TPL creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. At TPL, we don't just save land—we create places to advance health, equity, climate action, and community, from the scale of neighborhood schoolyards to the scale of national parks. Every park, playground, trail, and public space we create is an open invitation to explore, wonder, discover, and play. We're proud to say that we've been connecting communities to the outdoors—and to each other—since 1972. Today, millions of Americans live within a 10-minute walk of a park or natural area we helped create, and countless more visit every year.

Position Summary:

The Southern Appalachian Conservation Finance Director collaborates with national Conservation Finance staff, the national Research team, and programmatic experts throughout the country to foster new sources of public funding for parks and land conservation at the state and local government level.  The position is responsible for developing and conducting community outreach and technical assistance to foster new sources of government funding for parks and land conservation at the state and local government level through ballot measures and legislative action. The position’s primarily focus will be in the Southern Appalachian areas of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  The Southern Appalachian Conservation Finance Director markets these services, develops proposals for services, works with  public opinion researchers, negotiates contracts, makes presentations, and works with a team of internal and external experts in public finance research, public opinion surveys, campaigns, and legislative advocacy.  The job requires coordination and collaboration with staff based in different offices throughout the country, including legal, finance, philanthropy, and marketing staff.

This position utilizes skills in leadership, strategy, policy, politics, and coalition and program building towards our efforts to deliver Trust for Public Land’s mission. The successful candidate will build consensus and support across internal and external stakeholders and will seek to build awareness, credibility, and broad-based support for parks and land conservation and Trust for Public Land’s mission.

This position is a part-time role, requiring 20 hours per week and is not benefits eligible.  The incumbent should be based in the Southern Appalachian region.  Areas of interest include North Georgia, Northeastern South Carolina, Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide Conservation Finance services, including assisting local and in evaluating the feasibility of ballot and legislative measures through research and analysis of voter demographics, election history, public opinion, legal constraints, internal capability, and likelihood of support from agencies, elected officials, and partner organizations.  Support the development and implementation of specific measures, including:
  • analysis of existing and proposed funding efforts;
  • evaluation of alternative legal and financing structures of measures;
  • polling and message development;
  • recommending measure timing and dollar amount;
  • developing ballot language;
  • campaign fundraising;
  • communicating with voters;
  • building campaign organizations;
  • coalition building and management.             

• Manage research and survey projects from start to finish, including scoping project parameters, development of project scheduling and facilitating regular communication with internal and external project partners.
• Manage development of campaign strategies, allocation of resources, and collaboration with other Conservation Finance staff.
• Collaborate with Conservation Research staff to develop detailed financial models that enable the design and implementation of mechanisms that provide long-term financial support to park and conservation programs.
• Market and promote TPL’s Conservation Finance programs, including presenting these services to local governments and project partners.
• Work with teams of regional staff, national staff, and outside consultants to deliver program services.
• Develop and manage relationships and fee-for-service contracts with special district, municipal, county, and state government entities, elected officials, and key staff.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related experience in Public Administration, Public Policy, Communications, Political Science, Urban Planning or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to set and meet deadlines and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently (up to 40% of time).

Required Experience:

• Five + years’ experience in politics including direct political campaign experience, advocacy, legislative work, fundraising, and media relations.
• Proven ability to successfully develop strategy for, plan, direct, manage, and execute electoral or ballot measure or legislative campaigns.
• Experience with synthesizing and summarizing qualitative and quantitative data and ability to identify quickly the essence of an issue.
• Experience working with public or elected officials, research experts, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Experience commissioning and managing policy research and disseminating it effectively to policymakers, the media, and the public.
• Experience working with state and local governments, including upper-level agency staff and elected officials, both legislative and executive.
• Experience working for and with other nonprofit organizations.
• Experience working with coalitions and on legislative campaigns.

Required Skills:

• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking. Excellent presentation and facilitation skills with demonstrated ability to develop strategic approaches to stakeholder involvement and meeting facilitation. 
• Solid foundation in grassroots and grass tops organizing.
• Demonstrated qualitative and quantitative analytical skills applied to public policy issues

Required Knowledge:

• Familiarity with regional land use issues, communities, land trusts, and local and governments.
• Familiarity with public finance field, including government budgeting, state and local revenue sources, and bonding procedures.
• Knowledge of park and conservation issues, growth management, urban planning and development, and related topics.
• Keen understanding of and appreciation for the importance of rigorous, timely and policy-relevant research.
• Helpful/Preferred qualifications
• Prior experience working in partnership with volunteers helpful.

Helpful/Preferred qualifications

• Prior experience working in partnership with volunteers helpful.

Compensation: This position is a part-time role, requiring 20 hours per week and is not benefits eligible.  The salary range for this part time position is 42,000-46,000.

 

Trust for Public Land is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected. We welcome and celebrate all of the differences
that make our employees unique. We believe that diversity fuels innovation and creativity, enhances our ability to serve our communities, and creates a more fulfilling work environment for all. We encourage individuals from all groups to apply and join us in our mission to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.