Conservation Funding Director

The Conservation Funding Director plays a pivotal role in accessing sources of public dollars to make a real difference to the lands and waters of the Potomac Watershed. The Director serves as a regional expert on federal, state and local funding opportunities for land protection and restoration projects and securing these funds.

This key position is crucial for the success of Potomac Conservancy’s clean water strategy. The Conservancy is leading a regional effort to secure $75-$150 million over the next ten years in state and federal public funding for land protection and restoration in the Potomac River watershed. This additional funding will empower Potomac Conservancy and our partners to dramatically increase the pace of land conservation to meet an ambitious goal of protecting 30 percent of land in the upper Potomac region.

The Director reports directly to the Vice President of Strategic Programs and Partnerships and will serve a prominent role in the Public Funding Working Group which is led by our President.

Potomac Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust and clean water leader in the Potomac River region. We’re committed to restoring the Potomac to full health for the five million people who rely on the river for drinking water and outdoor enjoyment. By protecting and restoring natural areas, we reduce water pollution, stop reckless deforestation/habitat destruction, and strengthen our community’s defenses against the climate crisis. Our impassioned base of 30,000 supporters empowers us to conserve and expand streamside forests, pass water protection laws, and restore habitat and shorelines.

Key responsibilities

External Partnership: 50%

• Work with coalitions, Potomac Conservancy staff, and community partners to identify land protection and restoration projects that align with Potomac Conservancy’s Clean Potomac Plan and Environmental Justice goals and are good candidates for public funding
• Build relationships with, and provide guidance and technical assistance to communities, partners, and landowners in all stages of the process of developing applications for local, state, and federal funding
• Serve as main liaison for pass-through funding opportunities, with emphasis on Environmental Justice communities with less resources for accessing public funding.
• Document the need for greater federal investment in the Potomac headwaters in support of the Public Policy’s efforts to create new public revenue streams

Internal Partnership : 40%

• Work closely with our Land Conservation and Community Conservation Teams on identifying Potomac Conservancy-led projects that are good candidates for public funding. Types of projects might include protecting land under easement or installing BMPs on easement properties.
• Identify existing opportunities for capacity building and technical assistance to advance the organization's portfolio of clean water work.
• Help identify opportunities for the use of and oversee the deployment of the Conservancy’s Land and Water Revolving Fund
• Work with our Communications and program teams to educate the public about funding opportunities.
• Under direction of the President, advise the Public Funding Working Group, including an ad hoc committee made up of national and regional conservation real estate experts on opportunities and strategies for accessing existing funding sources.

Other (10%)

• Administrative duties
• Participation in organizational annual planning and quarterly strategy sessions.

Qualifications*:

• 5 years of experience in public funding with a proven track record of successful access to federal, state, and/or local revenue streams
• Experience within the Potomac Watershed or the Chesapeake Bay Watershed preferred but not required.
• Relevant education can be considered in place of some experience
• Experience managing, monitoring, or reporting for state or federal government funding programs
• Proven track record with NRCS, NFWF, NPS, EPA funding a plus
• Experience working with a variety of partners
• Issue fluency in our land protection and restoration in the Potomac Watershed
• Demonstrated commitment to DEIJ
• Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence to support collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders
• Outstanding relationship-building skills with a wide-range of diplomatic abilities that build trust-based relationships
• Excellent project management skills
• Creativity combined with a passion for community and quality of life

*This position uses a wide variety of skills. We encourage you to apply if you think you would be a good fit, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications.

Compensation, Benefits, and Location

• Salary range is $64,000-$68,000
• This position is full-time and allows for a choice of a hybrid work environment with in-office work in our Silver Spring, Maryland office balanced with the option of remote work within the watershed. Meetings with partners must be in person as much as possible.
• Benefits include medical coverage, with 80% of premiums covered by the Conservancy;
• Competitive rates on dental and vision coverage
• 18 days paid time off, 11 holidays, and 3 floating personal holidays per year with leave increasing over tenure;
• Half-day Fridays in July and August and one week ‘end-of-year' break;
• Flexible work schedule that reflects Potomac Conservancy’s commitment to a healthy work/life balance;
• 403 (b) matching, with no vesting period and flex spending accounts;
• Working with bright, fun coworkers; and interacting with a supportive board of directors.

We recognize the environmental movement has not been an inclusive one and has a history of excluding historically discriminated communities — including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), people from working class backgrounds, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Because of this, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other communities that have been historically excluded from the environmental movement.