The Nature Conservancy: Mississippi State Director

The State Director functions as manager and conservation strategist for the Mississippi Operating Unit. They are accountable for the OU’s success in implementing TNC’s conservation approach, producing measurable conservation results and maintaining organizational values. They ensure outcomes are achieved in priority areas that fall within the operating unit’s responsibilities, and contribute intellectual, financial, and/or human resources to the formulation and execution of priority cross-boundary efforts.  They support alignment of activities by securing, coordinating, and configuring resources, capacity, and programs to address the most critical organization-wide projects, threats and strategies.  They are responsible for collaborating with others on the procurement and application of resources to address the conservation priorities established by TNC, both in her/his ecoregion(s)/operating unit and in areas beyond her/his span of authority.  They serve as the primary local spokesperson for TNC to internal and external audiences (including staff, volunteers, the Board of Trustees, public and private donors, government agencies and officials, community leaders and other partners) and cultivates those audiences to support and promote TNC’s mission and vision.

The State Director oversees fundraising and marketing for the OU, including approving budgets and setting priorities which dictate private and public fundraising goals. He/she supports philanthropy, resources and external affairs staff in the cultivation and direct solicitation of donors to meet fundraising goals.  They are responsible for a significant portion of the OU’s direct fundraising, sometimes in a major market area.  

The staff comprising the various OU functions may be structured as needed or shared with other units as efficiency dictates to meet the needs of the unit.  The State Director reports to the Division Director and works closely with the local trustees/advisory board. 

The Mississippi State Director has the unique opportunity to help create a shared, multi-state vision for how to maximize conservation outcomes within Mississippi, across the Southern Deltas (Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas), and across the broader Southern U.S. Division, comprised of 10 state chapters from Virginia and Kentucky southward to Florida and Louisiana.  Increasingly and fundamentally, the State Director collaborates with others across the Southern Division and beyond to build partnerships and support the most critical organization-wide impacts, strategies, and projects that align and meet the overall greater initiatives of Mississippi, the Southern Division and organization.  The State Director reports to the Southern Division Director. 

The State Director leads staff and trustees, cultivates new and existing donors, expands partnerships, and builds a broader constituency for conservation across the state. As a leader in the Mississippi conservation movement, the State Director plays a primary role collaborating with partner organizations, government agencies, elected officials and other key decision-makers to build alliances and shared agendas that advance science-driven conservation outcomes in Mississippi, across the South, and globally. The State Director is accountable for the chapter’s success in implementing TNC’s global conservation approach, producing measurable results, upholding organizational values, and supporting the ongoing work of equity while leading an inclusive workplace culture. The State Director is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) in the Chapter’s work and culture.

In addition to the state specific responsibilities of the BU Leader, they are responsible for the collective success of the division by being a member of the Divisional Leadership Team, whose focus is on strengthening a culture that collaborates strategically, thoughtfully and aggressively across geo-political and management lines. Through this approach, called Empowering Divisions, it helps shape the strategy, identifies the division’s conservation priorities, and develops, funds and deploys talent to execute cross-boundary initiatives that can deliver the greatest impact to TNC’s 2030 goals across the division.