President

(Location and hybrid work agreement are negotiable)  

The Olmsted Network seeks a visionary and innovative leader with proven experience and outstanding management skills to serve as President. This is an exceptional opportunity for a person deeply committed to preserving parks and historic landscapes for all people. The Olmsted Network has experienced tremendous growth in recent years in budget, staff, fundraising and programs and is looking for an Executive to continue that successful growth trajectory.  

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT  

Leadership  

• Provide leadership, vision and focus for the Olmsted Network as an internationally respected and effective organization dedicated to the preservation of parks and landscapes of Frederick Law Olmsted and the Olmsted firm.
• As the organization’s lead fundraiser, cultivate and secure support from individuals, foundations and corporations with assistance from the Board.
• Serve as the spokesperson and public face of the Olmsted Network to the media, legislators, volunteers, members, donors and partners.
• Maintain and deepen a collaborative and strategic partnership with other organizations, conservancies, higher education, as well as other relevant individuals and organizations.
• Lead advocacy efforts for Olmsted parks and Olmsted landscape preservation at the local (urban, rural and suburban), state and federal level.
• Implement a communications strategy that will increase the visibility of the Olmsted Network, Frederick Law Olmsted and his sons, Frederick Jr. and John Charles, as well as issues facing Olmsted sites across the US and internationally.
• Ensure that the Olmsted Network’s activities help achieve the goals and key performance indicators set forth in the strategic plan.
• Operates at the highest ethical standards and excellence expected of a nationally recognized nonprofit.

Management  

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the organization, including responsibility for financial systems and working with the financial consultants and auditor.
• Attract, support, develop and retain talented staff to carry out the organization’s programs, fundraising and communications.
• Effectively manage and develop a remote team.
• Manage a diverse set of programs across the country including conferences, seminars, advocacy gatherings and other meetings to accomplish the goals of the Network.
• Support an engaged board of directors as it carries out its fiduciary and governance responsibilities, including fundraising and board recruitment.
• Harness the support of Olmsted Network members, engaged supporters, the general public and other organizations on behalf of the Olmsted Network’s mission and goals.
• Ensure a high standard of excellence and accuracy in written materials and oral presentations.

Desired Skills, Experience, and Personal Characteristics  

To be successful, the President should be:  

• Passionate about the mission of the Olmsted Network with strong professional experience with parks and/or park management, historic landscape preservation, the environment, conservation or a related field.
• An excellent communicator who can both inspire and establish credibility with donors, government officials, leaders of other conservation organizations, the media, the staff, the board and others.
• Able to think strategically and programmatically in setting priorities, allocating resources, providing follow-through and evaluating efforts.
• Personally experienced in fundraising from individuals, foundations, federal and local governments and corporations, including grant writing.
• Experience with advocacy and public policy formulation, at the local, state and federal levels of government.
• Knowledgeable about nonprofit management, including best practices in financial management, program management, staff development (both in-person and remote) and board development.

The Organization  

Founded in 1980, the Olmsted Network— formerly the National Association for Olmsted Parks— is the first and only national organization focused on protecting parks and landscapes designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and the Olmsted firm. These places suffered from under appreciation, facing disrepair and decay. To address this issue, a committed board of activists helped foster the emergence of park conservancies, friends’ groups and citizen volunteers to preserve neighborhood parks. The Olmsted Network also created a permanent record of these landscapes thanks to the groundbreaking scholarship of Charles Beveridge, series editor of The Frederick Law Olmsted Papers.  

Over the last 44 years, the organization has raised awareness through exceptional educational outreach and programming and rapid-response advocacy across the country. Our thoughtful campaigns convinced the U.S. Postal Service to produce an Olmsted stamp (1999) and the National Park Service to establish Fairsted as the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site (1979). The organization has won numerous awards including the Medal of Excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects (2008), the Legacy Award from World Urban Parks (2021) and most recently, the Recognition Award from the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice (2023).    

In 2020, the Olmsted Network organized and led Olmsted’s bicentennial celebration— Olmsted 200: Parks for All People. In 2022, managing nine other national organizations, the organization celebrated Olmsted’s living legacy and marked his 200th birthday with a robust calendar of events across the country. The Olmsted Network joined with policy makers, public health professionals, scholars, academics, community leaders and advocates to explore the many ways in which Olmsted’s values are relevant to 21st century America.  

Today, the organization is tackling an ambitious five-year strategic plan, including the adoption of a new name and tagline (Parks, Places, People) and a revision of its mission and vision statements. The Olmsted Network continues to grow its network of partners and engaged citizens, providing cutting edge educational resources and responding to threats against Olmsted parks and places.  

To learn more about the Olmsted Network, please visit www.olmsted.org.   

President: Salary Range ($135,000 – $150,000). Salary and benefits are negotiable based on experience.   

The Olmsted Network, Inc., is a New York non-profit corporation and a registered 501(c)(3). The Olmsted Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.