Job Title: Director, Conservation Operations
Reports To: VP, Conservation
Purpose: To oversee the development, implementation, evaluation and refinement of the full granting cycle as per the BC Conservation Fund’s strategic vision to achieve Indigenous-led and other conservation objectives
Overview:
The BC Parks Foundation is the official charitable partner and conservation financing mechanism to one of the largest systems of parks in the world, with over 1,040 parks and more than 26 million visits per year. Our motivated team has produced outstanding results, including raising over $400 million in the last 4 years, protecting over 55 beautiful places, and launching an internationally recognized health initiative. And we’ve only just begun. Our mission is to create the greatest system of parks and indigenous protected areas in the world.
We Are:
A charitable, purpose-driven organization passionate about enjoying and protecting nature in British Columbia
People who value spark, respect with caring, reciprocity, and greatness
A warm, positive, hard-working team who operate in a spirit of gratitude and celebration
Connected to a wide variety of community groups, First Nations, businesses, governments and other partners that we work with regularly
You Are:
A natural collaborator, able to create buy-in through engagement and influence
Skilled in program/project management and cross-sector collaboration
An excellent communicator with savvy relationship management, and problem-solving skills
Role Summary:
The Director, Conservation Operations plays a key leadership role in delivering and evolving the B.C. Parks Foundation’s $300 million BC Conservation Fund and other sources of funding that finance conservation projects. Reporting to the VP, Conservation, this position is responsible for operationalizing the fund’s strategic vision through effective grant-making systems, policy development, and collaborative engagement with grant applicants and grantees and partners. The Director oversees the full grant life cycle, ensures smooth delivery of current funding streams, contributes to the design of new ones, and fosters a learning-based, responsive approach to fund management.
Key Responsibilities:
Fund Operations & Implementation
Lead day-to-day operations of Stream One of the BCCF, currently supporting ~34 grant recipients, including expression of interest and application review, grant agreements, monitoring, and reporting processes.
Collaborate with the VP to refine systems and improve efficiency and clarity for grantees and internal teams.
Oversee full grant cycles, keeping track of milestones and deliverables while ensuring compliance with fund policies and agreements.
Support the VP, Conservation in leading, developing and contributing to meeting agendas, briefing notes, granting decision reports and recommendations, and other materials for the BC Conservation Fund Oversight Committee, committee chair and /or BCPF board, as required.
Support the VP in preparing and tracking quarterly and annual planning, and budgeting and administering budget expenditures.
Oversee the operations of other funds
Policy & Process Development
Monitor and respond to emerging policy issues related to the design and delivery of the Conservation Fund and/or other funds, equity requirements, and funding practices.
In close collaboration with the Director, Indigenous Initiatives, monitor and respond to emerging policy issues related to Indigenous governance, Indigenous-led conservation, and alignment of fund investments with government-to-government planning and decision-making.
Draft and update fund policies, guidelines, process and procedures in collaboration with the VP, broader conservation team, and legal advisors as needed.
Ensure consistency, transparency, and accessibility in how funding decisions are made and communicated.
Design Support for New Funding Streams
Develop the structures and processes necessary to support future funding streams, particularly BCCF’s Streams Two (Innovation) and Three (Education and Working Together), and support the co-creation and launch of such funding streams, in collaboration with the BCCF oversight committee and engage with other BCPF teams, conservation partners, and sector experts as required
Develop tools and templates to streamline and standardize processes across all streams while allowing for flexibility where needed.
Grant Recipient Support & Capacity Building
Oversee work with grant recipients to ensure understanding of requirements and support successful project implementation.
Co-develop and curate resources, learning sessions, and communities of practice that promote grantee success and knowledge exchange.
External Engagement
Support the VP, Conservation, Director, Indigenous Initiatives and other team members in the teams’ collective responsibilities for working effectively with and engaging First Nations, provincial and federal governments, environmental non-profits, industry, researchers and other key partners and fostering a culture and system of collaboration.
Data, Reporting & Impact
Lead tracking and synthesis of grant performance data, helping to assess impact and inform continuous improvement.
Contribute to internal and external reporting on fund performance, lessons learned, and emerging trends, including reporting requirements under the Provincial Government Grant for the BCCF and other funds
Oversee the tracking of grant funds and the allocation of match funds
Team & Relationship Building
Supervise Manager, Conservation Projects, Senior Grant Liaison and other members of the Conservation Fund team as well as contractors supporting fund administration and recipient liaison and engagement.
Serve as a key liaison between internal teams, recipients, and external partners to ensure aligned and responsive service delivery.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies or related field
7+ years of experience in conservation, public funding/granting, nonprofit management. Experience with Indigenous-led initiatives a plus
Strong understanding of grant-making, granting agreements, the full grant cycle, policy analysis, and operational systems
Familiarity with systems integral to fund delivery, including grant management, CRM and project management software
Familiarity with conservation policy, Indigenous governance, and trust-based and community-led funding approaches.
Experience with data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement practices.
2-3 years of leadership experience at a senior level
Skills and experience considered an asset:
Master’s degree or certifications in project management, grant management, IPCA planning or related field will be an asset
Experience with Fluxx, Salesforce and Monday.com will be strong assets
An understanding of non-profit governance will be an asset
Fluency in a second language
