Executive Director

About Nature Forward

Founded in 1897, and previously known as the Audubon Naturalist Society, Nature Forward is one of the first and oldest environmental groups in the Chesapeake Bay region. Through outdoor experiences, education, and advocacy, Nature Forward seeks to inspire residents of the greater Washington, DC, region to appreciate, understand, and protect their natural environment, creating a larger and more diverse community of people who treasure the natural world and work to preserve it.

Nature Forward manages two nature sanctuaries in the greater DC region, their headquarters located at https://natureforward.org/woodend-history/ in Maryland and https://www.novaparks.com/parks/rust-sanctuary located in Virginia.

• Woodend Sanctuary: The headquarters of Nature Forward is located on a peaceful 40-acre oasis. It is for experienced nature lovers and new explorers of all ages and abilities. Originally owned by Chester and Marion Wells, many of the buildings date back to the late 1920s, including the historic Woodend Mansion, designed by John Russell Pope. The sanctuary is free for visitors and open year-round. Woodend has a wheelchair-accessible nature trail that traverses meadow, forest, stream, and pond habitats ensuring all are available to visit.

• Rust Sanctuary: Back in 2013, the organization entered a partnership with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) to operate Rust Sanctuary. NOVA maintains the buildings and grounds, and Nature Forwards continues to offer educational programming at the beautiful 68-acre site.

In 2022, with the input of members and the community, Nature Forward made the bold move to rebrand itself to reflect not only where it has been, but more importantly, where it wants to go. Though its original focus was on birds, Nature Forward seeks to represent the future of conservation in the region. This includes having a namesake that reflects its direction and ensures inclusion at all levels of the organization.

Nature Forward has a deep commitment to diversifying its audience and membership. The organization seeks to support the next generation of conservationists and lovers of the natural world through its programs, partnerships, community outreach, and education. Some of its most successful programs focused on reaching communities that have been historically shut out of the environmental movement include its Conferences, Taking Nature Black and Naturally Latinos:

• https://natureforward.org/taking-nature-black/: Since its launch in 2016, Nature Forward’s Taking NatureBlack offers presentations and discussions focused on the needs and interests of Black nature professionals, environmental justice advocates, educators, and outdoor enthusiasts. Attendees, who come from across the country, are inspired, energized, and connected to a growing community of people working to achieve real environmental change.

• https://natureforward.org/naturally-latinos-2024/: Launched in 2017, Naturally Latinos has become one of the nation’s premier environmental forums showcasing diversity, inclusion, and equity. Although centered primarily on issues impacting the Capital Region, the event’s focus on environmental justice, empowerment, and belonging in nature resonates with diverse nature professionals and advocates from coast to coast and around the globe who face similar challenges in their own communities.

Since its founding, Nature Forward has built up a robust offering of education experiences for children and adults. Youth Programs include a nature preschool, summer camps, family walks in the woods, and renowned programs such as the Creek Critters® App and GreenKids. Its environmental science programs for K-5 are designed to meet https://www.nextgenscience.org/ (NGSS) as well as https://maeoe.org/green-schools-and-green-centers/green-schools-program certification components. Nature Forward highlights human impacts, ecological systems, and watersheds through hands-on activities both in classrooms and its sanctuaries. As for adults, Nature Forward has a wide variety of offerings including Adult Field Trips, Classes, and Nature Travel.

To learn more about Nature Forward and its programs, please visit https://natureforward.org/. 

The Opportunity

Nature Forward is in a pivotal moment of growth and evolution, seeking a dynamic and visionary Executive Director to inspire the next generation of nature advocates and spark broader engagement across the region. With support from a highly engaged and invested Board of Directors and dedicated team, the Executive Director will build upon the organization’s tremendous momentum and lead it in its next chapter and beyond.

In partnership with a strong leadership team, the next Executive Director will be charged with leading all aspects of the organization, including but not limited to, community and volunteer engagement, program development, fund development, membership development, and ensuring efficient operational, fiscal, and facilities management.

This leader will build upon over a century of excellence in supporting the mission of Nature Forward. Working collaboratively with the board, staff, members, and partners, the Executive Director will lead Nature Forward in setting a clear strategic approach to fostering ongoing membership growth and engagement, maximizing its impact and value to the community, Chesapeake Bay region, and beyond.

