"OFFICE LOCATION This position can be located in any of the states located in the Great Plains Division region. They include Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.#LI-REMOTE 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 Freshwater Conservation Director establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within the area of responsibility; defines conservation priorities and long-term conservation strategies; builds strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field; and develops key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices. By applying a broad understanding of freshwater strategies, the Director develops innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address the natural system needs; engage local community support for local efforts and build broader and more effectual constituency for conservation; and negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, landowners, and partners to conserve and protect freshwater resources and the communities they support. They also assist Great Plains Business Units and related programs in establishing the enabling conditions necessary for advancement of division strategies and help with identifying, advancing, and scaling successful initiatives across the Division and North America. The Director informs and oversees development of strategic conservation and policy recommendations to maximize contributions towards TNC's 2030 goals. They ensure effective communication and build relationships with Great Plains BUs and with the North America Region. They manage the annual planning and portfolio management cycle for the Resilient and Connected Freshwater sub-portfolio (strategy, portfolio, and budget review), identifying key milestones and measures and reports of success for the year.The Director works with dedicated support from Business Units and Programs within the Great Plains Division and across Whole Systems/Divisions to: 1) Establish annual programmatic work plans based on resources and funding. Provide high-level oversight and integration of the portfolio of priority freshwater strategies and identify opportunities to scale these strategies across the Division.2) Identify, evaluate, and prepare cross strategy and/or cross geography public grant opportunities.3) Develop and monitor the Freshwater budget.4) Incorporate scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to achieve desired outcomes.5) Address division-wide gaps in support impacting strategy implementati n (e.g. deployment of short-term resource needs).6) Evaluate the freshwater program holistically across all division geographies and bodies of work and makes portfolio recommendations to leadership on portfolio refinements.7) Monitor the sub- portfolio's contributions toward the 2030 goals.The Director works with the philanthropy team to support donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship for the program and plays a lead role in public and private fundraising for the program. The Director is responsible for working collaboratively with high level TNC staff and high-level state and external partners to increase and leverage partner capacity and accelerate strategy implementation. They serve as a liaison to TNC North America and Global on efforts involving the alignment of TNC's freshwater work to meet the organization's 2030 goals.This position can be located in any of the states located in the Great Plains Division region. They include Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.RESPONSIBILITIES and SCOPE This position requires cross-boundary work and relationships throughout the Great Plains Division and states in adjacent divisions. May supervise staff at remote locations. Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within budget. Writes proposals for grant/contract funding for project and program support. Frequently makes independent strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and context. Negotiates complex agreements with multiple disparate partners in complicated and potentially discordant social, political, and ecological environments. Shares science and lessons learned and promotes our organization and conservation within the Conservancy and to a broad range of others including non-government and government organizations and agencies, legislators, corporations, local communities, and the general public. Frequent travels domestically and possibly internationally and works some evening and weekend hours. May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. Other duties as assigned. 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. Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means including persuade, and influence with the appropriate level of detail, tone, and opportunities for feedback.DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 8-12 years' experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience specifically related to water quantity/environmental flows projects Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans. Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and region. 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. Politically savvy. WHAT WE BRING Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more t