Conservation Programs - Special Projects Lead

Accountabilities:

• Partner with the Chief Conservation Officer and conservation leadership team to identify, prioritize, and advance high-impact special projects and strategic initiatives.
• Lead complex projects from concept through completion, establishing clear objectives, timelines, ownership, milestones, and accountability for successful delivery.
• Develop and maintain systems that strengthen communication, coordination, accountability, decision-making, and organizational effectiveness across conservation programs.
• Facilitate leadership and project planning meetings by developing agendas, documenting decisions and action items, tracking progress, and identifying risks or bottlenecks early.
• Prepare high-quality briefing materials, presentations, agendas, talking points, and other communications for internal leadership meetings, board interactions, partner engagements, and external events.
• Develop processes and measurement systems that capture qualitative and quantitative conservation outcomes and make program impact clear to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with advancement and program teams to cultivate corporate relationships, develop partnership concepts and proposals, and secure financial contributions aligned with business sustainability goals and measurable conservation outcomes.
• Represent conservation leadership in selected meetings and partnerships while building productive relationships with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, funders, and community stakeholders.
• Support strategic planning, annual budgeting, team retreats, and other organizational planning and priority-setting activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen operational systems, and increase the effectiveness and scalability of conservation programs.
• Help ensure cross-functional initiatives remain aligned with strategic priorities, organizational goals, timelines, and expected outcomes.

Requirements:

• Genuine commitment to conservation, public lands, environmental stewardship, and mission-driven work.
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Business, Natural Resources, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may also be considered.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit leadership, conservation programs, strategy, operations, project management, or a related area.
• Professional experience in conservation, forestry, land management, watershed restoration, wildfire resilience, outdoor recreation, or a closely related field.
• Experience working with federal or state agencies, particularly in collaborative and partnership-oriented environments.
• Demonstrated success leading complex special projects and cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution.
• Strong understanding of organizational strategy, operational systems, performance management, and project delivery within a mission-driven environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations, plans, presentations, and executive-level materials.
• Strong project management, organization, prioritization, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across teams, functions, organizations, and external stakeholder groups.
• Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising, grants management, donor reporting, corporate partnerships, or public-private partnerships is preferred.
• Experience supporting distributed teams, organizational change, process improvement, or operational transformation is valuable.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to represent conservation leadership professionally with diverse partners.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while maintaining reliable communication, follow-through, and accountability.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically on an occasional basis, estimated at up to 10% per year.
• Reliable internet access and a dedicated workspace suitable for remote work are required.

Benefits:

• Competitive starting salary of $90,000–$101,250, with opportunities for salary growth based on performance outcomes and annual reviews.
• Flexible part-time position of no more than 30 hours per week.
• Fully remote work-from-home arrangement available throughout the lower 48 continental United States.
• Medical and dental insurance with 75% of premiums paid by the organization for employees and dependents.
• Vision insurance with 50% of premiums paid for employees and dependents.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions of approximately $1,878–$3,750 per year, depending on coverage type.
• Healthcare and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no cost.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after one year of service.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
• Basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost, with voluntary life insurance options.
• Discounted whole life insurance.
• 35 days of annual leave, sick leave, personal leave, and holidays to start, with annual leave accrual increasing with tenure.
• Family and medical leave of up to 16 weeks, including up to four weeks paid.
• Training and development programs.
• Professional development reimbursement of up to $1,000 per year.
• Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful national conservation mission and work in or travel to exceptional natural environments.
• Opportunity to collaborate with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, funders, communities, and other conservation partners across the United States.