Conservation Director

For more than four decades, Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) has stewarded the seeds of the desert Southwest and Mexico. Founded in 1983 in response to concern of farmers, gardeners, Indigenous community members, and conservationists about the devastating loss of seed diversity, NS/S now conserves more than 1,800 regional seed varieties in a climate-controlled seed bank. Our mission is not just the preservation of seeds for the future, but also their distribution today, prioritizing communities of our desert region who have stewarded seeds from time immemorial.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Conservation Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Classification: Exempt

Salary Range: $70,000 – 85,000/year

SUMMARY

The Conservation Director must be highly skilled with both plants and people, with training in plant genetics, botany, agronomy as well as with experience in capacity building and relationship building. They provide technical leadership, overseeing the conservation of arid-adapted crop diversity through seed preservation and distribution with a focus on supporting Indigenous growers. They provide outreach, education and technical support to Indigenous communities with relationships to the NS/S seed collection. They conduct outreach and education activities, including direct technical support, workshop and material development and they represent NS/S at events and conferences. They participate as a subject matter expert for grants development, proposal development for donations and marketing, and contribute written sections of same. They are crucial in obtaining and growing technical grants, working in partnership with the Executive Director, the Conservation team, contractors, and other professionals. They directly supervise and are responsible for the performance of the Conservation Farmer and the Seed Bank Manager. This job is an onsite, staff and partner facing job, and is ineligible for remote work as a regular and ongoing status.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Strategic Planning and Leadership

· Develop and implement conservation strategies and programs aligned with the organization’s mission

· Lead and manage the conservation team, including the Farm Manager and the Seed Bank Manager, to achieve project and organizational goals

· Work with the leadership team, including the Executive Director, other Directors, and members of the management team

· Provide timely and accurate reporting and workplans to the Executive Director and participate and present at the Board of Directors meetings

Seed Regeneration and Conservation

· Provide oversight and technical assistance for the Conservation Center and partner farmer seed production

· Oversee the collection, documentation, and preservation of seed and crop planning activities of the Conservation Center farm

· Review proper protocols for seed banking, including cleaning, drying, and storage techniques

· Provide direct technical assistance for farmers and community organizations regarding traditional plant nutrition and disease, soil health, seed saving and other elements of small farming and gardening

· Direct in-situ conservation efforts of arid-adapted crops though partnerships with small-scale producers and community farms throughout the Southwest

· Oversee the migration from the existing CURATE seed database to a newly acquired or custom developed system, including managing data governance, ensuring data integrity, and directing all processes related to data transfer and system implementation

Outreach and Education

· Develop educational programs and materials about the importance of seed conservation, including through blogs, social media, videos, and contributions to Seedhead News

· Oversee all outreach and educational activities related to seed saving and community engagement

· Conduct meetings, provide presentations, short courses, field days, tours, on-farm research, and at conferences

· Support development of seed saving and seed storage/banking capacity of Indigenous communities

· Promote NS/S seed access programs, educational programs, and seed bank services

Collaboration and Partnerships, and Policy

· Build and maintain partnerships with local, regional, national, and international seed conservation organizations, research institutions, tribes, and government agencies

· Represent NS/S at conferences, workshops, and community/public events to promote awareness of seed conservation issues

· Collaborate on joint conservation projects and initiatives to enhance the impact of conservation efforts

· Partner and build relationships with tribal agencies and organizations, extension agents, and seed saving organizations, both nationally and internationally, to accomplish shared goals and share best practices in traditional seed saving and distribution

· Monitor and contribute to the development of policies and regulations related to agro-biodiversity conservation, and traditional agriculture

Grants Development and Management, and Research

· Identify funding opportunities and develop grant proposals to support conservation projects

· Track and report on grant-funded projects, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and timelines

· Develop progress and final reports for funders in a complete and timely fashion

· Conduct or oversee research related to seed conservation

Minimum Qualifications

· Master’s degree in agronomy, natural resources, environmental science, conservation, arid lands science, Agriculture, or any conservation or other agriculture-based related field, or a Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of direct experience

· 5 years of experience in a leadership role, including staff management

· 2 years of experience writing and contributing technical information in a grants or report context

· 2 years of experience in project management

· Experience presenting to others

· 4 years of experience and knowledge of seed biology, plant genetics, and conservation techniques

· Advanced use of office software, such as Microsoft office suite, SharePoint, and database software

· Valid Arizona Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications

· PhD in agronomy, natural resources, environmental science, conservation, arid lands science, Agriculture, or any relevant conservation or agriculture-based field

· 2 years of experience in a director or higher role, including staff and program management

· 5 years of experience in grant funded program implementation

· 5 years of experience in plant conservation, seed banking, or related experience

· Prior experience working with Indigenous communities, either familial, educational, or professional

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

· Analytical skills. Able to evaluate results from field tests and experiments to determine potential impacts on soil, forest lands, and the spread of fires.

· Communication skills. Convey information to staff, colleagues, program beneficiaries and partners, donors, members of the public, and board members.

· Critical-thinking skills. Use reasoning to reach conclusions and to determine improvements for farming and other agricultural interests.

· Management skills. Lead the staff, programs, grants development, and events they supervise.

· Physical stamina. May need to walk in open air, outdoor environments, covering distances in challenging terrain, such as steep or tilled areas.

Physical Requirements

This job is considered a MEDIUM work level job, as defined by the Social Security Administration, §404.1567, (c) Medium work. Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary and light work.

Travel and Environmental Requirements

This job is performed onsite at the Native Seeds/SEARCH Conservation Center, primarily in an office environment, with occasional exposure to weather and other outdoor elements. This job requires occasional travel, typically a few times per year, for partner meetings, presentations, and participation in regional events or conferences. Some local and interstate travel may occur, as funds are available and work deliverable demand.

Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person