Executive Director

The West Virginia Rivers
Coalition (WV Rivers) was founded by outdoor enthusiasts who
care deeply about the Mountain State’s renowned free-flowing waters
and scenic beauty. Our mission is to advocate for clean and healthy
waters for all.

 

Position Summary:

The WV Rivers Board is seeking a person with demonstrated
leadership skills to become the organization’s new Executive
Director. This strategic, creative, and insightful Executive
Director will help ensure the organization continues to thrive in
accomplishing our vision for the future and in setting a mutually
supportive and energizing organizational culture. The Executive
Director is responsible for the overall leadership, strategy, and
operation of the organization. These responsibilities include
managing a current organizational budget of approximately $2M;
leading a current staff of ten that is projected to grow to 13 by
the end of 2024; playing a key role in fund development planning
and implementation; developing and sustaining relationships with
funders, donors, partners, and policymakers; and maintaining a
strong relationship with the Board of Directors.

Strong candidates will have significant work experience in a
similar role. Our desired leader is not only a skilled
administrator, but also is self-aware, charismatic, inspiring, and
authentic. They understand and interact effectively with others and
have the ability to build strong relationships with people of all
backgrounds. They will have versatile and advanced communications
skills and be comfortable with public speaking and engaging with
the media.  They must exercise tact and diplomacy in
professional settings.

The Executive Director must also be an experienced fundraiser
with recognized accomplishments in cultivating donor relationships,
grant management, and fundraising.

It is essential that the Executive Director be able to
successfully manage both a variety and high volume of tasks and
communication inputs and outputs simultaneously. This position
requires the following key abilities:

• Absorb and process complex information quickly.
• Remain focused when faced with pressure.
• Accept losses gracefully; inspire staff to do the same.
• Manage complex negotiations.
• Commit to ongoing and continuous learning.
• Lead in a remote setting.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors. They
will directly supervise 2 – 4 staff members and will oversee their
performance management, professional development, and work plan
development. The Executive Director will also partner closely with
the Deputy Director and Director of Finance and Operations to chart
the organization’s growth and strategy.

Responsibilities:

The Executive Director has responsibilities across four main
areas of work. The summaries below are topline; more details will
be provided to candidates who advance to panel interviews.

Organizational Strategy, Management, and
Operations

• Lead a high performing and engaged team to achieve
  organizational goals through impactful programs, successful
  financial management, and operational compliance while maintaining
  an inclusive, outcomes-focused culture.

Fundraising

• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy to secure
  resources to implement strategic plan initiatives and to ensure the
  financial stability and sustainability of the organization,
  including maintaining and building relationships with funders and
  donors.

Relationships, Partnerships, and
Communications

• Represent WV Rivers by building relationships with partner
  organizations, coalitions, policymakers, the media, and other
  external audiences with the ultimate goal of advancing impact and
  strategic goals of the organization.
• Develop and execute state-level annual policy agenda and
  lobbying strategies.

Board Relations

• Develop and manage a diverse, engaged Board of Directors to
  develop and operationalize strategic plans that support the
  organization’s mission, impact, and growth.

Required experience and qualifications:

• Passion for the mission of WV Rivers to advocate for clean and
  healthy waters for all.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a
  related field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant experience in a similar
  role in the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and
  inclusion and the ability to work effectively with and value
  differences of diverse groups of individuals.
• Persuasive and diplomatic communication skills.
• Excellent personal, mobile and cloud-based technology skills,
  including office software.

Attributes we’re looking for include:

• Purposeful, creative, entrepreneurial, and visionary
• Self-directed, self-motivated, decisive, and
  results-oriented
• Flexible, adaptive, and resourceful

Desired experience and qualifications

• Knowledge of climate and energy transition
• State legislature experience
• Technical and policy issue knowledge
• Nonprofit compliance

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $85,000 – $105,000 and is
dependent upon experience and qualifications. We ask that
candidates consider this range before applying. WV Rivers offers a
competitive benefits package that includes 80% employer-paid health
insurance, beginning paid leave of up to 35 days annually, an
employer contribution to a retirement plan, and a monthly remote
work stipend. This is a full-time, exempt position. Relocation
assistance is negotiable.

Location and Travel

The Executive Director will be based in West Virginia. This
position, along with all WV Rivers’ positions, is a
remote/work-from-home working arrangement. There is significant
required travel, approximately 8 – 12 daytrips per month and 20 –
30 overnights per year, including legislative trips, quarterly
in-person staff meetings, Board meetings, and funder meetings.
Given the external-facing responsibilities of this role, there will
be occasional, required work on evenings or weekends. A valid
driver’s license is required as is the ability to travel outside of
regular business hours as needed.

How to apply

We encourage you to apply if you meet at least 75% of the
experience and qualifications listed in this description.

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to brussell@wvrivers.org with your
name and Executive Director in the subject line. For the best
opportunity of being considered, please apply by April 30,
2024. 

If you require an accommodation or assistance with our
application process, please send an email to brussell@wvrivers.org.

WV Rivers does not accept solicitations from job placement and
recruitment services. No phone calls, please.

About West Virginia Rivers Coalition

Today, the WV Rivers is the statewide voice for water-based
recreation and clean, drinkable, swimmable, and fishable rivers and
streams–from the headwaters to wherever water flows in West
Virginia. We’re also the West Virginia state affiliate of the
National Wildlife Federation and a licensed program of Waterkeeper
Alliance.

WV Rivers aspires to be an inclusive multicultural organization
that celebrates the rich dimensions of diversity such as race,
ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic
status, age, physical abilities, religious and political beliefs.
Diversity at WV Rivers translates into understanding and valuing
all perspectives in order to fully accomplish our mission and
vision for clean water for all. Candidates must share a commitment
to fostering values of diversity, inclusion, equity and justice in
all aspects of our programming and advocacy.