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Who We Are:
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org.
Position Summary:
The Florida State Director develops and leads Trust for Public Land’s mission delivery in Florida. The Trust for Public Land's work in Florida encompasses land protection, park design and development, community schoolyard creation, trail creation, community engagement, parks planning, and public and private financing for parks and conservation.
The State Director manages and mentors the Florida field staff, collaborates with TPL’s national experts and thought leaders, and works in close partnership with the Florida State Director of Philanthropy and other philanthropy colleagues to raise funding needed to both support and grow the office’s programs and operating costs. The State Director is also responsible for working with public agencies, non-profit partners, major donors, elected officials, citizen leaders, and community members to enhance opportunities for success of the organization as a whole and the Florida program specifically. The individual must demonstrate a proven track record working with key individuals in the philanthropic community.
The Florida State Director is responsible for implementing TPL’s national strategic plan in the state of Florida. The Florida State Director reports to the Southeast Regional Director and collaborates on strategic mission delivery with other Southeast state programs, particularly Georgia and Alabama. The Florida State Director leads the Florida team in continually developing, implementing, and evolving local programmatic initiatives that deliver on TPL’s mission of creating parks and protecting land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. The Florida office also has jurisdiction over land protection and other programmatic work in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Essential Functions:
35% Philanthropy: The Florida office and the programs it administers are supported primarily by private philanthropic funding. The State Director will work in close coordination with local, regional, and national TPL philanthropy staff to cultivate and solicit major gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. The State Director will work in partnership with philanthropy staff to create and implement a fundraising plan. The State Director will serve as the primary face of TPL in the donor community.
25% Program Development and Management: The State Director will be responsible for directing staff and working with program partners, both public and private, to carry out the work throughout Florida. This includes evaluating and delivering new project and program opportunities that create parks, land, trails, and schoolyards in line with our strategic commitments to health, climate, equity, and community. In all of this work, the development and maintenance of positive relationships with key public and non-profit partners, as well as major donors will be paramount. This position collaborates with senior leadership, finance and volunteer leaders in developing and implementing strategies that achieve mission delivery goals, and are compelling and financially viable.
15% Management/Administration: The State Director is responsible for supervising staff who report to them, and for creating a positive working environment for the entire office, strong staff morale and a culture of teamwork and mutual support among all staff, including philanthropy staff and others who do not report to the Director. The State Director is the budget manager for the state program’s budget, responsible for working with the finance team to develop the office budget and taking necessary actions to meet or exceed the targets and maintain a work climate which attracts, retains and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people.
25% External Relations: The State Director will be expected to represent TPL and build the organization’s visibility throughout state. This position will develop and maintain relationships for the benefit of TPL in the parks/conservation/environmental sector and in other sectors related to improving community wellbeing. Demonstrated existing relationships and ability to cultivate and maintain new ones with state and local elected officials, staff civic leaders, partner nonprofits, the media, and the philanthropic community.
Critical Success Factors:
Within the first year, the successful candidate will have:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $135,000-165,000.
Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.
Associate Vice President - Florida State Director
Tallahassee, FL, United StatesWho We Are:
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org.
Position Summary:
The Florida State Director develops and leads Trust for Public Land’s mission delivery in Florida. The Trust for Public Land's work in Florida encompasses land protection, park design and development, community schoolyard creation, trail creation, community engagement, parks planning, and public and private financing for parks and conservation.
The State Director manages and mentors the Florida field staff, collaborates with TPL’s national experts and thought leaders, and works in close partnership with the Florida State Director of Philanthropy and other philanthropy colleagues to raise funding needed to both support and grow the office’s programs and operating costs. The State Director is also responsible for working with public agencies, non-profit partners, major donors, elected officials, citizen leaders, and community members to enhance opportunities for success of the organization as a whole and the Florida program specifically. The individual must demonstrate a proven track record working with key individuals in the philanthropic community.
