Executive Director

Executive Director

Ready to make a difference? Want to dedicate yourself to impactful work in the trenches (well, valleys), and love making sure things are done properly? We get it. The Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) is a passionate, dedicated, and lighthearted team that cares deeply about the ecological health of this corner of the mid-Willamette valley. We are looking for our next Executive Director, someone who can lead our team with passion and commitment and partner with us to impact the health and future of the communities supported by the Luckiamute River and Ash Creek. If you’re a visionary leader with a passion for community engagement, a talent for nonprofit management, and an interest in improving the natural environs of the Willamette Valley, keep reading for additional information and details about how to apply.

About Us
The https://www.luckiamutelwc.org  (LWC) is a diverse group of volunteers and staff who work together to improve the ecological health of two mid-Willamette watersheds, while fostering a connection between the land and the people who live and work on it. The LWC promotes projects that protect and enhance natural resources through the cooperation and support of many partners, including local agencies, Tribal communities, schools, organizations, landowners, industries and businesses.

Formed in 2001, the LWC has an engaged and supportive Board of Directors and a creative and passionate staff of four. We work with dozens of volunteers and stakeholders with experience in fisheries, agriculture, forestry, education and natural resource management. Many of our Board Members, volunteers, and partners have dedicated more than a decade to building the Council. Our work is guided by a Strategic Plan, Action Plan, technical assessments, monitoring data, and stakeholder input.

We are looking for an experienced nonprofit leader with a passion for engaging the community and other partners in meaningful work to steward the natural resources of our beautiful state. Our new Executive Director will be a visionary leader who is focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion on the personal and organizational levels. They will know how to establish and maintain effective relationships with community members, local stakeholders, and key partners to earn trust and respect and move key projects forward. Our ideal candidate is strategic, with an ability to act creatively and inclusively in program development and funding in order to foster organizational sustainability and growth.

Our ideal candidate is a thoughtful listener and an excellent communicator who can represent the LWC to a variety of audiences and communities. Our next Executive Director will also understand that one of the most important parts of any effective organization is a supported and well-resourced staff team. Our Executive Director will have the courage and creativity to listen to, invest in, and lead this team with conviction, compassion, and heart.

You Are An:

• Experienced nonprofit administrator with demonstrated proficiency in fundraising, budgeting, and financial management.
• Engaging leader with versatile communication skills.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, keen to tackle multi-stakeholder issues, work with diverse populations, and engage in multi-party decision-making processes.
• Tactical manager who can deliver a project on time and within budget.

Who is:

• Comfortable in a dynamic organizational landscape that requires you to manage multiple people and projects simultaneously.
• Confident working with a high degree of independence, while also directing a diverse team of subject matter experts and, with them, creating a culture that fosters connection and shared commitment.
• Excited by the opportunity to engage with a Board of Directors and staff team to create short-term work plans, as well as a longer-term strategic plan and vision for the organization.
• Experienced in and committed to advancing principles of diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion.

If that’s you, here’s what we can offer:

• An expected salary of $75,000 – $85,000 and a generous benefits package (medical, dental, vision insurance; 11 floating paid holidays annually, PTO and up to 3% retirement match);
• A committed, talented team that believes in the value and purpose of our organization and works hard to advance our mission;
• An engaged, talented, and motivated Board of Directors who supports the work of the LWC;
• Considerable opportunity to put your creativity and ideas to good use. We are a vital and respected organization poised for growth; we need your ideas and your help to create the right structure and foundation for success; and
• An organizational culture that values the individuality of each team member, plays to their strengths, and is devoted to creative and inclusive programs that enhance the health of the Luckiamute and Ash Creek Watersheds.

What You Will Do
The Executive Director provides leadership and direction to the LWC in realizing its mission and advancing its vision. The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in building partnerships, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring that the LWC’s programs embody its core values of equity, inclusion, access, shared responsibility, responsiveness to diversity, and accountability for impact.

• Board Engagement: Work closely with the Board to advise, inform, and facilitate communication between the Board and staff; plan, prepare and help facilitate meetings of the Board. Interpret relevant state and federal laws and policies for the Board and committees to inform decision-making. Participate in Board development, recruitment, orientation, and training.
• Strategic Planning: Facilitate strategic planning process and regularly evaluate the LWC’s goals and objectives, programs, services, roles, and responsibilities. Ensure effective implementation and monitoring of LWC projects and use data to adapt strategies.
• Organizational Administration: Manage the LWC’s day-to-day operations and legal obligations, foster fiscal and organizational sustainability. Respond to media, agencies, partners, and other inquiries on the LWC’s behalf. Stay abreast of best practices for nonprofit management and seek to improve outcomes and increase capacity. Develop organizational systems, plan for growth, and protect culture throughout necessary changes.
• Personnel Management: Direct and supervise staff, including recruitment, development, and retention. Sustain motivation through continuous performance management, supportive resources, and equitable performance rewards. Engage qualified contractors and consultants. Promote and support volunteer activities and ensure proper staff oversight. Monitor and maintain federal, state, and local HR compliance. Act as a steward of the LWC’s culture, representing its mission and values at all times and fostering an expectation of fairness and trust.
• Resource Development: Secure funding for continued general operations, projects, outreach, education, and other Board initiatives through foundation grants, partnerships, contracts, and donations. Direct and participate in fundraising activities and engage committee and Board support and participation.
• Budgeting and Finances: Manage all LWC budgeting and financial operations, in cooperation with the Board and Finance Committee. Provide oversight and accountability for the control of resources and report regularly on the LWC’s financial status. Coordinate and review work delegated to financial consultants. Administer foundation grants effectively and fulfill all reporting requirements.
• Partnerships, Community Relations, and Events: Foster and maintain positive connections in and among the community, the LWC’s constituencies, other watershed organizations, agencies, service groups, and committees. Communicate and coordinate with funding agencies and other organizations central to the LWC’s mission and programs. Actively seeks to sustain and develop partnerships and coalitions with local community groups, universities, other regional organizations, and other watershed councils.

Where You Will Work
The LWC staff work a hybrid schedule, with time spent working remotely as well as in the office in Independence, in addition to field work as required by different projects. This position includes the expectation that the Executive Director will travel throughout the County to hold meetings and engage with community members.

TO APPLY:
Studies have shown that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), women, and other marginalized groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications and how not only your professional and educational experiences, but traditional, lived, and volunteer experiences contribute to meeting qualifications.

To apply for this position please visit the following link: https://apptrkr.com/5308961 

To read the complete job description please click here: https://bit.ly/LWCexecdir 

Please provide a resume with a brief cover letter that tells us how your skills, experience and background meet our needs and why this position is of interest to you. Additionally, please provide an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) statement of no more than one page, which discusses your experiences, education, and commitment to EDI. Provide a concrete example of your commitment and how you might apply that commitment to this role.

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications on June 27, 2024.

Questions:
Please direct question about this opportunity to:

• Chris Otis, Search Consultant, Nonprofit Professionals Now: chris@npprofessionals.com