BC Conservation, Stewardship, Natural resource management

Position: BC Conservation Portfolio Manager
Organization: Nature United
Location: Remote, BC

Who We Are:

Nature United is a national organization that is reimagining conservation across Canada. We believe that nature—thriving and full of life—is the foundation of strong communities, a prosperous economy, and a future worth passing on to our grandchildren. We believe that reconciliation is at the heart of our progress as a nation. And we believe that Canada can be a global beacon for hope. We work to advance sustainable resource management by supporting Indigenous leadership and authority and to harness the power of nature to address the climate crisis by advancing natural climate solutions. Nature United is an affiliate of the global organization The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

As a conservation organization, we support the authority of Indigenous peoples to steward and manage their lands and waters by working in partnership with Indigenous Nations to strengthen governance, build on-the-ground stewardship capacity, support leaders, and catalyze local economies. Diversity, equity, inclusion and justice are central to achieving our conservation mission and we are committed to co-creating a culture that is equitable and a workplace that is diverse, inclusive and safe for all staff, partners, donors, and volunteers.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

What We Can Achieve Together:

In British Columbia (BC), Nature United is boldly working to realize ambitious conservation and improved management goals and tackle climate change by advancing natural climate solutions (NCS) – actions that protect, manage, or restore nature’s ability to store and sequester carbon. Nature United is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous peoples to realize their preferred visions for their territories and communities. We also work with industry, crown governments, and other partners to enable communities across BC to realize outcomes that benefit people and the planet.

Specifically, the BC Conservation Portfolio Manager will lead Nature United’s support for a portfolio of Indigenous-led conservation (ILC) and improved forest management projects (IFM) that serve to a) test and develop new and scalable models of conservation and forest management and b) realize place-based conservation and improved management outcomes. This includes leading Nature United’s work in support of Nations interested in, or actively advancing, new conservation and improved management visions for their traditional territories (e.g. IPCAs). With the goal of making it easier and quicker for Nations across BC, the position will also lead on developing a systematic approach to learn from place-based innovations so those learnings can be applied to improve enabling conditions for this work more broadly, including: policy changes, new funding and finance models, and capacity support mechanisms for Indigenous-led conservation and improved forest management.

The BC Conservation Portfolio Manager will work closely with the BC team to ensure the best available science and tools related to forest management for carbon and biodiversity are accessible to Indigenous Nations. Together they will work collaboratively to identify and advance new forest management approaches that align with the needs and interests of Nations and prove out new models for improving how forests are managed.

As a key member of the BC Program conservation team, you will work closely with cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams including: corporate engagement, government relations, finance, philanthropy, and conservation teams across Canada. You will also work with TNC’s Emerald Edge program, a program that spans the coasts of Washington, BC, and SE Alaska, to advance our strategic priorities and facilitate knowledge sharing and networking across the region.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build and maintain relationships with Indigenous Nations
• Refine and implement a framework to guide Nature United’s support for place-based Indigenous-led conservation in BC
• Using the framework, lead on deploying Nature United’s strategic support for a portfolio of place-based Indigenous-led projects where alignment exists – this includes grant and contract implementation and aligning technical and strategic support and resources
• Develop and implement a structured process to learn from individual projects where NU is directly or indirectly providing support to catalyze innovation and inform systemic change
• Maintain strategic relationships with other organizations to align resources and support for Indigenous-led conservation and create opportunities for shared learning
• Provide thought leadership to Nature United related to Indigenous-led conservation and natural resource management in B.C.
• Participate in Nature United’s annual strategic planning and budgeting processes
• Work with BC Program Project Manager to track progress towards internal objectives, develop and track project budgets, and provide updates to the broader organization
• Work collaboratively as a key member of Nature United’s BC team and cross functionally with other departments supporting the implementation of work in BC

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking for work you can believe in? Nature United is a workplace where we care about each other and know that what we do matters, and that our work makes a difference. We currently have a vacancy for BC Conservation Portfolio Manager.

We’re looking for an individual with extensive experience in working with Indigenous communities, with natural resource management or forestry experience, along with excellent community engagement, organizational and communication skills. This role will involve some administration, research and project management functions, and close collaboration across geographically dispersed teams. Willingness and ability to travel for meetings and conferences is a must. We are looking for someone who can lead – act independently, make and implement decisions with limited support and supervision, and who can represent Nature United in conversations with diverse interest groups critical to our conservation goals.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by supporting the work of our team. Join us as we impact conservation across Canada and 80+ countries and territories around the globe!

What You’ll Bring:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS degree and at least 5 years of experience in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience working with Indigenous peoples and in Indigenous communities, preferably on conservation, stewardship, or natural resource management related projects
• Understanding of Indigenous rights and UNDRIP, and the related policy and regulatory context in BC and Canada
• Demonstrated understanding of forest management, natural resource management, and/or climate mitigation activities and the related policy and regulatory context in B.C and western Canada
• Experience managing complex projects and advancing initiatives with diverse and geographically dispersed teams.

We recognize that women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities and other equity-deserving groups are less likely to apply if they do not match most of the qualifications. Nature United finds strength in diversity of backgrounds, lived experiences, knowledge, and identities. We strongly encourage those interested who bring new perspective to apply

What We Bring:

Nature United offers a comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that is supportive of the health, well-being, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

Salary Information:

The estimated starting salary for this position is dependent on experience, qualifications and location.

• Salary range in British Columbia is: $100,000 - $110,000 CAD annually

How To Apply:

To apply for job ID 56431, submit your cover letter and resume online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/.

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Our recruiting process is a rolling process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be removed. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Nature United is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.