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The Nature Conservancy

Engaged Employer

No Place is Perfect; This is Closer than Many - Anonymous employee The Nature Conservancy Employee Review

4.0
Aug 11, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

TNC's mission is first class and they believe in it and drive towards it. It feels good to wake up every day and work in a place where people really care about the mission. The people are smart and friendly most of the time. The culture at HQ values congeniality. [work at HQ, mileage may vary in sattelite offices] Unlike a lot of private sector companies, the HR department is empowered to act and cares about getting it right and gives tools to people to help them do it right. Diversity is valued. Work-life balance is respected. For those who are willing to seize all the opportunities available, you can do some really great things that make a difference for the planet. Pay is reasonable for an org this size and in this sector.

Cons

Like most orgs in this sector, diversity is valued but there's a long way to go in achieving actual diversity in workforce makeup. An organization this large, with this much history does not change quickly -- those looking to make a "big splash" and "make their mark" will get frustrated at the slow pace of change, but the opportunities to grow and learn are there if you are willing to be proactive in managing your career path. As is often true in big organizations, the higher up you get, the opportunities to advance are less obvious and fewer. Senior leadership tends to shift around a lot -- sometimes it's hard to tell if what they are adapting to is the realities of getting the mission done or the egos in the mix, best to keep your eye on both.

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The Nature Conservancy Response
7y
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. It is great to hear that you wake up everyday, enjoying the work you do! We value professional development as an organization, as this helps TNC adapt to change and meet challenges ahead. Our Learning and Development Team is working to roll out a new site that will highlight opportunities and identify needs. Thank you for your feedback!

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Pros

Excellent benefits and access to programs, resources, and employee support that are often more comprehensive than what is available at smaller nonprofits.

Cons

There is a culture of sweeping problems under the rug to manage perceptions and avoid accountability. Many employees recognize that raising concerns about structural issues is unlikely to lead to meaningful change, which discourages people from speaking up. Managers and directors have incentives to protect their own interests rather than escalate serious problems, particularly when those issues reflect on their own leadership. In turn, senior leaders may be reluctant to address those management failures because they were responsible for hiring or promoting those managers in the first place. This creates a cycle where accountability is consistently avoided, allowing organizational dysfunction to persist. Recent restructuring decisions are a good example of these broader issues. During the North American marketing reorganization, some less qualified directors and managers were placed directly into their roles, while others were required to interview for essentially equivalent positions. Criteria such as geographic constraints were applied inconsistently across comparable roles, leaving employees with the impression that the process was neither transparent nor equitable. The resulting uncertainty and perceived unfairness have contributed to low morale, resentment, and reduced trust in leadership. Because they specialize in communications, marketing team members are especially skilled at framing or explaining away problems in ways that minimize their visibility to senior leadership, including the CMO. As a result, underlying issues often remain unaddressed until they become much larger problems.

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