Conservation Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is the nation's oldest conservation and recreation organization, dedicated to the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. AMC owns and stewards land in 5 states —including 160,000-acres in the Maine 100-Mile Wilderness —maintains 1,800+ miles of trails, conducts nationally recognized scientific research, and advances state and federal conservation policy across a 12-state footprint.

The Vice President, Conservation is AMC's most senior conservation executive and a member of the Management Team, reporting directly to the President & CEO. The VP provides enterprise-level vision, strategy, and operational leadership for AMC's four integrated conservation departments—Land Management, Trails, Research, and Policy—ensuring they function as a cohesive, mission-driven, and financially sustainable portfolio. The VP is accountable for AMC's land management and stewardship strategy, the long-term viability of its professional and volunteer trails program, the scientific integrity and impact of its research enterprise, and the success of its conservation and recreation advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels.

This is a high-impact role for a strategic, collaborative, and externally credible conservation leader who can negotiate complex land management issues, build durable partnerships with public agencies, Tribes, philanthropic partners, and peer organizations, and elevate AMC's conservation voice across the region and the nation. 

This position must be based within 2–3 hours of one of AMC’s major hubs in New York City, Boston, New Hampshire, or Maine, as regular travel throughout the region is required. Travel includes time spent on AMC lands, at trails operations, research stations, and policy events in state capitals and Washington, D.C.

The role combines office-based, field, and remote outdoor work and includes occasional evening and weekend commitments to support Board meetings, donor events, and external engagement activities.

What You Will Be Doing At AMC

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Serve as a core member of AMC's Management Team, partnering with the President & CEO and peer executives to shape and execute organizational strategy, financial planning, and long-range vision. 

• Provide unified leadership for AMC's Land, Trails, Research, and Policy departments, integrating them into a single, mission-driven Conservation division.  

• Develop, implement, and continuously evaluate multi-year strategic and operating plans for the Conservation division, with clear KPIs and accountability measures. 

• Represent the Conservation division to the Board of Directors, Partners and Donors,  

Land Management & Acquisition 

• Set the strategic direction for AMC's owned and conserved lands across the 5-state footprint, including the Maine Woods Initiative and all regional holdings, camps, and reservations. 

• Oversee organization-wide land management planning, including forest management, ecological stewardship, watershed restoration and fish passage, boundary and survey work, taxation strategy, carbon sales, and inholding consolidation. 

• Maintain and strengthen AMC’s leadership role in responsible land management through strategic partnerships and key investments in targeted land acquisitions.  

• Cultivate and steward relationships with adjacent landowners, forestry partners, Tribal partners, recreational user groups, and surrounding communities. 

Trails

• Provide executive oversight of AMC's 1,800+ miles of trails and its professional trails contracting program, volunteer trails programs, and trails centers (e.g., Camp Dodge, Noble View, Northwest Camp). 

• Ensure a sustainable business and financial model for the professional trails program, balancing contract growth, internal stewardship needs, and right-sized volunteer programming. 

• Direct the strategic expansion of trails impact across priority states (e.g., NH, ME, MA, PA, RI, NY) and ensure operational excellence, safety, and quality across all trails work. 

• Champion AMC's trails as a signature public-facing asset that connects recreation, conservation, and community engagement. 

Research

• Provide executive oversight of AMC's research program, ensuring scientific rigor, relevance, and alignment with conservation strategy. 

• Elevate AMC's research—on air quality, water quality, climate, biodiversity, and recreation ecology—to internal and external audiences, including the Board, donors, partners, and the broader scientific community. 

• Build and steward strategic research partnerships with academic institutions (e.g., Colby College, Yale, UMaine, UVM, etc, and university research units), agencies, and peer organizations, including capital-supported field stations and collaborative research initiatives. 

Policy & Advocacy

• Provide executive oversight of AMC's Conservation Policy team and lead the integration of policy work across local, state, and federal levels through coordinated engagement of staff, volunteers, chapter networks, and Board members. 

• Set advocacy priorities aligned with AMC's mission, including landscape and recreation protection, climate mitigation and resilience, forest health, clean water, and the outdoor recreation economy. 

• Maintain trusted relationships with leadership level state and federal policymakers, agency leaders, Tribal governments, and coalition partners; serve as a credible public voice for AMC on conservation policy. 

• Ensure that AMC's policy work is informed by and integrated with the organization's research, land management, and trails expertise. 

Fundraising & External Relations

• Serve as a senior fundraising partner to the President & CEO and the Development team, leading the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and public funders for conservation initiatives. 

• Represent AMC externally as a prominent and credible conservation leader through media, conferences, Boards, coalitions, social channels, and public speaking engagements. 

What AMC Is Looking For

Required

• 15+ years of progressively senior leadership experience in conservation, land management, forestry, environmental policy, or a closely related field, with at least 7 years at the executive or senior director level. 

• Demonstrated success leading and integrating multiple conservation disciplines (e.g., land protection, stewardship, science, advocacy, recreation infrastructure). 

• Proven ability to structure and negotiate complex land transactions, including fee acquisitions, conservation easements, and multi-party partnerships. 

• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets, capital projects, and earned-revenue programs. 

• Demonstrated fundraising success with major individual donors, foundations, and public funders. 

• Track record of building, mentoring, and retaining diverse, high-performing teams; strong commitment to delegation and leadership development. 

• Excellent executive communication skills, including writing, public speaking, and Board-level presentation. 

• Bachelor's degree required  

Preferred

• Master's degree in a relevant field; professional credentials such as Licensed Forester, Certified Ecologist, or equivalent. 

• Deep familiarity with the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic conservation landscape, including key agencies, Tribes, NGOs, and policy actors. 

• Service on regional or national conservation, forestry, or recreation boards. 

• Fluency with modern productivity, GIS, and AI tools to improve team efficiency and impact. 

What AMC Can Offer You  

Salary: $120,870 - $175,236

We are committed to fair compensation practices, and we encourage qualified candidates to apply. The initial salary represents our starting point, and our compensation philosophy is designed to reward and recognize the contributions of our employees as they grow within the organization. External candidates typically begin their journey with us at the starting point of the salary range. The final compensation offer will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills and geographic differential relevant to the position, and will be discussed during the interview process. 

Benefits 

• Health Plan: Generous employer contributions through Cigna with optional vision and dental. 

• Other Insurance: 100% employer paid life insurance, AD&D insurance, long-term disability. 

• Career Progression: The potential to have annual compensation reviews commensurate with performance and effort. 

• Retirement: Mandatory 403(b) with 4% matching employer contributions and a vesting schedule. 

• Paid Time Off: up to 4 weeks of paid earned time and up to 11 paid company holidays. 

• Other Team Member Perks: 

• 30% discount on AMC Merchandise 

• Free Annual AMC Membership 

• 10 Free nights at AMC locations 

• Educational Assistance 

• Prodeals discounts on equipment & gear and more! 

To Apply:  

Please include a resume and cover letter. No phone calls or agencies please. 

The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results. 

The Appalachian Mountain Club has zero tolerance for child abuse or placing children in danger. The AMC requires all employees who work in a program or facility which serves children, disabled persons, or the elderly to have a criminal background record check performed on their name annually with employment contingent upon satisfactory results.