Midwest Regional Director

Accountabilities

The Midwest Regional Director will lead regional strategy and operations, ensuring that programs, partnerships, fundraising activities, and policy initiatives effectively advance the organization's conservation mission.

• Program Leadership & Strategic Development: Develop and lead regional programs focused on farmland protection, sustainable farming practices, and supporting farmers. Adapt and integrate national initiatives into regional priorities in collaboration with senior leadership and national program teams.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships: Build and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders across agriculture, conservation, food systems, public health, environmental protection, and economic development.
• Policy Development & Advocacy: Collaborate with policy teams to identify regional policy priorities and develop strategies to advance objectives in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
• Government Relations: Support regional staff in establishing and maintaining relationships with key policymakers and federal, state, and local government representatives.
• Research & Program Development: Partner with research teams to develop and implement projects that inform regional programs, strengthen policy initiatives, and support evidence-based decision-making.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Ensure that regional partnerships, activities, and deliverables reflect a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Fundraising & Development: Lead fundraising efforts for regional programs, coordinating with development teams on donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Funding Proposals & Reporting: Develop and submit compelling funding proposals to institutional, corporate, and individual donors. Ensure timely and accurate delivery of funder reports and other commitments.
• Regional Management & Administration: Develop and oversee annual regional workplans and budgets, manage financial statements and reports, and ensure effective resource allocation.
• Team Leadership & Development: Supervise regional employees and consultants, support professional development, conduct annual performance reviews, and oversee recruitment and hiring.
• Project Management: Guide regional staff in planning, implementing, and monitoring projects while ensuring that workplan objectives, individual development goals, timelines, and budgets are achieved.
• Organizational Collaboration: Support cross-departmental initiatives involving program development, fundraising, communications, and project implementation. Contribute to the development and adoption of organizational processes, policies, and systems.
• Thought Leadership & Communications: Collaborate with communications teams to increase the visibility of regional programs and communicate their impact through presentations, media engagement, articles, blog posts, and opinion pieces.
• External Representation: Serve as a regional spokesperson, represent the organization at relevant events, and build relationships with media and other influential stakeholders.

Requirements

The ideal candidate is an experienced strategic leader with a strong understanding of conservation, agriculture, regional program development, and stakeholder engagement. They should bring the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams, oversee complex initiatives, and secure resources to support long-term organizational goals.

• Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership, program development, and project management.
• Strong understanding of agriculture, farmland conservation, sustainable farming practices, and regional environmental or food systems.
• Experience developing and implementing programs across multiple geographic areas or stakeholder groups.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain relationships with government representatives, policymakers, funders, community organizations, and external partners.
• Experience in policy development, government relations, or advocacy initiatives.
• Demonstrated fundraising experience, including donor cultivation, proposal development, solicitation, and funder stewardship.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget development, resource allocation, financial reporting, and project oversight.
• Experience supervising and developing employees, managing consultants, conducting performance evaluations, and recruiting talent.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking, media relations, and thought leadership.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in program development and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and translate strategic objectives into measurable results.

Benefits

• Opportunity to provide strategic leadership for conservation initiatives across eight Midwestern states.
• Significant influence over regional agricultural policy, farmland protection, and sustainable farming programs.
• Leadership responsibilities with opportunities to develop and mentor a regional team.
• Collaboration with national program leaders, researchers, policymakers, and diverse external stakeholders.
• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful environmental, agricultural, and community impact.
• Involvement in regional fundraising, strategic partnerships, and organizational development.

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