The Florida State Director is responsible for implementing TPL’s national strategic plan in the state of Florida. The Florida State Director reports to the Southeast Regional Director and collaborates on strategic mission delivery with other Southeast state programs, particularly Georgia and Alabama. The Florida State Director leads the Florida team in continually developing, implementing, and evolving local programmatic initiatives that deliver on TPL’s mission of creating parks and protecting land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. The Florida office also has jurisdiction over land protection and other programmatic work in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Essential Functions:
35% Philanthropy: The Florida office and the programs it administers are supported primarily by private philanthropic funding. The State Director will work in close coordination with local, regional, and national TPL philanthropy staff to cultivate and solicit major gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. The State Director will work in partnership with philanthropy staff to create and implement a fundraising plan. The State Director will serve as the primary face of TPL in the donor community.
25% Program Development and Management: The State Director will be responsible for directing staff and working with program partners, both public and private, to carry out the work throughout Florida. This includes evaluating and delivering new project and program opportunities that create parks, land, trails, and schoolyards in line with our strategic commitments to health, climate, equity, and community. In all of this work, the development and maintenance of positive relationships with key public and non-profit partners, as well as major donors will be paramount. This position collaborates with senior leadership, finance and volunteer leaders in developing and implementing strategies that achieve mission delivery goals, and are compelling and financially viable.
15% Management/Administration: The State Director is responsible for supervising staff who report to them, and for creating a positive working environment for the entire office, strong staff morale and a culture of teamwork and mutual support among all staff, including philanthropy staff and others who do not report to the Director. The State Director is the budget manager for the state program’s budget, responsible for working with the finance team to develop the office budget and taking necessary actions to meet or exceed the targets and maintain a work climate which attracts, retains and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people.
25% External Relations: The State Director will be expected to represent TPL and build the organization’s visibility throughout state. This position will develop and maintain relationships for the benefit of TPL in the parks/conservation/environmental sector and in other sectors related to improving community wellbeing. Demonstrated existing relationships and ability to cultivate and maintain new ones with state and local elected officials, staff civic leaders, partner nonprofits, the media, and the philanthropic community.
Critical Success Factors:
Within the first year, the successful candidate will have:
- Mastered a learning curve of TPL to effectively assume management of the future of the Florida Program. This includes an understanding of our Strategic Plan and the national strategies of TPL, as well as embracing a role in fundraising.
- Built external relationships with our partners, especially with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Florida Trail Association and other civic organizations and governmental entities associated with programmatic work to close the gaps in the Florida National Scenic Trail.
- Worked in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy to develop a top 25 list of major donors with a strong emphasis on individuals. The State Director will be the natural partner for these donors.
- Understood the history of Trust for Public Land’s work in the state and make key connections with relevant agencies and partner leadership.
- Worked within TPL and with partners to develop specific programs that represent Florida’s unique contribution to the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.
- Developed a core group of volunteer advisors and engaged them in philanthropic and strategic planning efforts.
- Enhanced our image by being active and visible in the community.
- A Bachelor’s degree/advanced degree preferred.
- At least 5 years’ experience in an organization focused on land conservation and public urban work.
- At least 8 years of relevant non-profit work experience or the equivalent, including at least 5 years of staff management experience. Experience serving as an Executive Director preferred, or other positions of leadership.
- Experience interfacing with and effectively engaging diverse groups (staff, volunteers, stakeholders, politicians, agency partners, etc.)
- Extensive experience working with fundraisers and securing funding for mission support from public and private sources
- Experience with public finance techniques, government funding practices and procedures, the foundation community, fundraising, marketing practices, public policy and budgeting practices.
- An entrepreneurial spirit, initiative, energy, the capacity to lead, mentor and inspire others, the capacity to be both a high performer and a team player, common sense, and a sense of humor.
- Demonstrated experience working with underserved communities and communities of color.
- Excellent communication skills including writing and public speaking.
- An ability and willingness to travel as required and to work flexible hours outside a 9-5 schedule.
- A passionate commitment to The Trust for Public Land’s mission of connecting everyone to the outdoors.
- A commitment to TPL’s shared values of Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $135,000-165,000.
Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.
www.tpl.org/careers