Executive Director

Ready to make a difference? Want to dedicate yourself to noticeably 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 who care deeply about the ecological health of this little rural 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 deep commitment to collaborative conservation and meaningful community engagement, keep reading for additional information and details about how to apply. 

About Us

The Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) is a diverse group of volunteers who work together to learn about the watershed and to improve water quality and habitat conditions. 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, all of us equally committed to learning about and improving conditions of the Watershed. 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, and technical assessments, monitoring data, and stakeholder input. 

We are looking for a leader who is passionate about the natural resources of our beautiful state and committed to working cooperatively and creatively with like-minded individuals to ensure the watershed and surrounding area is continuously improved and protected. 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 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 professional with demonstrated proficiency in nonprofit fundraising, natural resource restoration grant writing, budgeting, and financial management.
• Engaging leader with versatile communication skills and an entrepreneurial spirit to tackle multi-stakeholder issues, working with diverse populations and multi-party decision-making processes.
• Adept professional familiar with modern project management methodologies and solutions,  particularly as they pertain to natural resource management and conservation topics.
• Experienced manager who can commit to and deliver a professional project on time and within budget.

Who is:

• Comfortable in a changing, dynamic organizational landscape that requires you to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Confident working with a high degree of independence while also directing a diverse, multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts and, with them, creating a team 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 and a longer-term strategic plan and vision for the organization.
• Experienced in and committed to advancing principles of diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion.
• Bilingual in Spanish, with bicultural lived experience (preferred; not required)

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 move our mission forward;
• An engaged, talented, and motivated Board of Directors who supports the work of LWC;
• Considerable opportunity to put your creativity and ideas to good use. We are a vital and valued 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 the strengths of each individual, and is devoted to creative and inclusive programs and opportunities to enhance the area and beauty of the Luckiamute Watershed.

What You Will Do

The Executive Director provides leadership and direction to the organization in realizing its mission and advancing its vision for LWC. The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in building partnerships, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring that LWCs 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 and 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 LWC’s day-to-day operations and legal obligations, foster fiscal and organizational sustainability. Respond to media, agencies, partners, and other inquiries on 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 LWC’s culture, representing the 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 grants, partnerships, contracts, and donations. Direct and participate in fundraising activities and engage committee and Board support and participation. Provide resources and coaching to staff to support their ability to develop and write grants, calculate projected costs at the time of implementation, consider operational resource needs, and craft a narrative case.
• Budgeting and Finances: Manage all LWC budgeting and financial operations, in cooperation with the Board and Finance Committee. Provider oversight and accountability for the control of resources and report regularly on LWC’s financial status. Coordinate and review work delegated to financial consultants. Administer grants effectively and fulfill all reporting requirements.
• Partnerships, Community Relations, and Events: Foster and maintain positive connections in and among the community, LWC’s constituencies, other watershed organizations, agencies, service groups, and committees. Communicate and coordinate with funding agencies and other organizations central to 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.
• Landowner and Community Outreach: Guide staff in pursuing landowner agreements and cooperation for project implementation, communicating effectively with impacted parties, and maintenance of landowner databases. Direct development and distribution of the quarterly newsletter, LWC Meanderings, and the regular Behind the Scenes bulletins for Friends of the LWC.

Where You Will Work

The LWC staff work a hybrid schedule, with time spent working remotely as well as in the office in Independence. This position includes the expectation that the Executive Director will travel throughout the County to hold meetings and engage with community members.