state and beyond. You will drive alignment of conservation transaction efforts towards organizational priorities and provide real estate and transactions expertise to resolve legal, neighbor or community concerns associated with our land portfolio. You will represent the organization on transactions with external audiences, building authentic relationships with partners and serve on project teams to plan, negotiate, and implement transactions. We seek a candidate who embodies a strong spirit of collaboration and relationship building, possesses adept project management skills, and demonstrates creative problem-solving abilities, all while bringing a methodical and comprehensive approach to spearheading our conservation transactions. Through this work, you'll play a significant role in TNC's ambitious goals for a better future for people and nature.

This role requires a cover letter. Applicants may use this opportunity to describe their interest in the position, relevant leadership experience, and how their background aligns with the responsibilities and goals of the role.

Essential functions include:

Manage and Execute Conservation Transactions (50%)

• Design, coordinate, and execute complex and innovative conservation transactions across all program areas to conserve and steward lands for increased climate resiliency and biodiversity.
• Serve as the principal project manager and/or lead negotiator on complex transactions with government agencies, other conservation organizations, Tribes, and private individuals and entities.
• Support/advise conservation staff and partners on the application and adaptation of transactional tools for advancing conservation outcomes.
• Work closely with conservation, legal, finance, government relations, marketing, philanthropy, and science teams in deployment of the full range of protection approaches the Conservancy uses, including policy initiatives, community-led conservation, land protection transactions and preserve transfers.
• Assist in securing public and private funds for land protection by supporting TNC's fundraising efforts, participating in donor engagements, meetings, and proposals, and by preparing public grant proposals and reports.
• Research land ownership information for tracts identified as potential acquisition projects, respond to protection inquiries, screen potential projects, and prepare and steward project approval packages through internal approval processes, as appropriate.
• Support efforts to adjust our portfolio of lands assets (conservation easements, preserves, and other lands TNC manages) by working with organizational leadership to approve real estate projects and complete transactions.

Relationship Building and External Collaboration (25%)

• Represent the Conservancy in relationships and negotiations with stakeholders/ rightsholders, working collaboratively to improve decisions, transparency, and strengthen bilateral commitments.
• Build and sustain relationships with conservation partners including Tribes to implement and achieve the Conservancy's conservation priorities.
• Partner with Community Relations Managers to engage local community support for conservation efforts.

Team Management (25%)

• Manage a team of 2-3 professional staff and team budget, ensuring clear performance expectations and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Manage overall workflow of the transactions team to ensure effective coordination and support for priority work, while ensuring sustainable workloads for team members.
• Build a team culture of innovation, learning, collaboration, risk management, and accountability that is centered on integrity and an equitable approach to transactions.

Responsibilites and Scope

Level of Position: The WA Conservation Transactions Director is a senior conservation manager within the Washington Business Unit. They develop strategic direction, have significant financial responsibility and discretion over functional team level budget decisions, and are accountable for conservation results within their control. Geographic size and scope is that of a complex business unit or multiple business units.

Within the scope of this position, the WA Conservation Transactions Director will:

• Supervise professional and administrative staff working toward accomplishment of program goals with responsibility for performance management, training and career development.
• Negotiate real estate transactions, which can bind the Conservancy legally and financially.
• Plan and direct work on protection projects.
• Be responsible for timely resolution of conservation real estate legal matters to protect conservation values, maintain good standing as a neighbor, and minimize risks to the organization.
• Regularly coordinate with other Business Unit Protection teams in the Western U.S. and Canada Division to meet, plan, and identify priority and/or regional projects for collaborative implementation to further Divisional priorities.
• Adaptively manage TNC's transactions project pipeline in coordination with other Washington or Divisional teams to assess and prioritize new acquisitions that further conservation goals, preserve transfers, and land assists.
• Collaborate with land transaction practitioners in the Western U.S. and Canada Division and across the North America Region to share resources and lessons learned.
• Partner with philanthropy, public funding, marketing and other functional staff to support fundraising efforts for transaction projects.
• Resolve complex problems independently with minimal supervision.

Work Location, Environment & Schedule

• Seattle, Washington is the preferred location for this position, with other locations within Washington State considered. The position requires being onsite in TNC's Seattle office regularly (2-4 times per month).
• The position requires up to 20% travel (sometimes overnight, on short notice or on weekends) throughout Washington State and to other U.S. locations and working long or flexible hours as needed. The position requires the ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
• While work is performed primarily in a professional office setting, this position may infrequently work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

What You'll Bring:

• BA/BS degree in natural resources management, conservation, business, law or another related field of study and at least 5 years' experience in land conservation, real estate, law, business or related field.
• Experience working with a wide range of people, such as landowners, corporate executives and government officials.
• Experience negotiating complex agreements.
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience in developing and managing multiple projects and timelines.
• Experience working with computers, including database management.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with grant writing, securing funding, and managing certain project fund sources (budgeting, contracting, reporting); experience with use of federal conservation funding for real estate transactions is preferred.

• Experience with real estate tools including easements, fee-title acquisitions, donations, deed restrictions, facilitated land purchases, and a working knowledge of land leases.

• Demonstrated understanding of Tribal nations sovereignty and treaty rights.

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

• Advanced degree appreciated.

• Knowledge of current trends and strategies in conservation and land protection.

• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English, enabling effective communication of ideas and strategies to stakeholders at all levels.

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 Auto Safety information page. 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 $98,000 - $128,000. 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.