[Hiring] Landscape Conservation Program Director @Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Role Description

The Landscape Conservation Program Director reports to the Vice President, Conservation and Government Relations and provides strategic leadership for ATC's landscape conservation portfolio, aligning partners, investments, and conservation action to advance a conserved and connected Appalachian Trail landscape. The Director oversees the Appalachian Trail Landscape Partnership, regional and place-based partnerships, the A.T. Communities Program, the Wild East Action Fund, and conservation decision-support initiatives.

• Establish and continually refine ATC's landscape conservation strategy and long-term vision.
• Align staff, work plans, partnerships, and investments with organizational priorities.
• Represent ATC's landscape conservation vision with leadership, the Board, partners, agencies, and funders.
• Build organizational capacity and sustainable funding.
• Lead ATC's engagement in landscape-scale, regional, and place-based partnerships.
• Align partners around shared priorities and collaborative initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership for the A.T. Communities Program as a gateway community recognition and grassroots engagement network.
• Cultivate partnerships that reinforce ATC's role as a trusted convener and driver of meaningful impact.
• Direct strategic deployment of the Wild East Action Fund and related conservation investments.
• Guide prioritization of high-value conservation opportunities using science, GIS, and partner knowledge.
• Promote practical decision-support tools.
• Advance innovation through research partnerships.
• Supervise staff and establish outcome-focused performance measures.
• Monitor performance and adapt strategies using data and partner feedback.
• Communicate accomplishments to leadership, funders, and the Board.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, conservation, natural resource management, public administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5-7 years of experience managing collaborative conservation, land protection, or landscape-scale conservation initiatives.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading staff, teams, programs, or significant cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of landscape-scale conservation principles, land protection strategies, partnership development, and collaborative conservation approaches.
• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership across complex, multi-partner initiatives.
• Experience managing and developing grants, funding agreements, or conservation incentive programs.
• Strong leadership presence and exceptional communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and database systems.

Requirements

• Experience with grant writing, grant administration, regranting programs, grant reporting, and conservation finance.
• Knowledge of public and private conservation funding sources.
• Experience working with large-scale conservation partnerships, land trusts, government agencies, and regional conservation coalitions.
• Experience engaging in rural communities and municipalities, particularly within the Appalachian region.
• Three or more years of experience supervising staff, interns, volunteers, or project teams.
• Proficiency with ESRI GIS applications and related data management and communication tools.
• Familiarity with the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and its cooperative management framework.

Benefits

• Annual Salary Range: ($90k - $110k)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance available.
• Company paid long-term disability and life insurance provided.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with up to 7% match after 1 year of service.