Massachusetts State Program Director

POSITION SUMMARY:
Quality parks and green spaces are a fundamental requirement for sustaining healthy, equitable, resilient communities. That’s why TPL works alongside communities to create, protect, and advance the nature-rich places that are vital to human well-being, thereby connecting everyone to the outdoors.

The Massachusetts State Program Director will oversee the strategy, design, and implementation of new and existing Parks for People programs in Massachusetts, along with land protection opportunities to deliver on our mission of creating parks and protecting land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.

The position will be based in Boston and work with communities throughout the state, with strongest focus on our current Parks program the Greater Boston Area.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Leadership, External Relations, and Supervision

• Results management and program strategy, in consultation with Regional VP. Develop and implement state program and projects to align with TPL’s Strategic Plan and mission. Participate in the refinement and implementation a five-year vision and plan for New England and lead implementation and growth of state level work in Massachusetts.  
  • Closely manage a robust Boston Parks for People Program in partnership with Program Manager;
  • Work to develop new Parks and Schoolyard relationships statewide, particular focus on eastern MA Gateway Cities and other equity-driven opportunities;
  • Where strategic, enlist staff to pursue parks and open space land protection/acquisition across the State.
• Provide supervision, career development and talent management of staff. Lead the hiring, training, and supervision of new staff as needed.
• Build, maintain, and act as the primary contact for external relationships across Massachusetts with public officials and local community-based partners to advance TPL goals
• Lead on state-level policy issues relevant to TPL, including close coordination with the Community Preservation Coalition housed at TPL, and other parks and open space coalitions. Lead development of emerging parks coalition work within City of Boston.
• Work closely with Federal Affairs on congressional delegation outreach and cultivation. Act as local partner and spokesperson to promote TPL’s federal policy goals.
• Work with Marketing and Philanthropy leads to strengthen TPL’s identity and reputation in MA through outreach events, public speaking engagements, press opportunities, and by creating a public presence for TPL in the community.

Shared Leadership

• In partnership with VP New England Region and Director of Philanthropy, manage the Massachusetts program budget to ensure positive net revenue and exceed revenue goals.
• Support the stewardship and growth of a regional New England Advisory Board alongside the VP of New England Region, New England Director of Philanthropy, and the Maine State Program Director, with a specific focus on MA-based board member cultivation.
• Serve as leader of the TPL Boston office, directing administrative support and leadership of Boston-based matrixed staff outside of direct line management.
• Serve as an effective collaborator within the matrix structure of the organization to bring national expertise and resources to the MA program including collaboration with the Land and People Lab, Conservation Finance, Geospatial Planning, and other areas of internal TPL expertise.

Collaborative Fundraising

• Closely and effectively partner with philanthropy team to identify and grow donor pipeline, and steward, cultivate and solicit current and prospective donors.  This includes serving as natural partner and program lead to secure funding for projects and statewide work;
• Provide programmatic direction for the development of fundraising materials and proposals for foundations, corporations, and individual donors and participate in meetings with potential funders to provide information about the program and its plans.
• Identify and work to secure multiple sources of public funds for mission delivery and implementation of the program. 

 QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven ability to both manage complex projects, programs, staff, and budgets and to create a strategic and coherent vision for long-term leadership in building and/or renovating parks, trails, schoolyards, playgrounds and public spaces.
• Familiarity with urban planning, particularly park planning, landscape architecture and capital improvements and an understanding of urban environmental quality of life issues including parks and trails, environmental justice, brownfields, walkability, climate change, community development, and housing.
• Familiarity with advocacy and government relations needed to impact policy and funding. 
• Excellent leadership, meeting facilitation, collaboration, public speaking and communication skills.
• Experience in working with community leaders, agency staff, elected officials and local media to promote and implement successful projects.
• Demonstrated experience working with under-served communities and communities of color.
• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit, initiative, energy, the capacity to lead, mentor and inspire others, and the capacity to be a high performer and a team player, with common sense and resiliency.
• Bachelor’s degree required, including course work in urban planning, landscape architecture, and land use management. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 8 years related experience.
• Willingness to travel and attend evening meetings.
• Computer Proficiency: Microsoft Office, Excel and familiarity with geographic information systems (GIS) and sophisticated spatial and data analysis.

As a full-time, exempt employee, you will be eligible for TPL’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation, 10+ holidays, personal and community service days, paid winter break and a 403(b) retirement plan, currently with an up to 5.5% company match.  The salary range for this role is $95,000-115,000, and offers are commensurate with experience.