Bonsai Leadership Group is honored to partner with the Conservation Capacity Project in its search for a Managing Director, Network and Partnership Strategy. Download the full position announcement here.

ABOUT THe Conservation Capacity ProjecT

The Conservation Capacity Project was created in response to an unprecedented period of disruption facing conservation leaders and organizations. Built to meet real-time challenges across the conservation community, the Conservation Capacity Project provides free, timely, wraparound support to help leaders stay agile and build stronger, healthier organizations.

Grounded in deep respect for the people and organizations working to conserve our land, wildlife, oceans, and freshwaters, the Conservation Capacity Project was designed to respond with care and practical solutions. The Conservation Capacity Project provides free capacity-building advisory services and access to expert guidance to U.S. nonprofits and Tribes. Through curated learning opportunities, practical tools, and pro bono one-on-one support with field-informed experts, the Conservation Capacity Project ensures that leaders are not simply reacting to change but strengthening their institutions for long-term resilience and sustainability.

Backed by committed philanthropic partners, this project is intentionally iterative. As sector needs shift, programming, partnerships, and delivery models evolve accordingly. This adaptability allows the Conservation Capacity Project to remain relevant and responsive amid uncertainty, financial strain, and rapid change. The Conservation Capacity Project aims to show up for conservation leaders in meaningful ways, delivering high-quality support when and where it is most needed.

As demand for rapid, high-trust technical assistance has grown, so too has the operational and relational complexity of managing a diverse network of technical assistance providers, partners, and services. The Conservation Capacity Project now seeks to add the human capacity needed to strengthen its internal infrastructure to sustain this level of responsiveness and care.

Learn more about the Conservation Capacity Project at conservationcapacityproject.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Managing Director, Network and Partnership Strategy is a new, grant-funded leadership role designed to help shape and scale the Conservation Capacity Project’s programs and services. This position will ensure that its commitment to conservation leaders is matched by strong systems, aligned partnerships, and sustained impact.

This relationship-driven leader will oversee the Conservation Capacity Project’s growing ecosystem of technical assistance providers, strengthen relationships with conservation leaders, and ensure that program delivery reflects both strategic discipline and relational attentiveness. Serving as the connective tissue between conservation leaders, the technical assistance provider network, and internal operations, the Managing Director, Network and Partnership Strategywill bring structure to complexity while preserving the Conservation Capacity Project’s core values: compassion, adaptability, and commitment to conservation leaders.

This is a grant-funded, time-bound leadership role designed to meet immediate organizational needs while reinforcing the sector’s long-term resilience. It offers the opportunity to shape how a nationally visible, field-responsive project evolves during a critical period for the conservation sector.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Managing Director, Network and Partnership Strategy will have the following primary responsibilities:

Conservation Leadership Network Strategy
Lead the strategy and delivery of the Conservation Capacity Project’s engagement with conservation leaders, ensuring timely, relevant, and values-aligned support as a trusted and responsive partner.

• Design and continuously refine the Conservation Capacity Project’s tools and strategy for engaging U.S. conservation leaders, nonprofits, and Tribes in alignment with evolving sector realities

• Design and maintain systems for tracking engagement, geographic reach, service utilization, and outcomes

• Establish structured approaches for identifying emerging needs and translating insights into responsive programming, resources, and partnerships

• Oversee intake, triage, and referral systems to ensure ease of access and timely connection to appropriate coaching and technical assistance

• Work with the Conservation Capacity Project’s external evaluator to develop feedback mechanisms that assess service relevance, quality, and impact across the conservation community 

Technical Assistant Provider Network Management
Build, steward, and strengthen a cohesive, high-performing network of technical assistance providers aligned with the Conservation Capacity Project’s mission and evolving field needs.

• Lead recruitment, vetting, and onboarding of technical assistance providers, identifying and addressing gaps in expertise as sector needs shift

• Establish clear engagement frameworks, scopes of work, and partnership expectations to ensure alignment, accountability, and quality

• Convene technical assistant providers regularly and facilitate shared learning, alignment, and collective problem-solving

• Cultivate a strong sense of shared identity and mission alignment across the technical assistance provider network

• Partner with the Conservation Capacity Project’s external evaluator to gather structured feedback and translate insights into program and network improvements

• Define and steward protocols for deeper-dive engagements, including clarity around coaching, consulting, technical assistance, and expanded service models

• Provide principled leadership when engagement models evolve, ensuring consistency, equity, and trust across the network

• Coordinate with the Conservation Capacity Project’s fiscal sponsor to oversee contract development and compliance, as well as payment processes, to ensure operational clarity, prompt payment, and alignment with the requirements of technical advisors' contracts

Program Strategy and Operations
Ensure that the Conservation Capacity Project’s programming, infrastructure, and internal systems are positioned to sustain growth, deliver measurable impact, and endure beyond the current grant cycle.

