Operations & Development Lead

About EENC: The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) is a dynamic community of environmental educators dedicated to fostering connections, providing professional development, and promoting excellence in environmental education. Established in 1990, EENC has grown into a broad network of passionate individuals and organizations collaborating to achieve its core mission.  We provide the forum to bring people together, leverage resources, and unite our voices across the state

​Role Overview:

As Operations & Development Lead, you will be pivotal in shaping our organization’s operational efficiency and financial sustainability while driving strategic development initiatives. This position encompasses a range of responsibilities, including business management, fundraising, and collaborative leadership.  You will work closely with the other two staff members, the Programming Lead and the Communications & Relationships Lead.

This position is full-time (average of 35 hours per week), remote within North Carolina, with some travel required.  Most travel is within the state.

Shared Leadership:

EENC practices shared leadership, a non-hierarchical approach to organizational structuring that prioritizes collaborative accountability and decision-making responsibilities to define and achieve strategic goals. All staff are formally employed by the board, and important decisions are made among staff, between staff and board members or committees, and at the board level as defined in our decision-making model. All staff members report to one another regularly on progress and challenges. Staff serve as liaisons to board committees and routinely communicate with board leaders to plan and implement projects. 

Our shared leadership model empowers both individual and collective decision-making; therefore, all team members must be able to self-motivate and take ownership of their individual tasks while contributing effectively to shared goals and initiatives. Ongoing, transparent, frequent communication among team members is integral to this model.

For more about this model, review our Shared Leadership Statement.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Operations (50%):

• Oversee routine operations including budgeting, finance, payroll, benefits, HR, organizational policies, etc.
• Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize business operations and align them with organizational goals. Guide long-term business and financial planning.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance for the organization in collaboration with the Board of Directors leadership, including taxes, solicitation license, and non-profit policy compliance

Fundraising and Development (50%):

• Align development strategies with the overall goals and mission of EENC.
• Design and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies with diverse revenue streams with an emphasis on grant writing and donor cultivation.
• Lead the development and implementation of engaging fundraising campaigns and events, major gift campaigns, and sponsorships.  Fundraising events and campaigns are coordinated in collaboration with staff and Board committees.
• Assess financial data, measure performance, and guide data-driven decisions related to organization’s $225,000 annual budget.
• Regularly report on key performance indicators related to business operations, development efforts, and risk management.

Serve as staff liaison to the Board of Directors for the following committees, which collaborate with staff to meet organizational goals:

• Finance
• Development
• Governance
• Other duties as needed.

Who We’re Looking For:

We are seeking a strategic thinker who can keep things running smoothly while helping guide long-term plans for EENC’s fiscal sustainability.  The Operations & Development Lead should be experienced and comfortable managing budgets, cultivating revenue streams, and successfully executing dynamic projects.  The ideal candidate for this new position will be excited to practice shared leadership in EENC’s staff team and eager to foster an expanding community of funders and supporters for our mission.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, stakeholders, and partners to achieve common goals through leaderful collaboration
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently and as part of a team
• Experience with business operations, bookkeeping, or organizational financial management
• Ability to plan, organize, and think creatively at the systems level
• Experience developing and leading successful fundraising initiatives
• Experience writing, managing, and reporting on grants
• Exceptional writing, networking, and interpersonal skills
• Background in nonprofit or business leadership, especially collaborating with a non-profit Board of Directors and committees
• Tech Savvy: Proficient with or able to quickly learn the use of Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Quickbooks Online, and other digital tools including video conferencing, project management, fundraising, and donor management platforms
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and environments, with a flexible and proactive approach to challenges.
• Familiarity with environmental education and an understanding of the field in the state, nationally, and internationally

Requirements:

• Diversity Commitment: Demonstrated commitment to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and in external relationships.
• Residency: North Carolina residency or a commitment to move within 30 days of hire.
• Driver’s License: A North Carolina driver’s license or the ability to acquire one within 90 days of hire.
• Travel: Infrequent independent travel in North Carolina for events.
• Schedule: Work will average 35 hours per week with a flexible schedule. Occasional evening and weekend work is necessary to accommodate special events.
• Work location: Employee must provide their own work location with reliable internet.

We believe that environmental literacy and mutual respect are inherently linked with environmental and social justice, that environmental education and resources should be accessible to all communities, that biodiversity is critical to the success of natural spaces and the diversity of humanity is what makes us stronger, and that we are never done learning and growing as an organization and as individuals. We strongly encourage applications from People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, and those who are members of other marginalized communities.

This job description is a general overview, not a mandatory or comprehensive list.  We encourage you to apply if you have 75% of the skills and experience listed.  Your experience includes paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer and non-traditional work and learning.  If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe you have the skills to accomplish the job, we want to hear from you! 

Salary and Benefits:

This full-time exempt salaried position will have a starting annual salary of $40,150 plus a 10% benefit stipend.

Additional tangible benefits:

• Communications stipend for phone/internet ($80 per month)
• 2% employer-provided retirement contribution (no employee match required)
• EENC-provided computer, printer, and office supplies
• Paid professional development
• 32 days of paid personal leave for vacations, holidays, and other days of your choosing, plus 5 sick days per year

Additional intangible benefits: 

• Flexible scheduling
• Work from home
• Opportunity to work at a systemic level to support environmental educators and advance environmental education across the state
• Networking with environmental educators across the state

EENC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate of race, color, religious creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or disability.