Executive Director

Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the Maine Island Trail Association in the search for an Executive Director.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will be responsible for the overall management of the organization, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, including oversight and evolution of the organization’s strategic direction, its brand and reputation, programs, finances, fundraising, human resources, and all day-to-day management and operations.

The Maine Island Trail Association is a membership organization dedicated to advancing a model of thoughtful use and volunteer stewardship of Maine’s wild islands, creating an inspiring recreational water trail that is cared for by the people who use it. Founded in 1988 to administer the newly established Maine Island Trail, MITA’s founding belief is that people who love to recreate on the islands can be successfully encouraged to play a role in the stewardship of these fragile and treasured places. MITA’s multi-decade success is evidenced by the fact that islands on the Trail are often healthier environments than islands that are left entirely alone. MITA members include paddlers, sailors, powerboaters, and non-boaters alike. As part of their membership benefits, members receive comprehensive information about the Trail including a 350-page guidebook and access to the MITA app, helpful tips for safe and responsible boating, and guidelines for low-impact recreation. MITA members are also the most crucial component in helping keep the Trail healthy and pristine through their tremendous volunteer efforts and generous support.

MITA boasts some 8,000 active members, all of whom play a role in maintaining the Trail and its network of over 200 sites. This includes lending support through membership fees and donations or performing stewardship work as MITA volunteers. As the Maine Island Trail and MITA have evolved, so have the organization’s initiatives to do even more to carry out its mission. While still guided by the founding principle of stewardship through recreational access, MITA continues to grow and find new ways to do more for its members, its land-owning partners, and the Trail. MITA is as excited for the future as it is proud of its history.

The heart of MITA is volunteer stewardship, which establishes trust with island owners and sustains the Trail. While there are other ways to engage people in MITA’s mission, taking people on stewardship outings is its most practical and impactful way of bringing people into the mission. MITA is engaging in efforts to broaden the demographic of members and non-members, including younger people and families and the fishing community, enhancing visibility of MITA’s mission to new constituents. The Maine Island Trail is an example of sustainable recreation: A small, grassroots community successfully established a nationally known recreational asset based on trust and collaboration with private and public landowners. The Maine Island Trail has grown steadily for over 30 years, resulting in a spectacular wilderness resource for outdoor forays and adventures with no equivalent in North America.

A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least five years of successful leadership experience at an organization of similar or larger size and scope is preferred for this position. The Maine Island Trail Association will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to MITA, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. 

The salary for this position is $112,500 annually.