Director of Land Management

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Director of Land Management leads strategic land stewardship and preserve access efforts in Connecticut ensuring TNC lands contribute meaningfully and equitably to TNCs ambitious goals for nature and people. This role provides both management and vision guiding a team and fostering collaborative partnerships to advance the integrity of TNCs portfolio inclusive conservation outcomes and climate resilience. The Director works closely with colleagues and partners to shape stewardship strategy influence land management practices and ensure lasting impact.

Were Looking for You:

The Director of Land Management leads a geographically dispersed team to manage a portfolio of 110 easements and 50 preserves including one of TNCs most visited. They shape team direction and cultivate a culture of safety collaboration and innovation. The Director of Land Management also oversees stewardship activities to ensure they advance conservation impact while meeting ethical legal and accreditation standards. They will engage with external partners and colleagues across TNC to foster inclusive climate-resilient outcomes and contribute to the organizations goals and priorities.

Responsibilities and Scope:

• Lead stewardship staff and advise other conservation entities in the strategic management of preserves ensuring integrity of ownership advancing climate resilience and driving progress toward TNCs 2030 Goals. Integrate priority strategies--including accessibility inclusion of Indigenous rights access and perspectivesinto updated management plans for those preserves where strategic impact is achievable and uphold legal ethical and accreditation standards.

• Lead a geographically dispersed team of 7 land management professionals guiding deployment of staff and resources. Set clear team goals strategies and priorities and ensure staff safety while meeting deadlines. Foster resilience and adaptability in the team as they respond to unpredictable field conditions shifting priorities and urgent requests. Guide adaptive decision-making and cultivate a collaborative culture of learning innovation and problem solving. Provide oversight for performance review cycles and professional development. Guide the volunteer coordinator in strategically deploying volunteers to expand staff capacity and support stewardship goals.

• Oversee the teams response to issues and requests ensuring constructive relationships and compliance with standards. Ensure annual field monitoring is completed to uphold legal and accreditation standards protect TNC lands and address violations. Directly manage high-risk or complex projects and situations applying legal and organizational guidance.

• Advance stewardship that reflects a broad spectrum of perspectives needs and knowledge and foster collaborative cross-boundary partnerships with external partners including CT Department of Energy and the Environment land trusts tribes other NGOs and municipalities to support inclusive conservation outcomes and climate resilience.

• Represent TNCs mission and priorities externally influencing land management practices through strategic engagement with governmental land trust tribal and NGO partners. Explore and pursue opportunities for cooperative management arrangements that enhance impact and build shared capacity across entities. Stay current with science-based land management practices and innovations to reflect TNCs role as a leading conservation organization and contribute meaningfully to external discussions.

• Serve on a team of Connecticut BU strategy leads collaborating across areas of work on priorities relationship building and decision-making. Work closely with the Director of Conservation Programs to shape stewardship strategy and allocate resources ensuring alignment of TNC lands and stewardship efforts with organizational goals and Northeast Division priorities.

• Systematically evaluate landholdings for strategic value and guide decisions on portfolio transfers and acquisitions in coordination with land protection and legal teams to focus resources on properties with the greatest conservation impact.

• Oversee annual budgets and component projects ensuring strategic use of resources.

• Collaboratively develop and implement communications strategies that elevate stewardship initiatives and support outreach and fundraising objectives including donor engagement and grant writing and reporting to build long-term sustainability of the stewardship program and the business unit.

• Represent the Connecticut Business Unit in TNCs Northeast Division and North America Region stewardship and lands work groups. Stay connected to emerging ideas and innovations in land management by engaging with peers across the organization and externally contributing to shared learning and bringing insights back to strengthen local strategies.

• Frequent travel domestically and/or internationally evening and weekend hours.

• May work in variable weather conditions at remote locations on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.

What Youll Bring:

• BA/BS degree and 7 years experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 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 with land management practices and ecological principles.

• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners community groups and/or government agencies.

Desired Qualifications

• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

• 7-10 years experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated experience successfully influencing developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.

• Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.

• 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.

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $104000 $113000. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidates actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors including for example the candidates 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 Conservancys 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 worlds toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. Were rooted in our mission and guided by our values which include respect for all people communities and cultures. Whether its career development flexible schedules or a rewarding mission theres many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are addition to the requirements in our job postings we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicants unique experience. Please apply wed love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC youll join for the mission and stay for the people.

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 than 1 million members over 400 scientists and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits flexible spending accounts a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match parental leave accrued paid time off life insurance disability coverage employee assistance program other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

Were proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures races colors religions sexes national or regional origins ages disability status sexual orientation gender identity military protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancys background screening process.

Do you have military experience Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability please send a note to with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.