Overview
The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and invigorate civic life.
We are an independent nonprofit organization – the sole beneficiary of seven individual trusts established between 1948 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew.
Our work lays the foundation for effective policy solutions by informing and engaging citizens, linking diverse interests to pursue common cause and insisting on tangible results. Our projects encourage efficient, responsive governments – at the local, state, national and international levels – serving the best interests of the people. We partner with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations and concerned citizens who share our interest in fact-based solutions and goal-driven investments to improve society.
With offices in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Australia, Brussels and London, and with additional staff in other regions of the United States and around the globe, Pew provides an exciting learning environment and the opportunity to work with highly talented individuals. We are a dynamic, rapidly evolving organization that values creativity and innovative thinking and fosters strong teamwork with mutual respect.
The Environmental Portfolio at the Pew Charitable Trusts
For more than twenty-five years, Pew has been a major force in educating the public and policy makers about the causes, consequences, and solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our environment work spans all seven continents with nearly 250 professionals working full-time at the local, national, and international levels to reduce the scope and severity of global environmental problems, such as the erosion of large wilderness ecosystems that contain a great part of the world’s remaining biodiversity, and the destruction of the marine environment.
Pew has worked in the United States and Canada since 1990 to protect vast stretches of unspoiled wilderness and more recently expanded our land conservation efforts to Australia’s Outback and Chilean Patagonia. Preserving these places offers an opportunity to conserve wildlife habitat, shorelines and pristine landscapes for future generations. Our work relies on the sciences of conservation, biology, and economy to advocate for sound solutions to the loss of biodiversity.
In the sea, reforms to how our oceans are managed are essential to address overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat. Pew began its oceans program in the United States, focusing on ending overfishing and protecting fragile marine habitat. Since 2005, Pew’s ocean conservation program has expanded around the world and has played a significant role in reforming marine fisheries management in the European Union and on the high seas. Our work is grounded in the best available science and our goal is to reverse the decline of ocean life ranging from sharks and tunas to penguins and whales, and the habitat on which they depend.
Conserving Marine Life in the United States
Pew's Conserving Marine Life in the United States program focuses on protecting essential habitats found in coastal waters like oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, and salt marsh that provide nursery areas, food and refuge for a diversity of marine wildlife. This work includes working with communities and partners to advancing management measures at the state and federal levels that conserve and restore economically and ecologically valuable coastal habitats. Additionally, the program promotes an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management that takes into account the interdependent nature of ocean life. This work includes advancing measures that protect forage fish that feed dependent marine life, protect ocean habitat such as deep-sea corals, reduce the incidental capture and killing of non-target species (known as bycatch), and integrate the use of comprehensive ecosystem plans into fisheries conservation and management.
Position Overview
The director, U.S. Oceans will oversee a multifaceted portfolio with approximately 30 staff working on nearshore and coastal habitat conservation and restoration as well as ecosystem-based fisheries management projects in regions and states covering the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts of the continental U.S. as well as the Caribbean territories. This position will manage approximately six to seven staff: including project directors, an officer, and an administrative assistant. The person in this position will report to the senior director, environment Americas. The ideal candidate will have significant experience managing professional staff and designing and implementing successful environmental campaigns with a coastal habitat and fisheries management focus. The position has a set time frame that could be extended based on the success of the program, funding sources, and board decisions on continued support.
Responsibilities
- Supervise project directors who are leading major U.S. Oceans initiatives in the environment-Americas portfolio. Currently, initiatives are aimed at: working with communities to conserve and restore coastal habitats, including seagrass, oyster reefs, and salt marsh, and shifting U.S. fisheries management to an ecosystem-based approach.
- In collaboration with project directors and senior staff, and with guidance from the senior director, develop all board-related documents for U.S. oceans initiatives, including annual program plans, heads-up memos on new or existing projects requesting funding, and project proposals.
- Work with project directors and their staff to design and implement successful strategies and campaigns that produce measurable and meaningful results for project and portfolio objectives.
- Oversee contracts and grants with partners and consultants to ensure deliverables are satisfied and work is well-conducted.
- Serve as a representative and spokesperson to internal and external audiences about the goals, strategy and progress of the portfolio. These audiences include program and operational staff within the larger Pew institution, current and potential donors, members of the media, other conservation organizations, representatives of resource management agencies, international organizations, and policymakers and their staff.
- Review project budgets, expense reports per Pew’s expenditure authority policy, funding proposals and reports, job descriptions, staff promotion and award nominations, news releases, media statements, publications and other work products generated by staff. Review project contracts prior to approval by the senior director.
- Partner with the senior director and vice president, environment Americas on strategic planning efforts for the portfolio, in collaboration with Program’s planning and strategy unit and executive vice president.
- Work with project directors to build and maintain a culture of excellence and accountability, establish positive and productive teamwork, effectively manage and coach individual staff, provide appropriate opportunities for professional development and acculturate them to Pew.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; advance degree in a relevant field, such as natural resources conservation and management, public policy or law preferred.
- At least 12 years of professional experience in related field, with responsibility for strategic planning, idea development, project management, and a sophisticated understanding of the formulation of policy is required.
- A minimum of five years of previous direct supervisory experience required including experience managing performance management process for direct reports and providing career development advice and counsel.
- Prior to commencing employment with Pew, candidates for this position who were registered to lobby in any jurisdiction must certify termination of previous registration(s) and provide copies of termination notices with said jurisdiction(s) to Pew.
- A strong results orientation, with a track record of solving problems creatively.
- Media-savvy and politically astute. Able to use media exposure to communicate conservation needs and impact policy deliberations.
- Excellent analytic and problem solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills; an excellent listener who has the ability to work productively and diplomatically with a wide array of different people and institutions that frequently disagree with and are in competition with one another.
- Persuasive, highly articulate, and good at “selling” ideas and gaining support and commitment for initiatives from individuals and organizations capable of providing financial support for Pew projects.
- Excellent time and project management skills. Highly flexible, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities, adjust to changing circumstances, remain attentive to details and identify resources for projects.
- The ability to make decisions after contemplating various courses of action, justify recommendations, and to be responsive, clear and firm with colleagues and partners.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills, including an ease in briefly summarizing the essence of issues and means to address them. Strong oral, presentation, facilitation, and written communication skills such that complex ideas, thoughts and concepts are clearly articulated for a general audience. Clear, effective writing style.
- Strong operational management acumen. Ability to analyze budgetary information, assess organizational needs and problem solve within a large institution.
- Ability to fit into the creative, fast-paced, and highly professional corporate culture of Pew, which emphasizes excellence, collegiality, and teamwork.
Travel
The individual in this position will travel throughout the United States approximately 20% in order to visit projects, attend ocean policy and other meetings, and manage partnerships.
Total Rewards
We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.
The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
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