Alaska Climate Strategy Director

OFFICE LOCATION

Alaska, USA

The preferred location for this position is anywhere within Alaska. Other locations in the Pacific Northwest may be considered.

WHO WE ARE

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Alaska Climate Strategy Director is a new position which establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within the climate space in Alaska. They define conservation priorities and long-term conservation strategies relating to climate, build strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field, and develop key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices. They develop thoughtful tools, frameworks, and theories of change to address the climate mitigation and adaptation-related concerns in Alaska, engage partners to meet these needs, and scope and champion funding opportunities to carry out related projects to address climate change in Alaska. The Alaska Climate Strategy Director leads and manages relevant climate projects.

The Alaska Climate Strategy Director is a key member of the Alaska Business Unit’s Conservation team. Under supervision of the Deputy Director and by working closely with colleagues in the Conservation team as well as Government Relations, Communications, Philanthropy, and Finance/Operations, this role supports The Nature Conservancy’s conservation goals by designing and leading the climate conservation program within TNC in Alaska. They will develop and manage climate strategy for the chapter – focusing on TNC in Alaska’s priority strategic pillars of climate mitigation, natural climate solutions, renewable energy and climate adaptation – as well as a portfolio of relevant climate projects. In addition to collaborating with colleagues in the Conservation Team, they will work closely with the government relations team as related to climate policy. They will also prepare and manage annual work planning as the body of climate work expands.

Breakdown of Role:

Climate Program Leadership (40%)

Act as the primary lead in developing a climate strategy 

Serve as primary thought partner for the Deputy Director and Conservation Team in developing science-informed climate strategies and delivering on our climate goals. 

Serve as subject matter expert on climate change, climate resilience, climate adaptation, natural climate solutions (NCS), climate mitigation, and/or climate metrics. 

Serve as the Point of Contact for the TNC Western Division Renewables Project Director and the TNC in Alaska Government Relations team as related to climate policy 

Lead in the exploration of reciprocal partnerships with and in communities, demonstrating authenticity, integrity, and cultural empathy in all interactions

Climate Program Implementation and Support (40%)

Support project activities related to climate, including climate projects that may be primarily led by Conservation, Government Relations, and Communications teams 

Support Conservation Team members in developing and implementing natural climate solutions-focused projects 

Serve as project manager for assigned projects. In the first year, this may include designing a project around net zero opportunities for Alaska

Administration, Coordination, and Contract Management (10%)

The team coordination role includes scheduling and facilitating meetings, cross program information-sharing, and contract management

Develop and maintain effective systems to ensure team coordination, collaboration and communication as well as integration and information sharing with other TNC teams, and external partners as needed 

Track project team progress and needs and advise the Deputy Director and Director of Government Relations

Research, Data, and Metrics (10%)

Develop effective systems to ensure accurate and appropriate tracking and reporting on impact and progress metrics 

Responsible for setting up internal systems and procedures around research and data tracking 

Lead scoping and measuring of carbon related metrics in support of team members 

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. The Alaska Chapter works side by side with local leaders in communities across the state to overcome barriers to a sustainable future and implement practical conservation solutions that benefit people and nature. Join us in working toward a future where people and nature thrive!

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• BA/BS degree and 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation
• Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.   
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or   government agencies.                                        
• Experience negotiating.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of current trends and practices in climate and Alaska. 
• 7-10 years’ experience in climate-focused work or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Experience creating, initiating and leading projects related to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or renewable energy.  
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans. 
• Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes. 
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field. 
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages. 
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated. 
• Politically savvy.

SALARY INFORMATION

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position based in Alaska is generally within the range of $96,000-$98,500 for annual base salary. 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. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. 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.

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 people 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.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.

To apply for job ID 55153, submit your resume and cover letter online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 11:59 PM EST on June 30th, 2024. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.