Description

Vice President of Conservation

Location: The vice president of conservation will establish a home or remote office within the organization’s primary service area, currently including the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Northeast, southern Appalachians and Atlantic Coastal/Piedmont regions. The ideal location is within our headquarters state of Pennsylvania. Other locations within the service area will be considered. 

Posting Open Date: February 25, 2025

Posting Close Date: Open until filled

Background:

The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) is a national organization with more than 60 years in forest wildlife conservation. We envision landscapes of diverse forest ecosystems that provide homes for wildlife and opportunities for people to experience them. Ruffed grouse and American woodcock are bellwethers of forest condition; they can only persist in healthy, diverse forests. These same forests clean the air, filter water and support local communities. Active forest stewardship is our central focus.

RGS & AWS’s conservation department is managed by a team of forest conservation directors (FCDs). The FCDs develop and oversee innovative partnerships and on the ground habitat delivery, including staff. Collectively, they have many decades of professional experience in forest conservation and management. 

What you’ll do:

The VP of conservation will work closely with the CEO on all aspects of business development, especially leading market-driven approaches to forest conservation. The VP will lead innovation and grow conservation operations, including the FCD team. The VP will develop and direct processes, manage resources and drive overall operational performance to improve wildlife habitat at scale. This is an executive leadership position with the opportunity to apply creativity and leadership to forest conservation challenges. 

Position Summary: 

• Work as a trusted business partner with the CEO and executive staff.
• Provide leadership to a team of conservation professionals.
• Strategize business development to grow conservation impact for wildlife.
• Develop and deepen relationships with foundations and other funders capable of magnifying the RGS & AWS mission. 
• Identify potential risks in operations, develop mitigations strategies and help ensure compliance within conservation programs. 
• Assess workflows and develop key performance indicators.
• Work closely with fundraising and communications departments to amplify success stories.
• Provide regular updates to the CEO on conservation delivery performance, key metrics and potential challenges.
• Help lead cross-departmental teams, fostering collaboration and alignment with RGS & AWS goals.
• Develop operational budgets, financial reporting and cost control oversight for conservation programs. 
• Engage in and lead national policy discussions.
• Work collaboratively to develop reports, including the annual conservation impact report and regular updates to donors and funding organizations. 
• Establish benchmarks for conservation department employees, conduct regular performance reviews and assist the FCDs in doing the same for their direct reports. 
• Foster a highly reliable conservation program and a culture of continuous improvement.

Compensation: 

Competitive salary, health insurance and retirement options including employer contributions. A vehicle (or vehicle stipend) to meet business travel needs. A purchasing card for business and travel expenses. Computer, printer, cell phone and office supplies. Salary commensurate with experience: $125,000 – $180,000

To apply: 

Please email cover letter and resume combined in a single pdf file to Careers@RuffedGrouseSociety.org using “VP of Conservation” as the email subject line, ideally by March 25, 2025. 

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Five-plus years of executive-level experience in business operations with a degree in forestry, natural resources and/or business.
• Familiarity/experience with private sector business models and management.
• The ability to lead cross-departmental efforts in achieving organization-wide goals.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills. Well organized. Ability to lead and motivate.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout all RGS & AWS territories.  
• The ability to establish a remote work location or home office.
• A passion for forest and wildlife conservation. 

To apply: 

Please email cover letter and resume combined in a single pdf file to Careers@RuffedGrouseSociety.org using “VP of Conservation” as the email subject line, ideally by March 25, 2025.