Vice President for Policy and Education

The vice president for policy and education reports directly to the president. S/he will work closely with the vice president for coastal programs to ensure integration of the organization’s program work across all issue and policy areas. S/he will also work closely with the vice president for development and communications to create fundraising strategies and assist in raising funds as needed. Reporting to the vice president for policy and cducation will be the environmental education senior manager, the growth management program manager, the Mothers & Others for Clean Air program manager, and the water program manager.

This position will be responsible for overseeing, leading and strategically planning for the Georgia Conservancy’s air, water, energy, growth management and environmental education work. The successful candidate will be a member of the Georgia Conservancy’s management team and work with the president and other senior staff on strategic and budget planning.

Specific responsibilities of the vice president of policy and education include:

• Working closely with the growth management manager, lead the growth management programs, including Blueprints for Successful Communities.
• Working closely with the Mothers and Others for Clean Air program manager, lead the organization’s air quality programs, including Mothers & Others for Clean Air.
• Working closely with the water program manager, lead the Georgia Conservancy’s water programs, including working with the Georgia Water Coalition.
• Working closely with the environmental education senior manager, lead the environmental education programs, including the Youth Environmental Symposium.
• Lead the Georgia Conservancy’s work with the Georgia Board of Natural Resources.
• Lead the legislative strategy.
• Work with the director of marketing & communications on program message development and on identifying potential media opportunities.
• Work with the vice president for coastal programs and program staff to ensure integration of the organization’s program work across all issue, policy and geographical areas.
• Work with board of trustees and other appropriate committees to develop the organization’s policies and positions.
• Manage and support program staff.
• Manage and develop the meeting content for the biennial Common Ground conference.
• Work with the vice president of development and communication and development staff to create fundraising strategies and assisting in raising funds as needed.

The successful candidate will have the following professional qualifications:

• A solid understanding of environmental policy.
• Five to 10 years of public policy experience working with conservation or environmental affairs.
• Five to 10 years of management experience, preferably with a nonprofit organization and an understanding of nonprofit structure and functions.
• Lobbying experience.
• Preferred - knowledge of Georgia environmental/ conservation, government, business, forestry, agriculture, academic and planning communities.
• Ability to travel approximately 15 percent of time primarily within Georgia, including some overnight and weekends.
• Experience in environmental legal issues is a plus.

Desired personal characteristics of the successful candidate are:

• Effective leadership skills including the ability to inspire, lead and mentor employees.
• Strong management skills. Thinks strategically, develops work plans and executes those plans. Develops budgets and manages effectively within budget requirements.
• Passionate about the environment and committed to work for its protection and preservation.
• Ability to work with others in a team atmosphere utilizing diplomacy, negotiation, collaboration skills and respect for differing opinions.
• Ability to relate to a broad range of partners, including the environmental/conservation, government, business, forestry, agriculture, academic and planning communities.
• Ability to firmly and effectively represent the Georgia Conservancy’s positions.
• Meeting facilitation skills and an understanding of effective public participation.
• Possess strong written and oral communications skills. This includes effective public speaking, the ability to write clearly and persuasively and the ability to work with media as an organizational spokesperson.
• Strong computer skills including the use of the suite of Microsoft Office tools.

A minimun of a master's degree in public policy, planning, environmental management, environmental sciences or other related field and a solid understanding of environmental policy.

For more information or to submit your resume, please contact Allen Tansil at (770) 805-5006 or at allent@handler.com.

The Georgia Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer and considers candidates for employment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation.

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