Director of Conservation

SUMMARY: The Director of Conservation provides strategic leadership organizational coordination and programoversight for Teton Countys ecosystem stewardship and natural resource initiatives. The position directs the work ofthe Conservation Department through effective planning staff management resource allocation andcross-departmental coordination. The Director provides oversight and leadership for the Natural Resources Planningand Building Divisions. The Director serves as the Countys primary integrator of conservation priorities across thecounty including Public Works Parks & Recreation General Services and external partners ensuring that waterquality wildlife open space and long-range stewardship goals are proactively embedded in County policiesprograms and investment decisions.

Essential duties and responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:
Provides leadership and oversight for the Natural Resources Planning and Building Divisions by directingdepartmentwide management functions and establishing implementing and evaluating strategic and tacticalobjectives to ensure division operations align with County goals.
Develops and implements countywide conservation strategies and tactical goals aligned with the ComprehensivePlan and ecosystem stewardship; evaluates strategies and determines program needs resource requirementsand deliverables.
Develops and leads a proposed Conservation Department including strategic planning work plan developmentquality assurance and staff development; builds collaborative relationships across County departments andregional partners.
Serves as a critical conductor integrator and collaborative leader between the County staff County
Commissioners partners and the public on topics of conservation natural resources and ecosystem
stewardship providing guidance on crossdepartmental initiatives longrange stewardship strategies
conservation investments and interagency coordination.
Develops implements and evaluates conservation projects programs and services including wildlife crossingswater quality monitoring wetland protections and restoration wildlife habitat open lands habitat restoration andmonitoring recreation ecology and crossjurisdictional ecosystem priorities; monitors environmental trends andpolicy implications.
Integrates conservation priorities into public works planning and development review processes including policydevelopment regulatory frameworks longrange planning and alignment with land use systems and
infrastructure decisions.
Oversees departmental budget development administration and financial planning including conservationfunding strategies grants and capital planning alignment.
Directs the establishment of performance measures and reporting systems for conservation outcomes anddepartmental operations; ensures transparency and accountability across programs.
Facilitates interagency and regional partnerships maintaining strong working relationships with federal statenonprofit and academic partners; represents the County in regional stewardship and conservation initiatives.
Leads public communication and community engagement related to conservation including presentationsworkshops advisory board engagement and publicfacing stewardship initiatives; communicates complexenvironmental tradeoffs clearly and effectively.
Supports relationships between County staff County Commissioners wildlife and land management agenciesand the public by demonstrating courteous and collaborative behavior.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
Bachelors degree in environmental science natural resources ecology planning public administration
conservation biology or a related field.
7 years of progressively responsible experience in natural resource management ecosystem stewardshipplanning infrastructure or related public sector work.
Experience in interagency coordination collaborative governance and program or departmental leadership.
Experience with public processes policy development and stakeholder engagement.
Preferred: Masters degree in a related field; local government leadership experience; familiarity with mountain orhighamenity Western communities.

Required Licenses and Certifications:
Valid Wyoming/Idaho Drivers License.
Professional certifications (e.g. conservationrelated credentials or AICP) preferred.

Required Knowledge of:
Ecosystem stewardship ecology wildlife habitat watershed systems restoration vegetation managementrecreation ecology and conservation principles.
County policies and procedures; state and federal laws and regulations related to conservation environmentalprotection water resources and land development.
Environmental review processes longrange planning and integration of conservation priorities into planningsystems.
Public sector administrative management including budget development contract oversight grant managementand performance evaluation.
Collaborative governance intergovernmental partnerships and crosssector coordination models.

Required Skills in:
Strategic leadership systems thinking organizational development and crossdisciplinary integration.
Analyzing conservation issues evaluating alternatives and developing solutions based on scientific policy andcommunity considerations.
Developing teams leading staff delegating tasks coaching and supervising program areas.
Building partnerships convening stakeholders and facilitating collaborative processes.
Interpreting and applying environmental policies planning regulations and conservation frameworks.
Managing multiple complex programs and aligning them with long-term stewardship goals.
Communicating effectively verbally and in writing including public presentations.
Operating a personal computer and specialized software including GIS.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:
Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with periodic field visits and onsite coordinationrelated to natural resource management interagency collaboration and project review