Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone in America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21^st century.

Our organization operates from offices across the country, including our headquarters in Reston, Virginia; a National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C.; and seven regional centers. The Federation also works with 52 state and territory affiliates-autonomous, nonprofit organizations that take the lead in state and local conservation efforts and collaborate with the National Wildlife Federation to conduct grassroots activities on national issues.

Through conservation policy oversight, program development, fundraising, collaboration and personnel management, the Regional Executive Director (RED) provides organizational leadership in the South Central Region. The RED collaborates with affiliate partners and other organizations within the region in support of the National Wildlife Federation's strategic plan and vision. The RED strategically engages NWF Board members and collaborates with regional center staff to help identify and cultivate potential new leaders for NWF.

The RED reports to the Vice President, Conservation Programs and works collaboratively with other senior leaders to advance the strategic direction of the organization.

About our Region

The South-Central Region hosts a rich abundance of natural ecosystems including rivers, mountains, forests, deserts, coastal wetlands, estuaries, and ocean waters that are home to thousands of wildlife species, from bears and songbirds to whales and oysters. Spanning a large and diverse geographic landscape from the Gulf states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, the forested southeast states of Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This network is anchored by offices in Austin, New Orleans, and Atlanta, with additional staff spread across the region.

In collaboration with decision-makers, coalition partners, state affiliates, corporations, and volunteers, the Federation's South-Central team is helping advance conservation solutions in many forms. We advocate for wetlands restoration, water conservation, and the protection of fresh-water flows for rivers and estuaries, as well as a wide range of practices to increase coastal resilience. We work to protect native prairies and forests, and we conduct large-scale programs to educate young people, particularly youth of marginalized identities, on conservation and help foster their connection to nature and the outdoors while building leadership skills.

Principal Duties:

The RED is accountable for developing and implementing programs and strategies that enable the National Wildlife Federation to achieve outcomes articulated in our Vision and Strategic Plan, advance our One Federation affiliate partnerships, and support our equity and justice work, including regional Environmental Justice Action Plans and NWF's Tribal and Indigenous Partnerships Enhancement Strategy. The position serves as an important "face and voice" for the organization in the South Central Region.

Additionally, the RED:

• Provides organizational leadership, program development, targeted campaign management, and coalition building that effectively advances our mission and objectives;
• Fosters an inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture that supports staff in functioning as a highly integrated and effective team across a geographically diverse, highly matrixed organization;
• Achieves the organization's regional philanthropic and fundraising goals by working with staff to engage current and potential funders, individuals, foundations, and corporations to support our work;
• Manages the Regional Center's budget and stewards the organization's financial resources;
• Builds, nurtures, and maintains authentic relationships with political, NWF affiliate, business, education, indigenous, governmental and community leaders with a diverse and representative range of group identities;
• Demonstrates a personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity and justice within the organization and in external program delivery, partnerships, and communications;
• Advances the National Wildlife Federation's long-term conservation goals as well as our values of collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, mindfulness, and mission-focused work.

Basic Qualifications:

Strong candidates for this position will bring experience in organizational leadership and managing through times of internal and external change, including demonstrated proficiency in personnel management, teambuilding and delegation; strategic planning and program implementation; conservation advocacy and policy advancement; developing and engaging partners from diverse communities; non-profit fundraising, and working with non-profit boards, government and Tribal agencies, and corporate entities.

The position requires a commitment to, and strong skills related to: collaboration, strategic thinking, interpersonal relational skills, teamwork, diplomacy, decision making and the mentoring of staff. Strong communication and leadership skills are required, as well as a demonstrated ability to collaborate and coordinate effectively and efficiently across a large, geographically dispersed organization with individuals at a variety of organizational positions and in different organizations.

These proficiencies are typically consistent with approximately ten years of professional experience.

Desired Competencies

Conservation Policy, Advocacy and Implementation

• Familiar with fundamental wildlife conservation principles and practices, with educational background and/or professional expertise in conservation, environmental justice or a related field
• Comfortable leading and participating in advocacy campaigns and activities, including public speaking and press interviews as well as written communications
• Shows insights about diverse tools to achieve conservation goals, including advocacy, education/outreach, and direct work on the ground (implementation); able to help staff prioritize which tools are appropriate given different opportunities.
• Exhibits insights about how diverse program activities can be integrated for long-term conservation success

Fundraising and Fiscal Accountability:

• Demonstrates proficiency and success in cultivating donor relationships, soliciting gifts and stewarding ongoing support from new and existing major donors, in cooperation with philanthropy staff
• A track record of foundation and corporate fundraising success
• Familiar with successful approaches to expand support though events, digital format fundraising and one-on-one engagement

Self-Awareness & Learning

• Exhibits a commitment to continuous learning and growth and models this approach with others
• Dedicated to deepening understanding of cultural and systemic racism and the intersectionality of multiple forms of social inequality
• Demonstrates awareness of positional power and privilege (both personally and professionally) and its attendant impacts
• Consistently brings a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions

Authentic Relationships & Community Partnerships

• Maintains a sophisticated understanding of how group dynamics impact supervisory relationships, organizational culture, partnerships, campaigns and coalition work
• Demonstrates capacity to maintain relationships across difference and create greater psychological safety in the workplace
• Acknowledges when mistakes are made and harm is done; works to repair breaches in relationships
• Openly holds space, and invites others into conversations during sensitive engagements, exhibiting a responsible and respectful demeanor with colleagues and partners
• Demonstrates inclusive leadership through collaboration, active listening skills and authentic team building abilities
• Seeks to build authentic community partnerships, encouraging diverse approaches to advocacy

Direct Communication

• Exhibits strong interpersonal skills rooted in teamwork, diplomacy, and respect
• Provides clear and direct communication with colleagues
• Strives to match intent and impact in all interactions
• Works proactively to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings toward restorative solutions; attends to conflicts as opportunities for learning and growth

Supervision & Power Sharing

• Supports the leadership, success, and professional development of staff members, with a commitment to utilizing power to ensure equitable access and opportunities for staff of color and with other marginalized identities
• Consistently provides positive and developmental feedback to support growth of team members
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them
• Intentionally shares power through decision-making, clear definition of roles and responsibilities, effective delegation, and equitable access to resources

Innovation

• Actively seeks new solutions to persistent problems by engaging a diversity of perspectives and experiences
• Practices both/and thinking and the ability to accept ambiguity
• Demonstrates willingness to take risks, pilot new approaches, learn from failure, and continually improve efforts

Equity Analysis & Action:

• Motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
• Committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement
• Demonstrates awareness of the attributes associated with a white dominant culture and takes actions to dismantle hierarchies of oppression within that culture
• Dedicated to advancing NWF's internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus. Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized.
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions.
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them.
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF's internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation's required equity competencies at .

Travel:

Significant travel will be required to connect with regional offices, national meetings, and NWF affiliates. Anticipate an average of 5-8 days every month, 30-60 nights per year.

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job's principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word "may," the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are "essential functions" of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Location and Work Mode:

The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. This hybrid position is based within a commutable distance to one of our offices within the region: Austin, TX, New Orleans, LA, or Atlanta, GA. If that is a concern, please still apply and the final work arrangement would be decided in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page:

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $140,000 - $150,000, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits, and by Forbes as one of America's best small employers! We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling. We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting. We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health:

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual based on a full-time schedule, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member - including pets), and 11 holidays.
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options - all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation's benefits package at .

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

For more information on our recruiting process, please review our Careers page:

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at .

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.