Associate Director of Conservation Partnerships

POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Conservation Partnerships plays a central role in the success of the
Aquarium’s Conservation department, with the responsibility of building and managing a network of
collaborative relationships across Long Island Sound (and beyond) in support of our work. In this role,
the Associate Director will serve as a key link between the work of the department and that of the
region, ensuring alignment between departmental, institutional, and broader collaborative goals. The
Associate Director will work closely with the VP of Conservation and Director of Research to set
program objectives to meet institutional goals as articulated in the Conservation Action Plan and in
support more broadly of the Aquarium’s strategic plan, An Aquarium Without Walls. The ideal candidate
will have exceptional “people skills,” be adept at fostering strong relationships with partners, be able to
navigate complicated relationships and situations, and be a skilled communicator. Importantly, the
Associate Director must also have a strong background in ecology and conservation and be able to
represent the details of the project portfolio to various audiences.

Reports To: Vice President of Conservation

Salary Range for this role: $80,000 - $84,000

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plays a critical role in the management and cultivation of external partners in close coordination
  with the VP of Conservation
• Represents the Aquarium at external meetings and events such as committees, coalitions, and
  work groups, research collaborations, and conferences at the direction of the VP
• Supervises the department’s grants team and supports them in relationships with sub-awardees
  and other grant partners to ensure positive, productive, and timely adherence to grant-funded
  project goals and deliverables
• Support the research team in management of relationships within specific projects, including
  participating in standing project team meetings
• Work closely with the Director of Research and VP on new project development, ensuring
  alignment between internal goals, maintenance of strong partner relationships
• Contribute to writing of reports and publications
• Prepare and deliver public presentations at community events and scientific conferences
• Mentor and supervise the department grants team (2 positions), including 1 direct report
• Support Conservation staff on overall program implementation as needed, including participating
  in field and lab research when needed

QUALIFICATIONS

5+ years of relevant experience required
Bachelor’s degree in ecology or related field required; Advanced degree strongly preferred
Previous field research experience required
Project and people management experience required
Prior experience working at a non-profit/with grant-funded projects preferred
Excellent written and oral communication skills required
Excellent organization skills required
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook) required

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. This posting is scheduled to remain open until June 5, 2026.