Overview CONSERVATION FINANCE DIRECTOR Save the Redwoods League San Francisco, CA - Hybrid

Save the Redwoods League seeks a strategic, driven, and collaborative Conservation Finance Director to design and implement financing strategies for League landscape-scale conservation initiatives. This pivotal role advances the League’s Landscape-Scale Business Plan to ensure large, complex redwood forest conservation efforts are long-term, financially sound investments for the League and its partners. The organization aims to accelerate progress toward its Centennial Vision by advancing the permanent protection and restoration of 100,000 acres of commercial timberland, creating healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and lasting benefits for generations to come.

This individual will serve as the lead financing expert for landscape-scale transactions—working closely with internal teams and external partners to evaluate, design and build a capital stack, model future costs and revenues, and partner with land protection project managers to close high-priority deals. While the land protection team leads deal origination, design and real estate functions, the Conservation Finance Director will position deals externally to structure and secure funding for the capital stack and will be primarily responsible for the financial and resource modeling of the projects. In addition to being the League’s expert in conservation finance, the Director will provide accountability and cross-functional leadership to ensure conservation ambitions translate into executed projects on the ground.

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of the League’s Landscape-Scale Business Plan.

Collaboratively design and build cross-team work processes for originating, financing, acquiring, and managing landscape-scale commercial forest transactions; ensure timely advancement of high-impact transactions across departments.

With Legal teams and outside counsel, lead the development of special purpose vehicles or other corporate entities necessary for long-term risk management of held lands.

Act as the internal project lead for landscape-scale conservation financing initiatives, accountable for execution and progress across program, finance, legal, and operational teams.

Coordinate with the Executive Team and outside partners to ensure successful implementation of the landscape-scale strategy.

Capital Stack Development and Fundraising Coordination

Design and implement funding strategies for both acquisition and long-term stewardship.

Work with:

The Development team to recruit philanthropic elements of the capital stack;

The Finance, Legal, and Conservation Programs teams to design blended finance funding models that include grants, impact capital, commercial equity, loans, and carbon finance and timber revenue when applicable;

The Public funding team and external funders and agency partners to secure public and private investment.

Transaction and Deal Support and Expert Advising

Collaborate with the Director of Land Protection in structuring large-scale transactions, including complex deals with timber companies that may include timber supply contracts, public access, and other elements.

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to build business planning and financial modeling tools that support landscape-scale acquisitions and long-term stewardship, including ecological forest management and carbon projects.

Position the League for success in future landscape-scale opportunities.

Engage key partners such as timber companies, financing experts, modeling experts, carbon project implementation partners, and recreation/public access partners.

Identify, assess, and implement landscape-scale acquisition opportunities aligned with strategic priorities.

Property and Stewardship Assessment

Coordinate with the Land Protection team in assessing acquisition targets, including fundability and potential for creative capital stack structures.

Appraise land and timber value at scale, consistent with Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and external funder requirements.

Assess operability and cash flow potential to support conservation management.

Support post-acquisition stewardship planning in partnership with the stewardship team, including forest management planning, silvicultural assessments, and financial modeling for sustainable land management:

Forecast timber and other revenue under varying market conditions while adhering to League-approved silvicultural practices.

Explore new revenue opportunities, including carbon and ecosystem services.

Cross-Functional and External Collaboration

Work with stewardship staff, contractors, and consultants to integrate financial, ecological, and operational considerations into each project.

Build and maintain strategic partnerships with funders, investors, public agencies, and landowners.

Represent the League in coalitions, working groups, and industry forums related to conservation finance and landscape-scale restoration.

Qualifications

Strong commitment to the mission of Save the Redwoods League.

5–10+ years of experience in conservation finance, large-scale land transactions, natural resource impact investment, public-private partnerships, or related fields.

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in finance, conservation, public policy, or related field preferred.

Demonstrated success leading complex conservation or natural resource deals (ideally timberland) involving multiple funding sources.

Deep understanding and proven track record of land and forest conservation, conservation forest practices implementation, stewardship planning, and the full range of conservation finance mechanisms.

Experience sourcing financing, financial modeling/investment underwriting, understanding of capital markets, cultivating investor/lender relationships, and investment negotiation.

Familiarity with public funding programs (e.g., GGRF, Forest Legacy, CARB, water quality programs, rural community benefit programs) and nonprofit capital campaigns.

Proven ability to work across teams and disciplines to drive multi-faceted projects to completion.

Exceptional communication, negotiation, and project management skills.

Outstanding written and oral presentation skills, with the ability to organize and synthesize complex scientific and technical information succinctly.

Demonstrated aptitude for initiating and building relationships with prospective corporate and foundation donors.

Self-starter, able to work independently as well as in a team, with a track record of collaborating successfully with program staff in a complex environment.

Highly organized with excellent project management skills, including the ability to establish and monitor priorities, maintain flexibility, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced setting.

Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to communicate with people across cultures; second language skills are desirable.

Working Conditions

Periodic travel within California.

Some weekend and evening responsibilities.

Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.

Regularly sits or stands at a desk or computer workstation.

Frequently moves about the office to collaborate with colleagues.

Periodically required to hike through forest land while working off-site, including walking on uneven ground and accessing remote locations.

Work Schedule This role is hybrid with a minimum of 2 days in the office. Our weekly all-staff in-office day is Tuesday (when everyone living in the SF Bay Area is required to come in). Additional days are based on departmental norms and business needs.

Compensation and Benefits As a full-time salaried employee, you will be eligible for full benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, three weeks of vacation annually plus holidays, and a 401k retirement plan with up to an 8% company match. Salary range: $143,000–$160,000 per year.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Save the Redwoods League is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals. The League welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets. We encourage applicants who can make a strong case for their fit, even if they do not meet every criterion.

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