Tar River Land Conservancy (TRLC or Conservancy) is a nationally accredited land trust headquartered in Louisburg, North Carolina. Since 2000, TRLC has protected 24,600 acres of land across an eight-county region of North Carolina by acquiring conservation easements and properties in fee simple. TRLC acquires land and conservation easements to protect water quality and stream buffers, working farms and forests, wildlife habitat and natural areas, and recreational open spaces. TRLC maintains public hiking trails on five nature preserves and plans to open new preserves in the future. TRLC hosts periodic events, including service projects, nature hikes, and paddle trips. TRLC enlists community volunteers to help implement stewardship projects and monitor conservation properties. To learn more, visit www.tarriver.org.

Summary of Position

The Executive Director coordinates all Conservancy operations, fundraising activities, and provides leadership and staff supervision to support the TRLC mission. The Executive Director works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure the financial health of the organization and monitors and reports progress to the Board and/or standing committees on a regular basis. The Executive Director oversees management of budget, staff, and properties, as well as its land acquisition, community outreach, and fundraising activities. The Executive Director provides leadership and support to the Board of Directors, is under the supervision of the Board President, and reports to the Board. As the principal spokesperson for TRLC, the Executive Director must display the highest standards of professionalism, cooperation, integrity, and maintain positive relationships with landowners, funders, members of the community (both public and private), and our many conservation partners.  This position is full-time and will require occasional evening and weekend hours, and travel.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership

Working in concert with the Board and staff, the Executive Director champions the mission, vision, and strategic direction of TRLC:

• Keeping our vision at the forefront of our work: We envision a future of strong and healthy natural and human communities—where we work together to conserve and care for the lands that make the eight-county area of coverage and, to some extent, all of North Carolina an incredible place to live and work;
• Ensuring that the strategic plan is translated into actionable goals and work plans to foster alignment across the organization;
• Engaging the staff and Board in developing and implementing strategies, initiatives, policies, and practices; and
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with external stakeholders (including donors, funders, partners, community leaders, and local governments) to inspire support and collaboration around shared conservation goals.

Staff Leadership

The Executive Director leads and nurtures the Conservancy’s skilled professional staff, fostering a culture of mutual support and accountability.

• Directly supervises and supports staff, including hiring, professional development, performance feedback, coaching, evaluation, and when necessary, separation.
• Creating clear expectations and accountability for each individual; addressing challenges and conflicts with courage and compassion.
• Understanding and effectively engaging the talents and ideas of all staff members. Bringing the entire staff together to create a culture that values individual and collective contributions.
• Prioritizing and promoting the Conservancy’s goals among all staff.
• When making important decisions, solicits input. Communicates decisions with transparency.

Land Acquisition

The Executive Director is responsible for staying informed of developments in the professional field of land conservation:

• In conjunction with the Board and/or appropriate Committee, the Executive Director sets project priorities;
• Develops, nurtures, and tracks relationships with owners of potential conservation property;
• Maintains a confidential database of prospective properties;
• In conjunction with TRLC’s legal representation, negotiates conservation easements and fee acquisitions with landowners, subject to Board authorization and approval; and
• Drafts conservation easement and acquisition documents in conjunction with legal counsel.

Stewardship

The Executive Director is responsible for working with the Board and/or appropriate Committees to establish the practices necessary to manage, monitor, and maintain properties conserved by TRLC and monitored by TRLC on contract with the State of North Carolina:

• Ensures that baseline data, management plans, and other land conservation stewardship tasks are accomplished in an accurate and timely manner, and in compliance with accreditation standards;
• Ensures that annual monitoring of properties is completed, as well as annual reporting to the Agencies for whom TRLC provides this contacted service; and
• Maintains good relationships with landowners of all properties under conservation easement and abutters to easements, trails, and nature preserves.

Fundraising

The Executive Director, in concert with the Board of Directors, is a primary leader of TRLC’s fundraising efforts:

• Fostering a culture of philanthropy where all staff and board members understand their roles in creating fundraising success;
• Developing a sustainable funding strategy and annual fundraising plan in partnership with the Conservancy’s staff and the Board of Directors;
• Cultivating relationships with current and prospective donors and foundations; and
• Actively soliciting donations.

Board Relations

The Executive Director supports the Board and works in partnership with the Board to advance the long-term sustainability and success of the Conservancy:  

• Engaging with the Board in strategic conversations about consequential issues and opportunities for the Conservancy.
• Collaborating with Board leadership to design and implement effective Board meetings and planning sessions;
• Communicating transparently with the Board, providing timely and relevant information, advice, and recommendations to help the Board make strategic decisions;
• Reporting on progress towards achievement of the Conservancy’s goals, including finances, management, operations, and programs;
• Working with the Board to cultivate, recruit, and orient new Board members; and
• Participating on Board Committees as needed and ensure that Board Committees are well supported.

Community and Partner Relations

The Executive Director serves as the chief relationship-builder and developer of partnerships:

• Nurturing and supporting collaboration and partnerships with conservation organizations and other allies to achieve shared goals;
• Developing and maintaining key relationships, including federal, state and local agencies, elected officials, and community-based organizations;
• Representing the Conservancy at a wide array of public and private functions and with diverse groups, including the media; and
• Advocating on public policy matters, as appropriate.

Financial Management and Administration

The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring sound financial management and administration, including:

• A strategy for financial health and sustainability;
• Appropriate financial management and administrative policies and procedures;
• Compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws, and best practices;
• A timely, accurate annual budget that reflects the Conservancy’s strategic direction;
• Accurate and timely financial statements;
• Compliance with all legal and contractual requirements established in any agreement to which the Conservancy is a party; and
• Maintaining accreditation and good standing with the Land Trust Alliance.

Work Environment

• The Executive Director regularly works both in an office setting and in the field.
• This position requires moderate travel, such as attending community events and meetings, and leading tours of protected lands.
• Ability to handle moderate to moderately strenuous physical activity when in the field is expected.

Other Duties

• Duties, responsibilities, and activities of the Executive Director may change at any time with or without notice.

Preferred Qualifications

• BA/BS degree and a minimum of five years of professional experience in land trust work, natural resource management, non-profit management, or in a related field.
• Demonstrated successful record of fundraising and budget management.
• Leadership experience, able to set a clear vision; ability to create and thrive in a team environment.
• Experience working in a collaborative and collegial manner with staff, landowners, donors, volunteers, municipal and government agencies, community groups, and conservation partners to achieve shared objectives.
• Articulate and enthusiastic communicator, both verbally and written.
• Deep commitment to land protection, natural resource conservation, and wildlife habitat in rural areas.
• Knowledge or experience working in agriculture, and in a largely agriculture-based community.
• Strong organizational and supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, develop and manage complex projects from start to finish, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Knowledge and experience with the policies and tools of voluntary private land conservation and conservation finance.
• Finely tuned negotiation and collaboration skills.
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet browsers, and GIS software) and willingness to learn new software programs;
• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License and own vehicle.