Fort Collins, CO

Position Title: Stewardship Director

Organization: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

Location: Fort Collins, CO with flexible telework 

Organization Overview: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR) is a 501-c(3) non-profit headquartered at the Environmental Learning Center at Barr Lake State Park with a satellite office in Fort Collins and fieldwork outposts in the Great Plains Region. BCR conserves birds and their habitats through an integrated approach of Science, Education and Stewardship. The work radiates from the Rockies to the Great Plains, Mexico and beyond. 

Position Overview: Bird Conservancy is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to oversee the management, implementation, and strategic growth of the Stewardship program. The Stewardship Director collaboratively works with state agencies, joint ventures, foundations, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement private lands conservation across the Great Plains and Intermountain West. Specifically, the program aims to create a community of practice that simultaneously improves human well-being and wildlife habitat on working lands through proactive, voluntary conservation delivery. The Stewardship team consists of 3 program managers in Fort Collins and 15 Private lands wildlife biologists housed in Natural Resource Conservation Service offices in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and New Mexico. Qualified applicants will have a background in natural resource and or wildlife management, experience overseeing large-scale programmatic implementation, leadership and supervisory experience, and collaborative conservation. Desired qualifications include a successful track record of grant making as well as experience with Farm Bill conservation programs and voluntary conservation on private lands. The Stewardship Director will be based in Fort Collins, CO but allow for flexible telework as agreed upon with supervisor. 

Duties:

• Provide coaching, mentoring, vision, and leadership for the organization
• Provide management, leadership, and financial oversight of Stewardship program: timely completion of project deliverables, contract oversight, budgeting, reviewing proposals, grants and manuscripts
• Communicate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to promote “on the ground” conservation delivery, including serving on committees, boards and working groups as agreed upon by Executive Leadership
• Provide strategic oversight of existing stewardship program and development of new program areas, including integration with other core Bird Conservancy program areas
• Guide program growth through partnership network, grant writing, and development activities
• Work with CCS to implement cross team collaboration with science and education programs via regular communications and interactions on strategy, proposals, partner development, etc.
• Ensure stewardship practices meet wildlife and habitat needs through effectiveness monitoring
• Travel to meet with partners, attend professional meetings and give presentations to stakeholders
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required: 

• Working knowledge of Farm Bill Conservation Programs and/or experience with habitat restoration practices and voluntary conservation efforts on private lands
• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a conservation related field (Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Ecology, Human Dimensions) or equivalent experience
• 3-5 years’ experience supervising staff with direct reports
• Experience with total life cycle of government grants and contracts
• Advanced knowledge of wildlife and natural resource management, and rangeland ecology strongly preferred
• Knowledge of non-profit standard business practices preferred
• Proven track record in building and maintaining partnerships with broad spectrum of stakeholders
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal along with excellent interpersonal skills
• Working knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Great Plains and Intermountain West
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, overnights
• Willingness to travel locally, regionally, and potentially internationally Proficient in Microsoft Office and ESRI ArcGIS 

Application Deadline: December 31

How to Apply: Please submit your cover letter, resume and contacts for three references to applicants@birdconservancy.org with “Stewardship Director” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Preference will be given to those applications submitted before December 31.