BOSTON, Mass. – As The Trustees launches an ambitious strategic plan that will return the organization to its roots accelerating the pace of land conservation and deploying innovative climate solutions, The Trustees is seeking the first-ever Chief Conservation and Climate Officer (CCCO) in the organization’s history.
This role will champion The Trustees’ mission to protect and care for the natural world including protecting fragile barrier beaches, critical salt marshes, large-scale landscapes, and urban green spaces. The new CCCO will lead the organization’s overall conservation strategy and build climate resiliency across the Commonwealth. The CCCO will also advocate for conservation solutions and actions on a broader scale across New England and help support the organizations commitment to becoming net zero by 2050.
“Now more than ever, the work of land conservation and nature-based climate solutions must be front and center for The Trustees and other conservation and environmental protection organizations across the country,” said Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees. “There is good and important work ahead of us, and we must be prepared to step into any gap on environmental protection and climate action left by the new federal administration.”
Along with developing conservation strategies, the CCCO will develop a land conservation prioritization plan, accelerating the pace of land conservation across the state, especially in Western Massachusetts. They will also oversee climate mitigation and decarbonization strategy and work, leveraging key partnerships and convening and leading coalitions around pressing climate issues. The CCCO will develop and oversee a plan for The Trustees to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
Theoharides said the upcoming launch of a new five-year strategic plan for The Trustees will propel the work of the CCCO, with its emphasis on accelerating land conservation, elevating stewardship, bolstering inclusive access, and building climate resilience.
The CCCO will report directly to The Trustees’ President and CEO, Katie Theoharides, and will oversee a team of experts, including Vice Presidents of Land Conservation and Natural Resources, who work to ensure the natural resources and land under The Trustees’ stewardship is protected now and for future generations.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges with climate change and habitat loss. This is both a critical and exciting time for this work, as we have the opportunity to make significant strides in conservation and climate resilience and scale our impact beyond our properties” Theoharides said. “This new executive position at The Trustees will play an integral role in implementing our new strategic plan to ensure we continue to protect Massachusetts’ special places for everyone, now and forever.”
More information on the new position, including responsibilities, qualifications, and salary and benefits information can be found at https://apply.workable.com/thetrustees/j/EF34F31DD5/
More About The Trustees
Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 130 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic, ecological and cultural value, The Trustees is one of the oldest preservation and conservation organizations, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our more than 120 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming over 2 million guests annually.