Arizona Culture & Engagement Director

Culture And Engagement Director

The Culture and Engagement Director for the Arizona Business Unit will provide strategic guidance, strengthen organizational knowledge, skills and expertise, foster community collaboration, implement best practices, and lead the implementation, measurement and evaluation of the Business Unit's culture, engagement and equitable conservation initiatives.

The Culture and Engagement Director will help set the Business Unit's strategic direction on internal culture and employee engagement and external equitable conservation. They will lead the implementation of the Business Unit's Equity Blueprint, an internal action plan developed by staff that outlines the Business Unit's culture and engagement direction, by coordinating cross-departmental efforts, managing timelines and budgets, ensuring accountability for progress and taking a hands-on role in implementing key components. They will build and sustain relationships with communities and partners while identifying staff knowledge, skills, and expertise gaps and overseeing culture-, engagement-, and equitable conservation-related development. They will support and guide relevant employee groups and provide expertise on organizational change, inclusive leadership practices, and equitable conservation. They will collaborate closely with teams and colleagues throughout the Arizona Business Unit and across the organization to advance shared goals, share best practices and advance collective learning. The position reports to the Arizona Deputy State Director and serves as a strategic advisor to Business Unit Leadership and Board of Trustees.

This person will work mainly in our Tucson office and travel to our Phoenix location often.

Responsibilities & Scope

• Foster a workplace grounded in belonging, psychological safety, and shared responsibility for equity;
• Coordinate implementation of and iteration on existing staff-developed Equity Blueprint across relevant departments and staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability for progress;
• Regularly evaluate the Equity Blueprint's effectiveness and recommend updates based on data and staff feedback;
• Support and guide Arizona Business Unit staff in embedding equity across all aspects of our work to advance durable, holistic, and equitable conservation outcomes for people and nature;
• Facilitate relationships with strategic audiences, communities, and local partner organizations;
• Partner with the Learning and Organizational Development Team and other relevant teams as needed to identify staff knowledge, skills, and expertise gaps, and oversee staff development related to culture, engagement, and equitable conservation;
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Arizona Leadership Team on issues related to organizational/team culture, inclusion and belonging, and equitable conservation;
• Partner with the Legal Team and the Global Culture and Engagement Team in establishing any relevant Business Unit employee resource groups, and provide support and guidance to those groups once they are in place;
• Partner with Western US and Canada Division Human Resources Team to identify and address systemic barriers affecting staff retention and advancement;
• Provide guidance on relevant policy development, organizational change, and inclusive leadership practices ensuring compliance with TNC policies, procedures, and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; decisions may have organization-wide impact and bind the organization financially or legally;
• Present culture and engagement insights, progress reports, and recommendations to Arizona Leadership Team and Arizona Board of Trustees;
• Model collaborative leadership by influencing without authority and fostering alignment across interdepartmental teams to coordinate the work of peers;
• Work in close collaboration and coordination with the Global Culture and Engagement Team, the North America Region Human Rights and Equity in Conservation Team, the Western US and Canada Division Human Resources Team, the Learning and Organizational Development Team, the Arizona Engagement and Operations Director, the Arizona Conservation Director, and other relevant Western US and Canada Division colleagues and teams;
• Connect with counterparts in other business units across the organization to identify and share best practices, tools and resources to cultivate shared learning;
• Develop and track staff metrics to identify gaps, disparate experiences, and opportunities, and to assess program effectiveness; and
• Travel on short notice and work long and flexible hours as needed.

We're Looking For You:

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 goals and strategies. 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 5 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational culture and inclusion initiatives, and advancing equitable conservation and/or community engagement;
• Experience leading and implementing complex projects while navigating cross-functional relationships in a highly matrixed setting;
• Experience in creating an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally competent work environment;
• Experience with current dynamics and best practices in the culture and engagement discipline;
• Experience working with teams across an organization to develop and achieve shared goals;
• Experience, coursework, or other training in principles, practices, and procedures of relevant field; and
• Youth certified (within initial 30 days of employment; annually thereafter).

Desired Qualifications

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences are appreciated;
• Demonstrated experience (5+ years) advancing organizational culture, inclusion, and equitable conservation strategies with the ability to advise Business Unit leadership, staff, and board members;
• Ability to translate organizational culture and inclusion concepts into practical programs and day-to-day practices;
• Ability to apply an equity lens across conservation planning, decision-making, and implementation;
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with experience designing and delivering learning workshops;
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to navigate sensitive conversations with empathy and clarity;
• Skilled in relationship-building, collaboration, and conflict resolution;
• Track record of successful experience working directly and building relationships with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and other communities;
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends and communicate insights to diverse audiences;
• Ability to influence without authority and build trust across all levels of the organization;
• Strategic thinker with ability to manage details and drive implementation;
• Background in organizational development, change management, or human resources is a plus;
• Ability to work in partnership with all levels of staff in a collaborative or advisory role;
• Strong organization skills, time management, accuracy, attention to detail and ability to multi-task;
• Ability to analyze data to measure impact and make decisions in a metrics-driven environment.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $87,760 – $93,245. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. 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. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. 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