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Conservation Director Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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Conservation Director information

What does a conservation director do?

A Conservation Director is responsible for overseeing and managing conservation programs, projects, and policies to protect natural resources and biodiversity. They develop and implement strategies to conserve land, water, wildlife, or habitats, often working for non-profit organizations, government agencies, or environmental groups. Their duties typically include supervising staff, collaborating with stakeholders, securing funding, and advocating for conservation initiatives. Conservation Directors also monitor the effectiveness of programs and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a conservation director?

To thrive as a Conservation Director, you need expertise in environmental science, natural resource management, and policy, typically supported by an advanced degree in a related field. Familiarity with GIS software, project management tools, and regulatory compliance systems is commonly required. Leadership, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication are standout soft skills for this role. These abilities are vital for effectively leading conservation initiatives, securing funding, and building partnerships that drive impactful environmental outcomes.

What are some of the common challenges conservation directors face when balancing ecological goals with organizational priorities?

Conservation Directors often need to navigate competing interests between ecological preservation, budget constraints, and organizational objectives. Balancing long-term conservation goals with the immediate needs of stakeholders—such as donors, board members, and community partners—can be challenging. Success in this role relies on strong communication, negotiation, and strategic planning skills to align diverse interests while advancing conservation outcomes. Collaboration with scientists, policy-makers, and local communities is also key to developing effective, sustainable strategies.

What is the difference between Conservation Director vs Conservation Coordinator?

AspectConservation DirectorConservation Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Environmental Science, Ecology, or related field; experience in conservation projectsSimilar educational background; entry to mid-level experience in conservation efforts
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, overseeing programs, managing teams, liaising with stakeholdersImplementing projects, coordinating activities, supporting fieldwork
Employer & IndustryNonprofits, government agencies, environmental organizationsNonprofits, community groups, government agencies

The Conservation Director focuses on strategic leadership, program development, and managing teams, while the Conservation Coordinator handles on-the-ground project implementation and coordination. Both roles require relevant environmental credentials and work within similar organizations, but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Conservation jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Conservation jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Conservation Director jobs in Washington?

For Conservation Director jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Conservation Director jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Conservation Director jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Conservation Director jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Conservation Director job openings:

Conservation Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Conservation Director job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Managing Director, Conservation Nation

LeaderFit

Rockville, MD • Hybrid

$125K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Conservation Nation
Managing Director
Comp: $125K - $135K
Location: Washington, DC region
Hybrid, in the Rockville office 2-3 times/week

 

About Conservation Nation
Conservation Nation is a nonprofit based in Washington D.C. dedicated to helping create a thriving planet for people and wildlife sustained by an inclusive and growing network of conservationists. We have a tight focus on diversifying the conservation movement by lifting longstanding systemic barriers. We do this two ways: 1) By giving an equitable leg up through funding and support to wildlife conservationists from underrepresented communities; 2) By educating and inspiring the next diverse generation of wildlife champions and leaders through our free in-school environmental education program.​

Conservation Nation was founded in 2021 by Lynn Mento, Tricia Reilly Koch and Doro Bush Koch. Conservation Nation has a $2M-$3M annual budget and there are two full time employees beyond Doro, Tricia, Lynn, and various consultant team members. Tricia Reilly is the CEO of Conservation Nation, and she works in very close partnership with Doro and Lynn, who are co-founders and strategic advisors.

Tricia, Doro and Lynn will be focused on building relationships and partnerships, strategic planning, and ideas for mission amplification.
 

About the Managing Director Position
Conservation Nation is seeking a Managing Director to oversee day-to-day operations, manage and support the staff, ensure successful program implementation, and work with Tricia, Doro, Lynn, and the team to build and execute successful and expanding education programs.. This new, full-time position is for hire immediately and reports into the CEO. Previous experience in conservation is not required as there is strong experience and expertise across the organization in this area. Conservation Nation is seeking a leader in education, including curriculum development and/or deployment of programs into schools, to help expand this portion of their work.
 

