Regional Executive Director, South Central Region

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone in America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21st century.

Our organization operates from offices across the country, including our headquarters in Reston, Virginia; a National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C.; and seven regional centers. The Federation also works with 52 state and territory affiliates—autonomous, nonprofit organizations that take the lead in state and local conservation efforts and collaborate with the National Wildlife Federation to conduct grassroots activities on national issues.

Through conservation policy oversight, program development, fundraising, collaboration and personnel management, the Regional Executive Director (RED) provides organizational leadership in the South Central Region. The RED collaborates with affiliate partners and other organizations within the region in support of the National Wildlife Federation's strategic plan and vision. The RED strategically engages NWF Board members and collaborates with regional center staff to help identify and cultivate potential new leaders for NWF.

The RED reports to the Vice President, Conservation Programs and works collaboratively with other senior leaders to advance the strategic direction of the organization.

About our Region

The South-Central Region hosts a rich abundance of natural ecosystems including rivers, mountains, forests, deserts, coastal wetlands, estuaries, and ocean waters that are home to thousands of wildlife species, from bears and songbirds to whales and oysters. Spanning a large and diverse geographic landscape from the Gulf states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, the forested southeast states of Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This network is anchored by offices in Austin, New Orleans, and Atlanta, with additional staff spread across the region.

In collaboration with decision-makers, coalition partners, state affiliates, corporations, and volunteers, the Federation’s South-Central team is helping advance conservation solutions in many forms. We advocate for wetlands restoration, water conservation, and the protection of fresh-water flows for rivers and estuaries, as well as a wide range of practices to increase coastal resilience. We work to protect native prairies and forests, and we conduct large-scale programs to educate young people, particularly youth of marginalized identities, on conservation and help foster their connection to nature and the outdoors while building leadership skills. https://www.nwf.org/South-Central-Region

Principal Duties:

The RED is accountable for developing and implementing programs and strategies that enable the National Wildlife Federation to achieve outcomes articulated in our Vision and Strategic Plan, advance our One Federation affiliate partnerships, and support our equity and justice work, including regional Environmental Justice Action Plans and NWF’s Tribal and Indigenous Partnerships Enhancement Strategy. The position serves as an important “face and voice” for the organization in the South Central Region.

Additionally, the RED:

• Provides organizational leadership, program development, targeted campaign management, and coalition building that effectively advances our mission and objectives;
• Fosters an inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture that supports staff in functioning as a highly integrated and effective team across a geographically diverse, highly matrixed organization;
• Achieves the organization’s regional philanthropic and fundraising goals by working with staff to engage current and potential funders, individuals, foundations, and corporations to support our work;
• Manages the Regional Center’s budget and stewards the organization’s financial resources;
• Builds, nurtures, and maintains authentic relationships with political, NWF affiliate, business, education, indigenous, governmental and community leaders with a diverse and representative range of group identities;
• Demonstrates a pe