The Western Slope Conservation Center is currently accepting applications for its Executive Director position.
Position Title: Executive Director
Position Summary: The Executive Director is a full-time, exempt staff position with the Western Slope Conservation Center (WSCC). This position provides a unique opportunity to make lasting positive change on a spectacular and diverse landscape.
The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the mission, vision, and goals of the organization and providing key leadership, supervision, support, and coordination of administrative and programmatic development at all levels of the organization, including staff and contractors. Responsibilities include managing a 3-4 person team, overseeing organizational systems for comprehensive grant acquisition and management, volunteer program management, board development, communications, and marketing.
The Executive Director works under the direct supervision of the Board of Directors and collaborates with WSCC staff, board, and volunteers. The Executive Director’s schedule is flexible (as coordinated with the Board of Directors), varying day-to-day and week-to-week, with a minimum of 40-hour work weeks. Frequent nights and weekends are required due to meeting and event schedules, often two to three nights per week and two or more Sat/Sun commitments per month. The position includes consistent traveling within the region, as well as opportunities for professional development and networking within statewide and national professional conservation networks.
Qualifications
Required
- Exceptional work ethic, personal motivation, and commitment to conserving the lands of western Colorado
- Strong record of working effectively within conservative, rural, and small town political decision-making processes and public forums
- Collaborative, outgoing, personable, and enthusiastic
- Excellent writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills including communicating effectively with stakeholders with differing views, values, and politics in a small, western, rural community
- Excellent organizational and office skills
- Ability to quickly master new software applications and platforms
- Proven success with grant writing, management, and reporting
- Proven success with managing fundraising campaigns including through major donor programs, social media campaigns, and one-on-one appeals
- Ability to work independently, be self-directed, and lead a high-functioning team
- Flexible and creative approach to prioritizing and accomplishing large workloads
Preferred
- Experience implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
- Master of Science or Arts in environmental management, studies, or science, non-profit management, or related fields
- 3-5 years of professional experience in project and human resource management, preferably within the field of watershed stewardship, public lands organizing, environmental education, and/or non-profit management, preferably in western Colorado or the rural West
Position Responsibilities
- Organizational Leadership: (25%) Represent organization publicly at events, conferences, and media engagements; Provide executive leadership for Board of Directors; Facilitate effective communication and coordination between all levels of organization, including members, staff, and board; Provide key strategic direction on advocacy campaigns, programs, and projects; Maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders including members, local, state, and federal government officials, and partner organizations; Direct annual budgeting process, meet monthly with the treasurer and finance committee and manage fiscal operations per policy and procedures to meet budget
- Grant Management and Development: (30%) Oversee systems for grant identification, acquisition, and management; Supervise and delegate grant writing needs for both programmatic and organizational grant applications; Coordinate grant reporting systems and effective report completion; Maintain strong relationships with grant funders and major donors; Maintain and expand income streams to meet annual budget; Supervise effective membership outreach and recruitment
- Administrative Management: (15%) Provide executive leadership in managing and improving operational systems; Manage and delegate implementation of new operational systems as necessary; Manage day-to-day administrative needs
- Improve data management systems for collecting, managing, and reporting on donations and contacts (Little Green Light)
- Coordinate with Associate Director and Accountant to carry out day-to-day management of donation collection and contacts
- Program Development: (15%) Collaborate with Associate Director, Watershed Coordinator, contractors, and committee chairs to support strategic program management and leadership of Public Lands, Watershed, and Education programming
- Delegate and supervise coordination of monthly program committee meetings, committee leadership management, and committee communication systems
- As necessary, provide direct support and coordination for program committee meetings and events
- Communication & Outreach: (10%) Develop and improve communication systems for the organization, including traditional and social media platforms; Supervise daily implementation of communication systems at all levels of the organization; as necessary, provide direct support for communication content development including emails, website, social media, press release, and other materials; develop and implement best management practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Volunteer Management: (5%) Supervise organizational volunteer recruitment and integrate volunteer management with data management systems and committee and program development
Compensation and benefits: This is a full-time exempt position requiring some evenings and weekends. Salary depends on experience. Industry competitive benefits include living stipend, generous paid holidays, PTO, professional development, and retirement match plan. Personal vehicle required with travel reimbursed at federal rate. Additional non-financial benefits include the opportunity to live and work in a spectacular rural mountain location with a high quality of life and reasonable living costs.
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, general salary range requirement, and three references to [email protected]. The application deadline is Friday, October 26th or until the position is filled. Please, no phone inquiries.
More about the Western Slope Conservation Center
The WSCC is a fun and dynamic grassroots environmental organization that has been carrying out watershed stewardship, public lands advocacy, and environmental education for the past 40 years. Our offices are located in the idyllic agricultural mountain town of Paonia, at the base of the West Elk Mountains in Delta County, Colorado. The North Fork Valley is a rare gem of high-quality rural living with unparalleled access to public lands and outdoor recreation, including backcountry skiing, rafting, hiking, running, and biking. It also boasts the highest density of organic farms in the state of Colorado and the highest elevation viticultural area in the country.
To learn more about the WSCC, please visit our web site: https://westernslopeconservation.org/