Pacific Northwest Regional Director

September 18, 2009

For over 70 years The Wilderness Society, a national non-profit conservation organization, has been at the forefront of nationwide efforts to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. The Society’s Pacific Northwest Regional Office has a long, proud history of successfully protecting the forests, high desert, and rivers that are critical to the well-being of the people of Washington and Oregon.

The Regional Director oversees the administration of the 16 member Pacific Northwest office. The Regional Director is responsible for leading, managing, and inspiring a skilled and diverse regional conservation team of 6 staff in the conception, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs aimed at achieving statutory and administrative protections for high priority wild lands in the region. The Northwest office includes a cross-departmental team of Regional Conservation, Conservation Communications, Development and Ecology and Economic Research staff. The Regional Director must effectively manage this cross-departmental team to meet the goals and work plan of the region.

The Wilderness Society has identified the lands and waters of the North Cascades as a focal landscape and is in the process of identifying a focal landscape in Oregon. The Regional Director will oversee strategic planning efforts and provide the necessary creativity and vision to ensure the region grows and adapts to new conservation challenges while remaining effectively integrated with the rest of the organization and its core programs. The Regional Director must play a pivotal role in cultivating and managing relationships with key partners in other environmental organizations, as well as Members of Congress, state and federal government officials, regulatory agencies, and the media to maintain The Society’s strong and respected presence in the region. Substantial fundraising efforts are required of the position.

Priority Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and inspire the Pacific Northwest regional team and promote its integration with The Wilderness Society's broader, multidisciplinary environment, its five core programs, and its emphasis on focal landscapes.
• Provide day-to-day supervision to regional conservation staff, including: defining expectations, setting priorities, assessing results, encouraging professional growth, and cultivating a supportive, collegial team atmosphere.
• Provide the vision, leadership, and necessary management oversight to develop and implement an overall strategic plan for the region that allows for necessary growth, diversification of expertise, new approaches to conservation, and the creation of models/approaches/precedents that benefit the organization in the region and beyond.
• Guide regional staff in establishing and maintaining well-designed, effective advocacy campaigns for The Wilderness Society's priority landscape work in the region.
• Help to effectively integrate multidisciplinary work (including science, policy and communications) for our ongoing regional conservation strategies.
• Play a leadership role in initiating, building, and maintaining collaborative relationships with key partner organizations as well as Members of Congress, state and federal government officials, and regulatory agencies.
• Represent The Society professionally in meetings, on panels, and in other public settings that involve diverse interests, including those who oppose our goals.
• Coordinate with cross-departmental staff to further the purposes of the region and the organization’s priorities, including:
  • Membership & Development staff in the region and in D.C. headquarters to contribute to fundraising efforts with philanthropic foundations, individual donors and other sources.
  • The Society’s Ecology and Economics Research Department to strategically bring science to bear where it serves regional program needs—including working with the Center for Landscape Analysis which is led out of the Seattle office.
  • Conservation Communications staff in the region and in D.C. headquarters to integrate effective communications and marketing strategies to support advocacy campaigns, focal landscape initiatives and fundraising efforts.
• Maintain a deep and thorough understanding of land conservation efforts in the region, as well as key national efforts. Ensure that the region’s perspective and concerns are understood by the rest of the organization.
• Travel as needed throughout the region and to Washington, D.C. to ensure current knowledge of the region’s wild lands, develop relationships with partners and key players throughout the region, and engage in national decision-making processes.

Functional Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate should possess the following skills and experience:

• A substantial record of success directing advocacy campaign work in a highly complex, multi-layered, fast-paced environment.
• Extensive experience in environmental advocacy, public policy, grassroots organizing and/or public land conservation issues.
• Proven managerial excellence, including a track record for cultivating and retaining outstanding personnel and managing complex budgets.
• A history of successfully developing collaborations, alliances, and partnerships with key leaders among diverse ethnic and racial groups as well as other interests.
• A strong background in and familiarity with federal, state and local governments – both executive and legislative branches – and in public policy processes and institutions.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of Washington and Oregon’s environmental, cultural and political issues; environmental and tribal organizations; key government decision-makers; media outlets; and significant funders.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to speak effectively in public.
• Successful experience working with donors, foundations and corporations to raise money.
• Extensive experience in effectively representing issues and positions to the media.
• Strong organizational and management skills and the ability to maintain an effective working environment while working under pressure.

Interpersonal

The ideal candidate would have one or more of the following leadership characteristics:

• The vision to lead and inspire a staff of outstanding professionals.
• A solid professional presence combined with proven management ability.
• In depth knowledge of public land conservation issues and a personal commitment to protect wilderness.
• Strong intellect, creativity, drive, and initiative.
• Superb organizational and interpersonal skills combined with the ability to diplomatically prioritize sometimes conflicting demands.

Education

Bachelor’s degree, or its demonstrated equivalent, required. Relevant graduate work will be highly regarded.

We offer a very competitive salary and benefits package, including health and dental insurance and a generous pension plan. The Wilderness Society is an equal opportunity employer and Diversity is a core value for TWS.

To apply, please mail, email or fax resume and cover letter to:

Heather Blakely
The Wilderness Society
720 Third Avenue, Suite 1800
Seattle, WA 98104

Email: hblakely@twsnw.org
Fax: (206) 624-7101

No phone calls, please.