SUMMARY

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive and strategic leader of the organization, responsible for advancing its environmental conservation mission through strong leadership, sound financial stewardship, effective advocacy, and organizational development.

The ED partners closely with the Board of Directors to set long-term strategy while overseeing day-to-day operations, staff leadership, fundraising, communications, and external relations. This role requires a leader who can operate at both the visionary and operational levels—translating conservation priorities into measurable outcomes and sustainable growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocate for the Coastal Conservation League’s vision for the future, which prioritizes natural resource conservation, wise land use and infrastructure decisions, clean energy deployment, equitable policy and regulatory choices, and sustainable agriculture.
Develop innovative programs and projects that address pressing issues.
Manage a highly motivated and committed team, creating paths for leadership and career progression through coaching and empowerment.
Demonstrate sound financial planning, oversight and accountability, with the ability to clearly communicate financial status to the Board.
Strengthen existing partnerships within the conservation community while cultivating new partnerships with constituents, community leaders, the private sector, government decision-makers, and NGOs.
Implement effective fundraising strategies, personally engaging with existing and prospective donors to ensure durable and growing financial support for the Coastal Conservation League.
Engage thoughtfully with a wide variety of
community members, including those in historically underrepresented communities, throughout the Coastal Conservation League’s diverse service area.
Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

A Passion for Conservation and Our Region

Unwavering commitment to and passion for conservation and the Coastal Conservation League’s mission, vision, and values, crafting effective programs and solutions to enhance and protect South Carolina.
Knowledge and understanding of South Carolina’s communities, conservation organizations, political and regulatory climate, and citizen groups.
Promote inclusive leadership and equitable conservation outcomes.
Robust knowledge of environmental issues facing the South Carolina coastal region and communities.

Strategic and Visionary Leadership

An ability to build and retain effective, skilled teams and create an inclusive and courageous culture where staff feels recognized and has the opportunity for career progression. Commitment to developing a staff that both reflects and embraces the wide range of constituents served by CCL.
A trusted leader with deeply rooted values and a collaborative, fair-minded nature. Acts with integrity and maintains a shared commitment to excellence and achievement of goals. Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and mission alignment. Encourages autonomy where strengths allow.
Oversee multi-program operations, ensuring integration across advocacy, conservation initiatives, and community engagement efforts.
A strategic and results-oriented approach. Expertise in working with a Board to facilitate and drive strategic priorities, decision-making, and goal-setting.
Experience and success in developing and implementing strategic plans and priorities, identifying opportunities and
anticipating future challenges then proactively directing resources and tactics to address them.
Commitment to transparency and candid communication.
Self-confidence honed by experience and the ability to inspire confidence within a highly capable staff that possesses complementary skillsets.

Advocacy Acumen and Ambassadorship

Experience leading grassroots movements and building effective coalitions
Deft political skills, utilizing diplomacy and pragmatism to influence policymakers and other key decision-makers at the local, state, and regional levels.
Be the public voice of the Coastal Conservation League, helping to authentically communicate the organization’s vision, purpose, and impact to all stakeholders.
Superb written and verbal communication skills; ability to persuasively communicate about South Carolina’s complex history, its relevance to today’s conservation challenges, and the Coastal Conservation League’s importance to meeting those challenges.
Excellent relationship management skills and a track record of fostering strong external partnerships. Capacity to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Development Expertise and Financial Stewardship

A track record of personal success in fundraising, from nurturing and deepening existing donor relationships to attracting new financial supporters, both individual and institutional.
Ability to elicit and understand donor insights and priorities then integrate them into fundraising methods and programmatic priorities.
Proactively identify and develop additional revenue sources in alignment with Coastal Conservation League’s mission, values, and goals.
Partner with Advancement staff to set and achieve annual fundraising goals.
Oversee financial controls, reporting, audits, and risk management practices, including compliance with grant requirements.

Authorities

Has full authority to manage day-to-day operations of the organization, including hiring, supervision, evaluation, and termination of staff, consistent with board-approved policies and budget.
Authorized to execute contracts, grant agreements, and financial instruments on behalf of the organization within board-approved limits and strategic direction.
Serves as the primary organizational spokesperson and representative in policy, advocacy, coalition, and community settings, consistent with board-adopted positions and priorities.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in environmental policy, nonprofit management, law, public administration, or related field preferred. A Masters degree or higher is preferred.
Minimum 10+ years of senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, advocacy, conservation, or mission-driven organization. Experience working within environmental conservation or environmental justice frameworks and familiarity with state-level policy and regulatory processes preferred.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands, and climb stairs. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Travel

Local travel will be required.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Other duties may be required in the job as requested by the Supervisor.

Benefits

The Coastal Conservation League offers a competitive suite of benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability; life insurance, 403(b) retirement and generous paid time off policies.

Equal Opportunity

Cultivating a diverse and inclusive team is an essential component of the Conservation League’s commitment to advancing equity. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Coastal Conservation League is an equal opportunity employer. The Conservation League does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit, and business need.

South Carolina Coastal Conservation League

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