Nevada Conservation Operations Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), the nation's leading wild horse conservation organization, is seeking a Nevada Conservation Operations Manager to manage its field operations within the State of Nevada. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a dynamic team working in Nevada on groundbreaking land conservation and cutting-edge wildlife management programs.

The Nevada Conservation Operations Manager will be responsible for overseeing AWHC’s wild horse protection and habitat conservation programs and will manage and expand AWHC’s relationships with the scientific community, government agencies and public officials, and other allied organizations.

The Nevada Conservation Operations Manager must live in Nevada, with a preference for the northwest Nevada area. This exempt position reports to the Nevada State Director.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Fertility Control Initiatives

AWHC promotes and implements programs that utilize the porcine zona pellucida (PZP) immunocontraceptive vaccine to humanely manage wild horses in the wild and keep populations in balance with their environment. AWHC’s Virginia Range fertility control program in the greater Reno area is now the world’s largest wild horse immunocontraception program in the world. AWHC partners with the University of Pretoria for scientific data analysis of the program to ensure efficacy and safety. The Nevada Conservation Operations Manager will take the helm of AWHC’s entire fertility control efforts in Nevada including:

• Overseeing the Virginia Range fertility control program and managing the field team in Nevada.
• Designing and implementing fertility control programs in other areas within Nevada, mirroring the Virginia Range program.
• Recruiting, developing and managing additional team members in newly expanded regions to execute fertility control programs and other science-based projects.
• Spearheading AWHC’s academic partnership with the University of Pretoria to ensure data transmission and incorporation of analytic findings into darting and documentation protocols.

Habitat Conservation Programs

AWHC is leading efforts to conserve and restore habitat for wild horses and other wildlife species in Nevada. The Nevada Conservation Operations Manager will spearhead these efforts by:

• Leading the American Wild Horse Conservancy LLC, AWHC’s land trust, and its pilot land acquisition project in Nevada.
• Recruiting, developing, managing, and training field specialists to execute habitat conservation programs.
• Managing AWHC’s Reno-based field specialists work with local, county, and state officials and developers to mitigate the impacts of development on wild horses and other wildlife.
• Identifying, designing, implementing, and maintaining habitat conservation programs throughout the state of Nevada.
• Evaluating and analyzing the effectiveness of various conservation programs on a regular basis, and implementing recommendations on improvements and adjustments necessary to ensure success.

Community and Stakeholder Relations

The key to successful wildlife management is strong community partnerships. AWHC’s programs enjoy broad support from key stakeholders, including business and political leaders and community organizations. The Nevada Conservation Operations Manager will be responsible for managing and expanding these partnerships by:

• Maintaining AWHC’s key relationships and cultivating new relationships with the business community, scientific community, public officials, and government agencies to promote cooperative relationships and support for AWHC’s work.
• Collaborate with AWHC Government Relations Director, state lobbyist, and communications department to support legislative and advocacy initiatives in Nevada.

Leadership and Management

The Nevada Conservation Operations Manager will be responsible for managing and expanding the Nevada field team.

• Hire, manage, expand, train, evaluate and reward the Nevada field team.
• Represent AWHC at scientific meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Partner with the Nevada State Director as a leader for Nevada.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have:

• Knowledge of and appreciation for horses and public lands, and a love for the outdoors.
• Scientific literacy with an interest in wildlife and environmental protection.
• Degree in animal science or policy, animal behavior, wildlife biology, conservation biology, ecology, environmental science, or natural resources/ range management desirable.
• Project management experience with staff and volunteer management background.
• Strong organizational and relationship management skills.
• Experience with off-road 4-wheel driving conditions.
• Ability to work in extreme conditions with temperatures ranging from 25 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and ability to traverse rugged and uneven terrain.
• Commitment to a culture of integrity and compassion.
• Ability to travel as needed.

To apply email [email protected] with the subject line, Nevada Conservation Operations Manager