• Provide strategic oversight of the Conservation Capacity Project’s program portfolio, including webinars, learning initiatives, and resource development, ensuring alignment with field priorities

• Translate evaluation findings into strategic refinements and clear reporting for funders and external stakeholders

• Support the Executive Director in engaging with the Conservation Capacity Project advisory board, including preparation of strategic updates and facilitation of informed discussion as needed

• Develop sustainability frameworks, documentation, and operational models that position the Conservation Capacity Project for continued impact beyond the scope and timeframe of this time-bound position

• Assess and recommend infrastructure investments, including technology and CRM systems, to enhance efficiency, data integrity, and long-term scalability

External Communications
Provide strategic leadership for the Conservation Capacity Project’s communications ecosystem, ensuring that outreach, resource promotion, and field engagement reflect the organization’s mission and real-time responsiveness to the conservation community.

• Lead the strategy, content planning, development, and distribution of the Conservation Capacity Project’s weekly e-newsletters as a primary channel for engagement and service delivery

• Establish content priorities and steward the voice and positioning of the Conservation Capacity Project’s communications, ensuring alignment with organizational values, emerging sector needs, technical assistance provider insights, evaluation findings, and strategic objectives

• Oversee promotion of various learning opportunities, coaching support, technical assistance offerings, and special initiatives, integrating technical assistance provider and partner contributions in ways that reinforce shared identity and collective impact

• Manage external contractors by supporting design, production, and distribution to ensure consistent, high-quality execution

• Define and track engagement metrics, using performance data to refine strategy, expand reach, and increase uptake

• Develop and sustain partnerships with other capacity-building providers to foster relationships and collaboration, share relevant content, and strengthen collective impact on the sector
  

Desired Qualifications and EXPERIENCE

While the strongest candidate will bring many of the leadership experiences and qualifications outlined below, candidates are encouraged to apply even if their experience does not align perfectly with every qualification listed below.

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit management, philanthropy, capacity building, or network-based initiatives within conservation organizations

• Demonstrated success building and stewarding multi-stakeholder networks, advisory cohorts, or distributed technical assistance provider models

• Strong operational leadership experience, including designing or improving intake systems, service delivery pipelines, and internal workflows in evolving environments

• Experience working within grant-funded initiatives or intermediary organizations that operate between funders and the field

• Demonstrated ability to assess emerging sector needs and translate insights into practical programming, partnerships, or strategic adjustments

• Experience navigating organizational complexity or moments of strain, including financial uncertainty, leadership transition, crisis response, or rapid growth

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex strategic or operational ideas into clear guidance

• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and comfort facilitating sensitive conversations among diverse stakeholders, including nonprofit leaders, technical experts, and funders

• Comfort operating in a remote, distributed environment with high levels of autonomy and ambiguity

• Deep understanding and respect for the realities facing conservation nonprofits and Tribes

TRAVEL 

Travel expectations are minimal. Limited travel may be required to attend and/or present on behalf of the Conservation Capacity Project at up to three convenings, philanthropic conferences, or partner meetings over the course of this time-bound position.

LOCATION 

U.S.-based remote   

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $120,000 – $150,000 annually.

In addition, the Conservation Capacity Project’s fiscal sponsor offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families)

• 401k retirement plan with a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions

• Employer funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) equal to the in-network deductible, for medical deductible expenses

• 200 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually

• 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year

• 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

• Pre-tax transportation benefits

STructure and Term of the role

This is a full-time, grant-funded position with funding currently secured through June 30, 2027. The role is designed to support a critical growth phase of the Conservation Capacity Project and is time-bound based on current grant commitments.

Continuation beyond June 2027 is dependent upon future funding and organizational needs and is not guaranteed.

Candidates should be comfortable stepping into a defined-term leadership role that offers significant impact during an important period of organizational development.

Join the Candidate Pool

Bonsai Leadership Group has been exclusively retained for this search. For consideration, join the candidate pool by submitting your resume outlining your qualifications and a meaningful cover letter sharing your interest here.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by March 13. All candidates will receive a status update within 3 weeks of applying for a position.

If you need an accommodation to submit your materials for consideration, please contact us at careers@bonsaileadershipgroup.com.  This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of your interest in this position.  

All nominations, inquiries, and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.  

Hiring Statement

The Conservation Capacity Project is a project of Windward Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Windward Fund is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Windward Fund's work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

E-Verify

Windward Fund participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees' Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.