Conservation Partnership and Engagement Specialist

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Conservation Partnership and Engagement Specialist is a statewide role based in the Chicagoland area that supports The Nature Conservancy’s Chicago Area Climate Adaptation Program. The Conservation Partnership and Engagement Specialist is responsible for the future development and oversight of the Volunteer Stewardship Network (VSN) and the Thrive Outside Chicago Program. The VSN is a statewide program that supports the engagement, stewardship, and restoration of natural areas by providing capacity building opportunities to local community conservation efforts to ensure that the benefits of nature are accessible to all people.

The Thrive Outside Chicago Program is an initiative in partnership with the Outdoor Foundation, Thrive Outside Chicago network partners and the national Thrive Outside Network, that works to improve equitable outdoor access for all communities in Chicago. This position leads and will work closely with other TNC preserve and support staff on developing, managing, and advancing equitable conservation programs, plans and methods for engagement with a focus on strategic geographic areas across the state.

The Conservation Partnership and Engagement Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing community engagement strategies that build off existing programs to connect and foster relationships between local communities and regional TNC projects and preserves. This position oversees multiple grantmaking and capacity-building programs that align with TNC’s equitable conservation strategies through the statewide Volunteer Stewardship Network (VSN) and the Thrive Outside program in Chicago.

The VSN will support volunteer stewardship groups and community-based organizations in strategic areas to build greater capacity for habitat restoration and community driven conservation and outdoor access projects in local natural areas and public green spaces. As part of the management of the VSN, the Specialist will also be responsible for the continued oversight of the Thrive Outside Chicago network and support its integration with the VSN.

This includes advancing strategies that build capacity for local organizations working to connect communities (e.g., south and west sides of Chicago) with nature and outdoor programming in the Chicago area. This position reports directly to the Director of Community Partnerships and Engagement and works closely with multiple TNC preserve and support staff to achieve desired program deliverables and outcomes.

In this role you will be:

• Responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the Volunteer Stewardship Network, including budgeting, strategic planning, and delivering grantmaking and capacity building programs that support volunteer stewardship groups and community-based organizations and leaders in strategic areas across the state.

• Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with attention to building relationships with a focus to connect TNC programs and preserves, with local community-based organizations and stewardship groups.

• Incorporating community-based conservation strategies to increase access, address barriers, and support capacity building for strategic partners to support local conservation efforts and access to nature projects.

• Overseeing the Thrive Outside Chicago program through its integration with the Volunteer Stewardship Network, while working with support staff to sustain local and national network partner relationships.

• Strengthening and expand existing strategies related to community-based conservation and volunteer stewardship.

• Responsible for project management of multiple community engagement programs while utilizing support staff and working with internal and external partners to achieve program outcomes.

This is a hybrid position that reports to the Chicago Field Office averaging two days a week, with the exception of when time is spent in the field. Must be willing to travel frequently to meet with partners across the greater Chicago land area with some occasional travel to TNC programs and preserves throughout the state.

RESPONSIBILITIES…