Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor.  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Executive Director functions as Executive Director and conservation strategist for the North Carolina Business Unit (BU). They are accountable for the BU’s success in implementing TNC’s conservation approach, producing measurable conservation results, and maintaining organizational values. They ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the Business 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, threats, and strategies. They are responsible for collaborating with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities established by TNC, both in their Business Unit and in areas beyond their 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 cultivate those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.

The North Carolina Executive Director oversees fundraising for the BU, including approving budgets and setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals. They support philanthropy and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors (private and public) to meet fundraising goals. They are responsible for a significant portion of the BU’s direct fundraising, sometimes in a major market area(s). They have a dotted line to marketing staff supporting and servicing the Business Unit and play a central role in planning and executing marketing strategy and activities in collaboration with the Division Marketing Director. The staff comprising the various BU functions may be structured as needed or shared with other BUs as efficiency dictates to meet the needs of the BU.

We’re Looking for You:

The North Carolina Executive Director helps create a multi-state vision for how to maximize conservation outcomes within North Carolina and across the broader Southern U.S. Division, comprised of 8 business units from Virginia and Kentucky southward to Florida and Louisiana. Increasingly and fundamentally, the Executive Director collaborates with others across the Southern Division and beyond to build partnerships and support the most critical organization-wide impacts, strategies, and projects that align and meet the overall initiatives of North Carolina, the Southern Division, and the organization. The Executive Director reports to the Southern Division Director.

The Executive Director leads staff and works closely with the local trustees/advisory board, cultivates new and existing donors, expands partnerships, and builds a broader constituency for conservation across the state. Currently the North Carolina chapter team includes more than 50 full-time and approximately 50 seasonal staff across conservation, philanthropy, government relations, and operations. As a leader in the North Carolina conservation movement, the Executive Director plays a primary role collaborating with partner organizations, government agencies, elected officials, and other key decision-makers to build alliances that advance science-driven conservation outcomes in North Carolina, across the South, and globally. The Executive Director is accountable for the BU’s success in implementing TNC’s global conservation approach, producing measurable results, upholding organizational values, and supporting the ongoing work of equity while leading an inclusive workplace culture. The Executive Director is committed to Culture and Engagement in the Chapter.

In addition to the state-specific responsibilities of the BU Leader, they are responsible for the collective success of the division by being a member of the Division Leadership Team, whose focus is on strengthening a culture that collaborates strategically, thoughtfully, and aggressively across geo-political and management lines.

Specific responsibilities as a member of the Division Leadership Team include:

• Collectively determining divisional conservation targets and committing staff and financial resources to those agreed-upon multi-year priorities.

• Development and management of fundraising goals through greater coordination of donor prospects and strategies and an increased focus on the wealth markets with the greatest potential not being realized.

• Identifying operating models and implementing services such as financial management, human resources support, DEIJ strategy, and marketing and communications tactics across the division that maximize effectiveness and efficiencies.

• Developing greater consistency of approach in budgeting, evaluating risk, and utilization of financial resources.

• Aligning their individual Business Unit’s portfolios of work including the de-prioritizing or divestment of misaligned work.

What You’ll Bring:

Key Competencies:

To succeed in this role, the Executive Director should demonstrate the following core competencies:

• Strategic Agility: Ability to anticipate future trends, translate global goals into local strategies, and pivot as conditions change.

• Change Leadership: Skilled at guiding teams through organizational transformation, fostering adaptability, and maintaining engagement during periods of uncertainty.

• Inclusive Leadership: Commitment to Culture and Engagement, creating an environment where all voices are valued and respected.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional ability to build and sustain relationships with donors, partners, government agencies, and community leaders to advance conservation outcomes.

• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of budgeting, resource allocation, and fundraising strategies to ensure financial sustainability.

• Systems Thinking: Capacity to see interconnections across programs, geographies, and organizational priorities, aligning local work with global objectives.

• Innovation Orientation: Willingness to explore new technologies, partnerships, and funding models to accelerate impact.

• Results Accountability: Ability to set clear goals, measure progress, and deliver outcomes that contribute to TNC’s 2030 objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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 Business 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.

• Demonstrated commitment to developing and practicing global literacy.

Desired Qualifications:

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

• Experience gained both in and outside the U.S. valued. 

• Success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence. Track record of recruiting, mentoring and retaining talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management at a scale similar to, or greater than, the NC Chapter.

• 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 through track record of responsibility for complex and large projects with successful outcomes.  Demonstrated operational, implementation and detail-oriented perspective.

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

• Successful experience in marketing or fund raising desired from public and private sources, at a scale similar to, or greater than, the NC Chapter.

• Ability to convey and document a track record of success in prior positions in “Key Competency” areas.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $180,000 to $210,000. 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. This position is open to applicants based in Raleigh or Durham, North Carolina. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.