Executive Director

Schedule: This is a Full-Time (35+ Hours/Week Average) Permanent Position. Occasional evening and weekend work expected.

Benefits: Paid Time Off and Holiday Program

Position start date: September 1, 2024

Position Summary:

The Barry Conservation District Executive Director is a dynamic and strategic leader responsible for managing and guiding the organization. Working closely with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director ensures the achievement of the District’s vision, mission, goals, and objectives through effective strategic planning and daily operations. The Executive Director identifies new funding opportunities to secure operating funds, oversees grant administration and conservation activities, and manages the District’s financial planning, bookkeeping, and budgeting. Additionally, this role involves enhancing awareness of conservation practices, expanding partnerships with stakeholders, assessing and addressing conservation needs, and representing the District in meetings and public engagements. The Executive Director manages the office, staff, and volunteers, and ensures effective communication and coordination within the organization. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with laws.

Position Duties:

Identifying New Funding Opportunities:

• Cooperate with board members and the fund development committee to secure adequate operating funds for the District.
• Oversee grant writing, fundraising, and fund development to sufficiently sustain District operations and achieve strategic goals and objectives.
• Develop, implement, and track both long-range plans and annual plans of work to achieve District goals.
• Administer projects and programs, including but not limited to grants and contracts.
• Collaborates with the fund development committee to develop and implement an annual budget.
• Cooperate with board members, the fund development committee, the bookkeeper, and the auditor to establish and maintain adequate accounting and financial management of the District’s fiscal affairs in accordance with State law.

Stewarding / Recruiting Clients and Partnerships:

• Increase awareness of conservation practices, opportunities, and District services.
• Maintain and expand collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, organizations, government offices, and agencies.
• Collaborate with the Conservation Needs Committee / Working Group to assess conservation needs within the District and recommend actions and programs to meet those needs.
• Collaborate with the BCK CISMA to assess invasive species threats within the service area and recommend actions and programs to address those threats.
• Maintain contact with the Barry County Board of Commissioners and other public officials regarding the District’s activities and clients’ needs.
• Establish and maintain cooperative agreements and memorandums of understanding with partners.
• Coordinate requests for District assistance with local landowners, partner agencies, and organizations.
• Represent the District appropriately at meetings with partners, organizations, and the public.
• Respond to questions from the public on natural resource-based issues.
• Participate in professional, state, and national associations as appropriate.

Staff/Board Management:

• Effectively manage the BCD office, staff, volunteers, programs, and activities.
• Effectively communicate activities and achievements to the Board of Directors and the general public.
• Attend and participate in all board meetings and functions.
• Cooperate with board members in establishing District policies.
• Facilitate board strategic planning of goals and objectives in concert with staff-vetted annual plans of work.
• Conduct internal communication, including daily check-ins, weekly meetings with direct reports, monthly whole-staff meetings, and quarterly performance evaluations.

Administrative Tasks:

• Oversee programs, grants, and contracts administration and progress against established goals, metrics, and deliverables.
• Maintain records and prepare reports for grantors, contractors, the Board of Directors, etc.
• Maintain District bookkeeping and budgeting records and accounts with the bookkeeper using QuickBooks Online.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and organized District files.
• Maintain records of District equipment and other inventory.
• Comply with Federal, State, and local laws affecting the work of the District.

Other Duties:

• Oversee public education and outreach initiatives including workshops, events, news articles, presentations, etc.
• Coordinate, edit, and submit articles for press releases.
• Coordinate, design, and publish or distribute digital (website, social media, etc.) and print media.
• Keep informed on government conservation legislation and policies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in natural resources, business, or a related field.
• Clear, concise communication skills.
• Computer skills including Google Docs, Google Sheets, Microsoft Office, and QuickBooks.
• Excellent managerial skills and the ability to manage complex projects with a variety of tasks.
• Ability to problem-solve and handle novel challenges.
• Ability to take direction and work both collaboratively and independently.
• Team player.
• Willingness to learn.
• Attention to detail.
• Must be able to pass a Federal background security check.
• Travel required (up to and exceeding 20%) across the county and five-county service area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree and/or experience in natural resources, business, or a related field.
• Public speaking and presentation skills and comfort with groups of different sizes.
• Experience with basic accounting principles and practices.
• Working understanding of basic natural resource principles.
• Ability to research, compile, and distribute information.

About Barry Conservation District: 

Similar to your local public school, Barry CD is a locally led government office that provides resources to solve conservation problems. We are a tax-exempt 170(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More than 3,000 locally-governed Conservation Districts are operating nationwide, 75 in Michigan. The guiding philosophy of all Conservation Districts is that conservation decisions should be made at a local level with technical assistance provided by the government. Barry Conservation District’s (Barry CD) mission is to promote responsible natural resource and land-use management for present and future generations. Barry CD works on a wide variety of conservation, education, and outreach initiatives including forests, waterways, invasive species, and farms. For more information regarding Barry CD and our programs, check out our website BarryCD.org

Working Conditions: 

BCD’s physical office is normally open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. All full-time employees are expected to work 35-hour weeks (70-hour pay period) except for authorized absences or flex time within a pay period to account for weekend or evening events. Lunch break consists of one-half hour (unpaid) per day. This position will require the employee to travel across multiple counties, occasionally work nights, weekends, and be able to lift and carry 50 pounds. This may occur in variable weather conditions, and variable and rugged terrain. BCD personnel work with pesticides, and this position runs the risk of exposure to such chemicals. This position must wear all required safety clothing and equipment and have sufficient visual acuity to identify spills and other potential hazards. The Employee must be present when and where needed to successfully meet their program objectives relative to BCD’s Strategic Plan with associated grant and client requirements, and subject to the BCD Policy Manual. This includes flex time, evening and weekend work, remote work, and field work. The Employee must communicate their schedule ahead of time by text messaging to the staff group their schedule, priorities, and destinations every workday between 7 AM and 9 AM.