USA The Nature Conservancy

Compensation

Full Description

What We Can Achieve Together: The Culture & Operations Director strengthens the Hawai‘i and Palmyra Business Unit (BU) by leading organizational effectiveness, people and culture support, and operational alignment during a period of significant organizational change. The role helps the BU translate Division and organization‑wide initiatives into clear BU practices, communications, and systems. The Culture & Operations Director builds long‑term resilience across culture, operations, and cross‑functional coordination, ensuring staff and programs have the support needed to deliver results. We’re Looking for You: The Culture & Operations Director reports to the State Deputy Director and serves as a cross‑functional integrator and organizational effectiveness lead for the Hawai‘i and Palmyra BU. They partner with the State Deputy Director, People Team, Finance, Operations, and Program Directors and Leads to establish shared goals and clear success factors; to design and implement practical operating rhythms; and to embed change‑management practices that support staff through Division and organizational shifts. This position will be based out of the Honolulu Office and the expectation of the role is to be in office 2-3x per week. They will: Lead culture & engagement practices within the BU—facilitating two‑way communication, staff engagement activities, and manager support; and building routines that sustain a healthy, connected, high‑performance culture. Drive operational excellence and systems alignment—mapping workflows, clarifying roles and handoffs, strengthening internal controls, and improving cross‑team coordination across Finance, Operations, HR, Culture & Engagement, and programs. Translate strategy into execution—turn Division/TNC initiatives into BU‑level processes, timelines, and communications; monitor progress against goals; and adjust plans with stakeholders. Provide finance‑adjacent leadership (non‑finance technical role)—work with Finance leads to ensure staff understand core processes, deadlines, and implications of organizational finance changes, while maintaining ownership of operations and culture deliverables. Coach and enable leaders and teams in change‑management tools and practices; anticipate risks and interdependencies; and facilitate issue resolution across functions. This position leverages enterprise standards and contributes to skill transfer across the BU with an emphasis on cross‑functional planning, process improvement, and organizational effectiveness. RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE Map and improve BU operating mechanisms (planning cycles, meeting rhythms, decision rights, role clarity, intake/triage); Act independently and in supervisor’s stead, as needed; exercise independent judgment to identify and solve problems; Strengthen internal controls and risk‑mitigation practices; ensure alignment with TNC policy and Division guidance; Demonstrate sensitivity in handling confidential information; Champion inclusive, values‑aligned culture; facilitate feedback loops; and coordinate staff communications; Support HMT in adopting TNC change‑management practices to guide teams through Division and organizational shifts; Partner with Finance leads to communicate timelines, dependencies, and impacts of organizational finance changes; improve staff understanding of how financial systems intersect with BU operations, without serving as a finance technical specialist; Model collaborative, systems‑oriented leadership across the BU and Division; Ensure that BU processes adhere to Conservancy policies and procedures; support audit readiness and documentation standards in partnership with functional leads; Coach and enable leaders and teams in change‑management tools and practices; anticipate risks and interdependencies; and facilitate issue resolution across functions. Exercise independent judgment; act on behalf of the State Director and State Deputy Director as delegated; May manage or participate in complex negotiations; Serve as a liaison across functions and with Division partners to ensure consistent standards and effective information flow; May supervise one or more administrative or professional staff, including training and professional development; Travel occasionally, working long and flexible hours as needed; Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain; Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines; and Work within scope of program’s strategic goals. Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of Work that You Can Believe in where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in leading a diverse, multi-disciplinary team.     The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience designing, organizing, and directing complex projects. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing and shaping the work of our team!  What You’ll Bring: Bachelor’s degree and 7 years related experience or equivalent combination; 5 years of project management experience or 3 years acting as a project lead; Direct experience working on and experience consulting on managing and tracking multiple projects, managing and implementing complex processes time management. Experience managing project teams and working with cross-functional staff Experience working with a highly matrixed, decentralized and collaborative organization. Experience meeting time sensitive deadlines. Desired Qualifications Credentialed certification in Highly Effective Teams® (HET) or Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent program Critical analytical thinking and excellent English writing skills Strong communication and presentation skills; Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to negotiate, influence, and persuade; Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences; Ability to acquire quick fluency in Business Unit strategy Familiarity and knowledge related to Business Unit area of focus. Experience supervising staff, interns and/or volunteers; Ability to develop and drive new ideas and approaches. Proficiency in interpreting guidelines and manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting data; Successful experience implementing strategic program goals. Application Instructions: Please note that the application period ends at 12:00 am EST on the due date listed. For applicants in HST, please plan to submit your application by 6:59pm the day before. Internal applicants (TNC employees) must apply through Workday via the Jobs Hub. Salary Information: The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $99,300 – $106,230. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment. Who We Are: The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor. One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.” What We Bring: Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world! TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, 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 and Perks here. We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ. Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub. The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law. The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process. Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings! TNC 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. The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, we impact conservation in 79 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation impact and 42 through partners. To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.