Mojave Desert Landscape Director

GENERAL OVERVIEW 

The Mojave Desert Landscape Director is a member of The Wilderness Society’s (TWS) Regional Conservation team who will collaboratively develop and lead the organization’s work in the Mojave Desert, one of TWS’s priority landscapes, covering approximately 23 million acres in southeastern California and southern Nevada, as well as portions of southwest Utah and northwest Arizona. 

The primary responsibility of the Landscape Director is to effectively lead a Landscape Team—a cross-functional, cross-departmental team of TWS staff working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to develop and execute a landscape strategy that will materially advance TWS’s Strategic Framework.  

This person will directly manage staff in the landscape and will provide strategic guidance and monitor the contributions of additional staff contributing to our work in the landscape. The Landscape Director is responsible for overseeing contracts and the discretionary budget for their priority landscape. The Landscape Director plays a critical role in cultivating and managing relationships with a wide range of partners, stakeholders, and federal, state, local and tribal officials and their staffs to advance conservation outcomes within landscapes and other shared goals developed with partners. 

The ideal candidate for this position is an experienced leader and strong project manager who works collaboratively and will ensure The Wilderness Society’s landscape conservation work is well integrated across all parts of the organization. This person will bring strategic focus in helping to achieve the organization’s priorities in selected landscapes and ensure we approach our conservation work in a manner that is equitable in terms of who benefits from conservation outcomes and inclusive in terms of the partners we engage.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Provide coordination and support to multi-disciplinary team of TWS staff who are contributing to our planning and implementation of work in the Mojave Desert priority landscape.  

• Lead development of landscape conservation strategy/plan for the Mojave Desert priority landscape and ensure integration with other TWS teams so work in landscape is contributing to multiple TWS goals.  

• Develop and implement a landscape plan that is connected to staff workplans and that effectively incorporates national and regional perspectives and insights, with effective coordination between staff in/near the landscape and elsewhere in the organization.  

• Oversee implementation of TWS’ campaigns and projects within the priority landscape, striving to position TWS as a trusted collaborator with partners and decision makers.  

• Ensure TWS’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of all of our work in the Mojave Desert priority landscape, including having equity embedded into the development and implementation of our landscape goals. This includes early and effective engagement with BIPOC partners and, when possible, elevating communities that have been historically marginalized.  

• Cultivate existing relationships and further build a network to educate and influence decision-makers, media outlets, and opinion leaders on TWS’ work and priorities in the landscape.  

• Our Collaborative Philanthropy Model: TWS has placed an emphasis on developing a deep bench of those who can speak effectively about the full scope of TWS’ strategic plan and the larger national implications for all our place-based work. The Landscape Director will work collaboratively with the Philanthropy Team to help secure funding for the organization and to develop meaningful relationships with local funders, both individual and institutional.  

QUALIFICATIONS  

• At least 8 years of experience working on or leading issue advocacy or political campaigns and/or work to advance public policy changes at the local, state or federal level.  

• Experience leading and managing teams representing a rich mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives.  

• Strong project management experience and competency in cross-organizational collaboration.  .  

• Previous or current work in the Mojave Desert landscape is strongly preferred.  

• An effective leader, capable of meaningful engagement with a wide range of diverse audiences, including industry (ranching, timber, mining, etc.).  

• Commitment to supporting others in accomplishing our goals in an equitable and inclusive manner. Proven cultural competency working with communities of color is preferred.  

• Solid communication and interpersonal skills that can be applied to complex conservation issues, partnerships and coalitions.  

• Strategic thinking and demonstrated ability to craft a compelling vision and set goals and priorities.  

• Good time management skills, with the ability to aptly balance short- and long-term demands.  

• Strong writing skills and the ability to speak effectively in public.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, or handle; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not exposed to adverse weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of this position and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of experience, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.  

The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; sick and vacation leave; a sabbatical program; paid maternal & parental leave and a retirement plan. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. 

TWS has instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all staff reporting to a TWS office or engaging in in-person work meetings.  There is an exception to the vaccine mandate for any staff who have an objection because of a medical or religious reason.  We will do our best to devise reasonable accommodation that respects your objection while balancing the competing demands of your specific position.

As an organization, we aspire to be inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally, this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee, and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally, this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.  

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society