Managing Director of Conservation Programs

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. is seeking a Managing Director of Conservation Programs for its Southern Region, based in Ridgeland, MS. The role requires a self-motivated leader with an M.S. in a natural resource discipline and at least 10 years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include overseeing conservation programs across 13 states, managing a $75M budget, and collaborating with various teams on strategic planning, fundraising, and partnerships. Strong communication and leadership skills are essential for success in this position.
Managing Director of Conservation Programs

Southern Region

Ducks Unlimited, Inc., the world’s leading wetland and waterfowl conservation organization, seeks a self-motivated, experienced individual to lead conservation programs across the southern portions of the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. The successful applicant will join a highly motivated conservation team responsible for DU’s various conservation programs across 13 southern states. The position is based in the regional headquarters in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Qualifications

Candidates must have, at minimum, a M.S. in a natural resource discipline and at least 10 years of progressively responsible work experience, including budget, project, and personnel management. Candidates must have an in-depth knowledge of various conservation delivery programs and business practices. Demonstrated adaptive leadership and oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills are essential. Candidates must be self-motivated, goal-oriented, and able to work across the organization.

Overall Responsibilities

The Managing Director of Conservation Programs performs a full range of duties that include supervision and oversight of regional-level programs and staff. This position will lead a team of 4 directors responsible for an annual budget of $75M. This position will be part of a regional leadership team reporting to the Director of Operations. The successful applicant is expected to operate with a significant level of autonomy to provide leadership and vision across disciplines and programs in close cooperation with their peers in fundraising and development, as well as the Director of Operations. Communication between and across roles will be imperative, as will supporting the team’s relationships with federal, state, and corporate partners. In addition, a close working relationship with internal and external partners will be essential.

Specific duties include:
• There are four Directors of Conservation Programs (DCP’s) across the geographies of the Southern Region. The principal duty is to lead the Southern Region DCP team, resulting in regional-level strategic planning regarding allocation of staff resources, staff efficiencies, growth strategies, accountability, financial optimization, and other business strategies.
• Lead the development and execution of annual budgets in close coordination with staff across multiple disciplines, especially the Managing Director of Conservation Services, the Manager of Conservation Services, the Directors of Conservation Programs, and the Director of Operations.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and coordination of innovative programs and initiatives by developing teams within and across regions.
• Collaborate with development staff (primarily three Managing Directors of Development and two Directors of Foundation Relations) to address philanthropic fundraising goals and alignment of use of philanthropic dollars in current year budgets and planning for future fiscal years.
• Collaborate with three Directors of Fundraising and Volunteer Relationships to address fundraising opportunities and align staff participation at event-based fundraising events.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Director of Public Policy and the broader DU policy team to support optimized conservation-friendly legislation and administrative policies.
• Collaborate with regional and national communication staff on broad and directed communication strategies addressing external communication, advertising, and program-directed marketing.
• Coordinate work products and develop processes with all departmental disciplines within the region, across regions, and with NHQ staff.
• Act on behalf of or in conjunction with the Director of Operations as a member of the conservation leadership team at meetings with conservation partners, corporations, foundations, public policy partners, volunteers, board members, and other stakeholders as assigned.
• Serve as a member of the Regional Leadership Team.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume indicating interest and qualifications. For further information regarding this position, please contact - Maribeth Lane - Email: mlane@ducks.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 or over), disability (physical, mental or visual), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), military and veteran status, immigration status, or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.