Texas State Director

Texas State Director

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is seeking a strong, innovative Texas State Director to lead the organization in achieving its ambitious conservation goals. Since 1964, The Nature Conservancy in Texas has been a respected leader in conservation both within the state and beyond building a strong legacy of protecting Texas' treasured natural landscapes and promoting science-based solutions that benefit the environment, the economy, public health, and equity. With a dedicated and talented staff of 56 members in remote offices across the state, a diverse and engaged Board of Trustees and Emeritus Trustees, and stewardship of 36 nature preserves, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of conservation in Texas. The ideal candidate will bring strategic executive leadership, a collaborative spirit, and a deep commitment to ensuring that nature plays a central role in building a resilient, equitable future for the Lone Star State.

The State Director functions as manager and conservation strategist for a large, highly complex Business Unit Texas (BU). They are accountable for Texas' success in contributing to TNC's global conservation goals, producing measurable conservation results addressing the most critical threats and opportunities to land, water, coast and liveable communities. They ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the BU's responsibilities, and contribute strategic, financial, and / or personnel management expertise. They support alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, fundraising, organizational partnership, and government affairs programs.

The State Director is responsible for managing the annual budget and sets priorities that dictate private and public fundraising goals. As the leader of one of the top fundraising markets in North America, the State Director guides a team of professional fundraisers to cultivate, maintain and grow sustained donor support and collaborates with global fundraising teams to explore prospective donors. They serve as the primary statewide spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences and advocate with those audiences to support and promote TNC's mission and vision. As a leader within the Texas conservation network, the State Director plays a primary role in working with partner organizations, government agencies, elected officials, and other key decision-makers to build alliances and shared agendas that advance science driven conservation outcomes in Texas and the Great Plains.

In addition to the state specific responsibilities of the State Director, they have a significant role as a member of the Great Plains Divisional Leadership Team. They actively contribute to Divisional leadership meetings, offering thought leadership and strategic insights alongside other state and divisional leaders. They are responsible for the collective success of the Great Plains Division (which includes TX, MN, ND, SD, IA, KS, NE, OK, MO, AR) to shape strategies, align BU goals to the division's conservation priorities, and develop, fund, and deploy talent to execute cross-boundary initiatives that can deliver the greatest impact to TNC's 2030 goals across the division. They also share best practices and lessons learned from Texas within the TNC organization to contribute to the organization's greater success.

Responsibilities & Scope

1) Lead, manage, inspire, and motivate a team of staff to collectively achieve the maximum contribution to the organization's mission and maintain culture and engagement at the BU level.

2) Create, model, and cultivate a workplace culture where staff feel empowered grounded in trust, fairness, inclusion, and opportunities for professional growth.

3) Act as a key fundraiser in support of local, divisional, and global outcomes by partnering with staff to engage donors, corporations, and foundations to support organizational goals and priority projects in Texas, the Great Plains Division, the United States, and globally.

4) Engage and foster a volunteer Board of Trustees by leveraging their expertise and empowering them to serve as ambassadors for TNC actively participating in fundraising, networking, advocacy, and strategic leadership.

5) Represent TNC's interests with key community members, specifically governmental leaders and agencies, partner organizations, corporations, foundations, and academic institutions (in the realms of agriculture, wildlife, natural resources, energy, climate, water, coast / fisheries, policy, economic development, ecosystem services, or related fields), to cultivate and steward strong, cooperative partnerships in Texas.

6) Ensure the organizational health and financial sustainability of the Texas BU by stewarding a strategic conservation plan, program commitments, a multi-million-dollar budget and associated financial standards, and legal requirements.

7) Serve on the Great Plains Division Leadership Team and coordinate with other internal TNC organizational leadership teams to serve as a thought leader within the larger organization lending expertise and experience to TNC's work across U.S.

Demonstrates a willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout the geography and globally as required (estimated 40%); and works flexibly, sometimes beyond the normal workday, including weekends, as necessary, during deadline periods.

We're Looking for You :

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We're looking for someone with strong experience in leading a diverse, multi-disciplinary team.

The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience designing, organizing, and directing complex projects. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing and shaping the work of our team!

This role can be located in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Forth Worth, or Houston.

What You'll Bring :

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 that works with environmental or natural resources topics.

Extensive and proven management experience, including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage the performance of a large multi-disciplinary team.

Direct knowledge and experience living and working in Texas.

Written and verbal fluency in English and fluency in the predominant language of the operating unit if other than English.

Experience in 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.

Desired Qualifications :

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

Knowledge of current events, threats and opportunities relating to land, water, coast, and habitat protection in Texas and nature's role in supporting healthy urban and rural communities.

Ability to inspire and be inspired by a board of trustees, donors and partners, and staff working to align vision and strategy for greater impact. Proven fundraising and / or sales experience with private individual donors, foundations, government agencies and business.

Understanding and experience with strategic financial management, including long-term sustainability and complex budget management : grants, donations, endowments, indirect costs, personnel costs and benefits, etc.

Success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence. Proven managerial talent in budgeting, staffing, and performance management.

Ability to work collaboratively and thrive within a corporate structure and align Texas initiatives with global organizational goals to achieve greater conservation impact.

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. Demonstrated operational, implementation and detail-oriented perspective.

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

Salary Information : The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $206,640 255,600. 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. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

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 include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there's many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to