Director of Landscape Connectivity - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Salary: US$95,000-$105,000 and includes Y2Y’s excellent set of benefits
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a joint Canada-U.S. not-for-profit organization with a mission to connect and protect wildlife habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive. We are the only organization dedicated to securing the longterm ecological health of this entire region. We take a scientific and collaborative approach to conservation and highlight and focus on local issues that affect the region. Since 1993, Y2Y has worked with >460 partners to stitch together this landscape, including scientists, conservation groups, landowners, businesses, government agencies as well as Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Native American).
Yellowstone to Yukon is seeking a senior professional to be their next Director of Landscape Connectivity. This position is responsible for ensuing key functional wildlife corridors connect core habitats within priority areas of the Y2Y landscape. This position leads our work to ensure functional wildlife corridors maintain, enhance and restore ecological connectivity among and between protected areas where a) connectivity is already compromised; b) activities threaten to sever existing connectivity and/or c) that are key to connecting core areas and supporting resilience to climate change. All of our work is highly collaborative and requires working from local to regional scales and on key national and global enabling policies.
The location for this position is flexible and places within a short drive of an airport in the Idaho or Montana portion of the Y2Y landscape are preferred. This individual will report to the Senior Conservation Program Director and will assume primary oversight of Y2Y’s landscape connectivity and wildlife corridor work, including private land conservation and transportation infrastructure mitigation projects. As such, this person will be responsible for directing this program, leading a team of professionals and supporting planning, implementation and management of relevant projects and programs that advance the Y2Y vision and deliver on the relevant portions of the strategic plan.
Responsibilities:
- Lead a diverse group of staff to develop and implement landscape connectivity and wildlife corridor projects that advance the Y2Y vision
- Oversee staff on the Landscape Connectivity Team, ensuring they are working strategically, at scale and at the systems level to maximize impact through integrated projects that leverage talents
- Take an active role in ensuring equitable experiences, strengthening inclusion, knowledge and promoting a culture of inclusivity and belonging that embraces the contributions of all team members
- Support programs in collaborative projects by supporting equitable, inclusive relationships with high-level entities and individuals from federal and regional governments to Indigenous governments, partner relationships, and opinion leaders
- Set annual goals and objectives for the Landscape Connectivity Team, oversee associated work plans, assess progress against objectives for team members, report regularly to senior leadership regarding progress, challenges and proposed solutions
- Oversee the Landscape Connectivity Team budget, ensuring expenditures are on track and any changes to priorities or spending are communicated promptly to the Senior Conservation Program Director
- Support fundraising as needed including: drafting proposals, reports and budgets; occasional meetings with donors and funders, leading landscape connectivity team to identify potential new opportunities
- Promote the Y2Y vision and programs to relevant audiences (conferences, communities, government agencies, partners, media and funders)
- Working closely with communications staff, represent and advocate for Y2Y priorities in writing opinion pieces and other articles, making public presentations, acting as a media spokesperson, and engaging in representing Y2Y in social media
- In consultation with communications staff, oversee the development and/or review of communication materials related to this region, including program newsletters and announcements and participate in staff meetings, board meetings and on committees
- Travel within the Y2Y region as required
Qualifications:
- A minimum of 10 years of successful experience managing, supporting and mentoring multiple staff, including remote-working staff
- Experience in leading and managing conservation and science/knowledge projects that promote landscape connectivity, preferably in the Y2Y region, on public and/or private lands
- Knowledge and experience related to Indigenous rights and governance as well as Indigenous-led conservation; • Demonstrated ability to both distill complex science and knowledge, and use it to support landscape connectivity
- Degree in a related field or equivalent work experience
- Experience engaging with government agencies and elected officials at various levels of government, particularly agencies responsible for transportation infrastructure, natural resources management and/or wildlife conservation
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modelling inclusive behaviours, and proactively managing bias
- Experience building and maintaining diverse and successful teams, coalitions and collaborations
- Strong experience in developing and managing budgets
- Experience in grant writing and/or other types of fundraising
- Ability and interest to travel with some regularity
At Y2Y we value diversity — in backgrounds and in experience, and we need people from all backgrounds to help achieve our mission of connecting and protecting habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive. Y2Y’s team is empathetic, caring, and supportive. We are intentional about the team and culture that we are building, seeking team members that are not only strong in their own aptitudes but care deeply about supporting each other's growth.
Y2Y is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and in science, conservation, and society. We strongly encourage applications from members of groups that are underrepresented and/or excluded from these sectors, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. All of our employee’s points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone's responsibility. Short, preliminary interviews may be held via conference call or Zoom.
Please send your resume in confidence to careers@y2y.net.
Questions can be directed to scott@y2y.net.
If you anticipate needing accommodations you may contact Robyn Barton, HR Consultant at robyn@y2y.net.