Vice President of Conservation and Government Relations

Vice President of Conservation and Government Relations (VP of CGR)

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is looking for a dedicated individual to fill the role of Vice President of Conservation and Government Relations (VP of CGR). This senior management position, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, plays a crucial role in shaping and supporting ATC’s efforts in landscape conservation, land protection, natural resource management, government relations, and policy activities.

Responsibilities

1. Conservation Vision and Strategy
   • Lead the development and implementation of conservation and natural resource management strategies across all ATC programs, covering trail and corridor lands and broader conservation landscapes.
   • Manage all ATC-specific land trust activities.
2. Government Relations and Policy Initiatives
   • Craft and guide the organization’s government relations, federal policy, and legislative initiatives.
   • Oversee direct lobbying efforts and collaborate with the Congressional A.T. Caucus.
3. Community Engagement and Partnerships
   • Develop a vision and strategy for building community-led coalitions, partnerships, and movements that align with ATC’s conservation objectives.
   • Foster relationships with various stakeholders, including the Appalachian Trail Landscape Partnership, land trusts, and agency partners.
4. Oversight and Coordination
   • Provide oversight of government relations activities at federal and state levels.
   • Supervise staff responsible for ATC’s land trust activities, ensuring adherence to Land Trust Alliance standards.

Leadership and Administration

1. Programmatic Priorities and Vision
   • Establish land conservation programmatic priorities, reconcile regional differences, and integrate them into organizational priorities.
   • Clearly articulate the conservation vision to constituent groups.
2. Supervision and Liaison
   • Supervise the Director of Landscape Conservation, Director of Science and Stewardship, and Director of Federal Policy.
   • Serve as the primary staff liaison for the Board Conservation Committee and oversee ATC coordination for the A.T. Landscape Partnership.
3. Stewardship and Conservation Goals
   • Develop effective relationships with various stakeholders to fulfill stewardship and conservation goals, utilizing the cooperative management system.
   • Oversee land protection efforts, including AT land trust, alliances with conservation groups, and local, state, and federal acquisitions.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree (advanced degree preferred) and at least 10 years of experience in environmental policy, land conservation, or resource/land management.
• Proven leadership in supervising professional staff and volunteers.
• Experience in strategic planning, project management, and budgetary responsibility.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in writing, oral presentation, active listening, and conflict management.
• Familiarity with natural resource management and climate science.
• Willingness to travel throughout the A.T. region.

Additional Details

• Salary Range: $130k – $150k
• Applicant must reside in one of the 14 A.T. States.
• 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.

To Apply

To apply for this position, please submit an application packet via our ADP application portal.