The Executive Director’s key responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic leadership for the organization, synthesizing across viewpoints and interests of stakeholders, evolving a clear vision and strategy for how Nature Forward can continue to grow and strengthen its work against a backdrop of a shifting political and natural landscape.
• Work with the Board and management team to develop, enhance, and implement policies, procedures, and systems that will improve the overall capacity of the organization’s structures, processes, and operations and the effectiveness of its delivery systems.
• Continue to diversify and expand Nature Forward’s audience base, sustaining and stimulating membership growth as well as financial supporters.
• Evaluate and advise on the impact of programs and strategies, ensuring quality through the development and implementation of standards, controls, and evaluation methodologies.
• Collaborate with regional and national partners to advance Nature Forward’s regional and national policy agenda and advocacy strategy.
• Partner with the Board and staff to continue the growth and diversification of fund development strategies to enable the organization to meet fundraising growth objectives.
• Continue to build and develop a cohesive staff, fostering an environment of transparency, collaboration, and empowerment across the organization’s functions; motivating Nature Forward’s staff and ensuring strong internal communication and retention.
• Ensure the continued development of a nonprofit that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and access through words and actions.
• In collaboration with the team, ensure the financial health of the organization by employing sound fiscal controls and by effectively integrating, managing, and leveraging the organization’s resources and assets.
• Serve as an advocate for Nature Forward, building awareness and support, and actively representing the organization and its goals.

Candidate Profile

While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Champion of the Mission

• The Executive Director will possess an unwavering dedication to supporting and diversifying the environmental movement. They will bring experience in and a true passion for conservation, environmental education, and/or restoration.
• A servant leader with high emotional intelligence, this individual will be eager to connect with Nature Forward’s constituents with respect, compassion, and integrity.
• A leader passionate about preserving natural spaces, the well-being of employees, members, and human relationships with nature.
• An inspirational connector who is excited to share their curiosity and wonder with Nature Forward’s supporters, members, volunteers, staff, and Board.
• An individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values — someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Strategic & Visionary Mindset

• Eager to serve a highly invested membership while ensuring the organization is accessible and inviting to the next generation of members.
• This leader will ideally bring experience in delivering high-caliber and engaging programs, growing and further engaging a membership body.
• A strategic leader, eager and energized to develop and articulate an innovative vision for the next chapter of a multifaceted organization with a rich history.
• Models analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills that support and enable sound decision-making. Leads with an empowering approach, giving others the agency to lead and contribute to the overall success of an organization.
• Ability to quickly pivot and act decisively in the face of emerging situations and circumstances while still maintaining focus on bigger-picture vision and strategy.

Empowering & Collaborative Leadership

• Leads talented and passionate teams through an inspirational and empathic approach, fostering positive environments that encourage participation, innovation, and empowerment across functions.
• A track record of hiring, developing, and retaining culturally diverse staff at all levels.
• A transparent communicator and natural listener who ensures all voices are heard, while also being firm and resolute in decisions.
• Experience creating and growing a culture of high engagement for all team members regardless of background and role; empowers a workforce to excel with a focus on guiding team members’ growth and development.
• Builds consensus and establishes interdepartmental unity within organizations through effective and inclusive communication and cross-team collaboration.
• Embodies trustworthiness, high emotional and social intelligence, and low ego – skilled at bringing others along in an elegant way.

Nonprofit Business & Operational Acumen

• A seasoned executive and strong manager who understands the importance of effective operational and financial administration and can deploy these skills at scale in a multifaceted environment.
• Demonstrates experience with nonprofit operations/leadership, including sound financial planning, oversight, and accountability; can clearly communicate financial status to staff, Board, and key stakeholders.
• Strong non-profit budget development and management skills with an understanding of how to build and implement effective infrastructures and systems that increase internal capacity and efficiency.
• Brings a track record of setting priorities decisively, delegating responsibilities, ensuring accountability, and allocating resources to ensure teams are set up to excel.
• Experience building and working with an engaged Board of Directors, guiding meetings, and holding Directors accountable to governance responsibilities in a productive, efficient, and collaborative manner.

Skilled Advocate & Relationship Builder

• Promotes a powerful sense of shared purpose and engagement to all constituents through effective internal and external communication; serves as a key spokesperson and public face for organizations to the media, funders, policymakers, and others.
• Communicates effectively and frequently, fostering a culture of transparency and bringing staff of all levels and program areas along in a way that ensures all understand and are invested in their role within the broader vision and mission of the organization.
• Brings experience in fundraising and building organizational capacity to creatively diversify fundraising opportunities from a range of sources.
• Ability to successfully convey an organization’s mission and objectives to a wide range of private, nonprofit, and public constituents in written and verbal communications; can communicate complex ideas with clarity.
• Ability to develop and cultivate relationships that will advance and amplify Nature Forward’s value proposition, reputation, and opportunities for impact in the field.
• Brings a track record of building support and influence with key stakeholders, including Board members, staff, donors, policymakers, and other leaders across lines of difference.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $200,000 – $225,000 including benefits.

CONTACT

Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan and Corina Benitz. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at NatureForward_ED@koyapartners.com . All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Nature Forward is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

ABOUT KOYA PARTNERS tendersglobal.net DIVERSIFIED SEARCH GROUP

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades

of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/