Regional Director, Southeast
JOB TITLE: Regional Director, Southeast
POSITION CLASSIFICATION: Senior Director
SALARY BAND: B
REPORTS TO: Vice President of Regions
LOCATION: Flexible in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina
Tennessee
About American Rivers
American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make
every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-
based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 4.4 million miles
of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water,
extraordinary wildlife, and the strength of our communities. For more than 50
years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common
belief: Life Depends on Rivers.
The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities –
including within our organization. The life experiences, knowledge,
innovation, and talent that different people bring to our work provides
perspectives, experiences, and competencies which are critical to
our effectiveness in protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged rivers, and
conserving clean water for people and nature.
JOB SUMMARY
The Southeast Regional Director (classified as a Senior Director level position
within American Rivers) will join a dynamic team at American Rivers working
across the country and will lead the regional team and fundraising efforts to
restore and protect rivers of the Southeast. This body of work includes
advocacy for clean water and healthy rivers and implementation of on the
ground restoration projects (e.g., floodplain restoration and dam removal).
The Regional Director’s primary responsibilities are to develop and support an
experienced, geographically distributed team; secure philanthropic support;
translate American Rivers’ organizational priorities into a focused, achievable
regional strategy; and foster a movement for rivers in the Southeast.
This role requires an experienced people-leader and fundraiser who can
strengthen the leadership already present on the team, establish and
effectively convey clear vision and priorities, and build the relationships and
resources needed to expand regional impact. The Regional Director must
also be a proven conservation professional capable of advancing advocacy
and project work in the Region. The position will report to the Vice President
of Regions and will work closely with regional staff, national program leaders,
and the Development team to align conservation goals, staff capacity, and
funding. In addition to responsibilities associated with leading the Southeast
region, the Regional Director will be an active member of the national
Conservation team working with conservation strategy program directors to
implement national strategies associated with American Rivers’ strategic plan
goals.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Team Leadership and Development:
- Lead, supervise, and develop a high-performing, geographically-
distributed regional team that includes experienced staff and people
managers.
• Strengthen managers’ ability to lead their teams, make decisions,
address challenges, and deliver results.
• Establish and apply clear expectations, responsibilities, and decision-
making practices.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable team culture
grounded in trust and American Rivers’ organizational values.
• Align workloads, staff development, and team capacity with regional
and national priorities and available resources.
2. Fundraising and Donor Engagement:
• Serve as the lead fundraiser for the Southeast region, accountable for
agreed-upon annual and multiyear revenue goals.
• Develop and execute a regional fundraising strategy in partnership with
the Development team.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and institutional
donors, while building a pipeline of prospective supporters.
• Translate regional conservation priorities into compelling funding
opportunities and engage staff expertise in donor conversations and
proposals.
• Cultivate and support the regional River Council as a community of
donors and supporters advancing American Rivers’ mission.
• Coordinate with Development to advance donor relationships,
proposals, stewardship, and fundraising progress.
3. Regional vision, strategy, and financial management:
• Provide a vision for river conservation in the Southeast that will amplify
and scale American River’s conservation impact.
• Lead the development and implementation of a cohesive Southeast
regional strategy aligned with American Rivers’ Strategic Plan.
• Translate regional priorities into workplans with clear outcomes,
responsibilities, timelines, and resource requirements.
• Guide regional project and advocacy priorities in collaboration with
regional staff, local partners, and national program leaders.
• Support experienced staff in leading their areas of work while ensuring
coordination, accountability, and alignment across the regional
portfolio.
• Develop and actively manage regional budgets in coordination with
appropriate organizational partners; monitor revenue and expenses
and adjust plans as needed.
• Evaluate new opportunities against mission impact, funding prospects,
staff capacity, and existing commitments.
4. Movement-Building and Partnerships
• Build and sustain relationships at the local, state, regional, and federal
level with conservation agencies and organizations, community leaders,
funders, regulators, businesses, and elected decision-makers.
• Serve as a primary ambassador for American Rivers in the Southeast
Region, strengthening its reputation and advancing shared river
conservation goals.
• Guide American River’s effort to build a river movement and a durable
majority for rivers in the Southeast.
• Ensure effective coordination among the Southeast team, national
programs, other regions, and Development, Communications, Finance,
and administrative colleagues.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated success supervising and developing experienced staff,
including people managers, with examples of strengthening team
performance and leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing
philanthropic support (preferably 6+ figures) with experience with
foundations, government, and major donors.
• Experience translating organizational strategy into achievable priorities,
workplans, budgets, and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to lead through collaboration and clear accountability in a
geographically distributed organization with shared responsibilities
across teams.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, including the
ability to connect program work to donor interests and organizational
priorities.
• Commitment to American Rivers core values
• Requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience
The successful candidate must be a self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced
environment with competing priorities and deadlines. They will have the
ability to make decisions based on evidence and stakeholder feedback; listen,
lead, and mentor a team; exercise discretion; exhibit political astuteness and
good judgment. They should be able to forge connections with others to
build trust and inspire enthusiasm in their endeavors. They must also have a
strong commitment to working well with and supporting the voices of
community leaders and have a desire to work with people across all political
spectrums. Knowledge of multi-benefit river management, floodplains, urban
rivers, pollution prevention, river restoration, and/or dam removal issues are
strongly recommended.
Candidates who are unsure if they meet all minimum qualifications or who
have transferrable skills and experience beyond the conservation sector are
encouraged to apply.
LOCATION
Remote location flexible in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee. Regular travel within and outside the region expected.
COMPENSATION
American Rivers offers marketable compensation that reflects the
qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. The salary range for
this position is $126,000 - $154,000 annually depending upon qualifications
and experience. We provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our
full-time, regular employees, including:
• Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term
disability, and life insurance.
• Financial Security: After one year of service, American Rivers begins
contributing a 3% employer contribution. There is no vesting schedule
for employer contributions as employees are 100% vested upon
participation.
• Time Off: Four weeks of paid leave, eleven paid holidays, three floating
holidays, and sick leave.
At American Rivers, we are committed to supporting our employee’s well-
being, professional growth, and financial security, ensuring they can
thrive both at work and in life.
COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY
- At American Rivers, our core values drive everything we do – we Lead
with Collaboration and Trust, Infuse Equity and Justice, Deliver Results,
and Ensure Staff and Volunteers Thrive. We are committed to fostering
a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered
to make a difference.
• Our culture prioritizes work-life thriving through Focus Fridays (no
internal meetings), professional development opportunities, a home
office stipend and our comprehensive leave policies, including
sabbatical leave (every seven years) and paid parental leave (six weeks
w/ one year of service).
• We also ensure leadership stays connected to staff needs through an
internal advisory group, fostering open communication and continuous
improvement.
• At American Rivers, our people are our strength, and we are dedicated
to building a thriving, inclusive workplace where everyone can grow
and contribute to our mission.
American Rivers is committed to providing reasonable accommodations
to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this
document in an alternate format or to request reasonable
accommodation, please contact the Human Resources department at
202-243-7040 or . Please note that one
week’s advance notice is preferred.
Applicant must be legally allowed to work as an employee in the United
States. American Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Candidates of all personal and professional backgrounds are encouraged