The ideal candidate:

  • Has experience in building and deploying education programs into middle schools and high schools
  • Has managed a team and led operations
  • Believes in the mission of Conservation Nation 
  • Understands the financial workings of a nonprofit organization
  • Is optimistic, enthusiastic, creative, open to suggestions and ideas
  • Is low on ego, loves to collaborate, believes in the power of partnerships, wants all boats to rise, believes in ego-less teamwork
  • Is local to or willing to relocate to the Washington D.C. area
 

Job Responsibilities: 
The Managing Director will be charged with ensuring the following responsibilities are met in collaboration with an experienced, creative, and supportive team. Candidates are encouraged to identify the areas where their expertise best aligns and where they may have room for growth.

 

Operations and Human Resources:

  • Manage day-to-day operations and serve as the key internal leader while Tricia, Lynn, and Doro spend time externally, Implement strategic and financial plans by working with senior stakeholders 
  • Organize, motivate, and mentor team leaders to strategically grow the organization’s impact and effectively fulfill its important mission 
  • Assure that the organization makes consistent and timely progress in achieving its mission, goals, and targeted programmatic impact 
  • Oversee HR processes such as hiring, separation, ongoing staff development, performance management, and compensation and benefits 
  • Identify and address organizational, operational problems and design solutions with guidance from the CEOs
  • Oversee the annual audit and 990, including preparation of schedules,  and compliance
 

Program oversight:

  • Help achieve our education goals of broad expansion and impact growth, with guidance on optimal resource allocations
  • Help achieve our conservationist support goals of optimal support at various stages of career paths, including the development of new programs, based on new funding 
 

Culture: 

  • Work with the CEOs to foster an enthusiastic, imaginative, collaborative working environment, encourage professional development, recognize positive contributions, promote the values of collaboration and partnership, and champion accountability amongst staff 
  • Provide thoughtful leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering 
  • Model the organization’s commitment to valuing unique perspectives, identities, cultures, lived experiences, and expertise of all those in our global network, community partnerships, and team
 

Development and Organizational Growth: 

  • Work in  partnership with and support the CEO and the co-founders in various fundraising opportunities 
  • Collaborate with the CEO/Co-founders to engage the board and advisory council in fundraising  
  • Coordinate consultants, as needed   
  • Assist as needed in the preparation of grant and contract proposal submissions, budgets and reports 
 

Marketing/communications/storytelling:

  • Ensure strong marketing, communications and storytelling to support growth
  • Guide optimized use of our social media channels and our website to drive significant growth in interest and engagement
  • Encourage regular and frequent content development and distribution
  • Oversee creation of communication pieces for donor engagement, including brochures and the annual report
 

Qualifications
Please know that Conservation Nation recognizes that not every candidate will bring all of the knowledge, skills and experiences listed below, and welcomes candidates with a variety of experiences.

  • Passion for the mission of Conservation Nation
  • Experience in education, including curriculum development and/or deployment of programs into schools
  • Minimum five years of experience serving in a leadership position
  • Record of strong operational leadership and the ability to ensure effective and efficient policies and procedures across an organization
  • A record of leading trust-based relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders
  • Strong and transparent communication skills with the ability to connect with, engage, and build trust with a variety of individuals and organizations
 

Compensation and Benefits
The compensation band for this position is $125K - $135K with bonus potential and a generous benefits package.


How to Apply
Conservation Nation has retained the executive search firm LeaderFit to partner with them on this search.  Interested candidates should upload a resume and brief cover letter.
At LeaderFit, all candidate materials are reviewed by experienced humans, never by AI. We believe that evaluating leadership potential, lived experience, and alignment with mission and culture requires human judgment, insight, and care. We leverage AI in other ways to ensure efficiency, optimized research, and allowing LeaderFit staff to focus on what humans do best, which is connecting, engaging, and building community.