Executive Director, Arizona Wilderness Coalition – Tucson or Phoenix, AZ
Organization: The Arizona Wilderness Coalition (AWC)
Job Title: Executive Director
Location: Tucson or Phoenix, AZ
Hours and Compensation: Full time, Compensation includes a competitive salary and excellent benefits. The Executive Director will be required to travel frequently within the state in addition to less frequent visits to Washington D.C., or other engagements across the country. Estimated travel time is 20%.
Position Dates: Start ASAP
Posted On: July 10th, 2012
Organization Overview
Founded in 1979, the Arizona Wilderness Coalition (AWC) has built public support and political momentum for protecting Arizona’s last, best wild lands for more than 30 years. The organization operates in a campaign format, dedicating resources to land protection efforts that offer opportunities to strengthen and maintain Arizona’s wilderness legacy. Since 1984, the organization has played an instrumental role in protecting more than 3 million acres of Arizona’s public lands as designated wilderness. Additionally, AWC takes its role as a steward of existing wilderness areas seriously, engaging cadres of volunteers across to the state to protect and restore wild areas while also serving as advocates for new conservation measures and policy issues.
The Arizona Wilderness Coalition is a leading statewide nonprofit organization that focuses on 4 key areas: new wilderness and wild land designations; stewardship of wild lands and waters; public policy and advocacy; and education and public awareness. The new executive director (ED) will hold demonstrated experience in meeting financial and budgetary challenges, generating and leveraging revenues, and enthusiasm for seeking operational and programmatic funding. The ED works closely with the Board of Directors (BOD) to achieve its strategic fiscal, organizational, and program goals. He or she must have demonstrated skills building strong relationships with a wide range of partners in conservation, government, corporate, foundation, indigenous, and civic groups. The ED represents the organization in public and in the media, inspiring and organizing a wilderness constituency across Arizona.
Responsibilities
Fundraising and Financial Oversight
• Develops and implements a diversified fundraising plan, and works with staff and board members to ensure a fiscally healthy organization.
• Writes or supervises grant proposals and reports, and seeks new relationships with potential funding sources, such as major donors and corporate sponsors.
• Increases financial support derived from AWC’s members and donors.
• Identifies revenue shortfalls or excesses and adjusts organizational budget and staffing accordingly.
• Reviews, supervises, and executes financial accounting, contract and grant budget agreements, and reports to the board on a monthly basis.
Program and Organizational Development/Oversight
• A visionary leader who advances the objectives of the AWC by providing support and coordination for strategic planning, policy development and implementation, and evaluation of projects and programs.
• Maintains consistent and constructive communication with the board, and engages individual board members in appropriate programmatic and fundraising activities.
• Hires and supervises staff, conducts reviews and evaluations, and maintains a positive working environment within the organization.
• In collaboration with the board, establishes policy positions that advance the mission of the organization.
• Ensures that the AWC meets all legal requirements for its operations.
Outreach and Membership
• Works vigorously to increase the membership of the AWC.
• Clearly presents conservation campaigns in an effective, inspiring way that engenders public and strategic stakeholder support.
• Approaches controversy or conflict regarding public lands conservation with creative, solution-oriented ways.
• Ensures that the AWC’s objectives and programs are clearly and frequently communicated to the membership and public in general.
• Engages interested individuals in grassroots initiatives sponsored by the AWC.
Qualifications
Education and Knowledge
An undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college—advanced degree preferred. AWC is open to a diversity of educational backgrounds and corresponding life/work experiences that, combined, show necessary scientific, political, and management expertise to work successfully within relevant conservation communities and to lead staff. Advanced training or experience in non-profit management is desirable. The position requires knowledge of Arizona’s public lands domain and a working knowledge of the issues that bear upon the success and challenges of our work.
Experience
• Five or more years in a leadership position, preferably for a nonprofit organization related to land and wildlife conservation.
• Experience in advocating administrative and legislative policy reforms at the local, state, and/or federal levels.
• Demonstrated success in raising funds from foundations, government agencies, corporate entities, and individual donors.
• Experience in directing strategic planning or other organizational development activities involving both staff and board of a nonprofit organization.
• Experience with non-profit boards and defining effective organizational structure.
• Experience with financial planning and the ability to generate, interpret and make sound decisions from financial documents and plans.
• Experience in supervising staff, providing regular performance feedback, and developing subordinates’ skills to encourage personal growth.
Skills and Abilities
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to speak persuasively and passionately as ambassador for AWC’s mission and vision.
• Clear understanding of federal public lands policy. Particularly, the executive director will be able to speak succinctly to the issue of wilderness and wild and scenic river policy.
• Demonstrated patience for differing views and ability to gain the respect of a wide variety of people.
• Proven ability to lead by inspiring and motivating others, to act collaboratively, and to represent AWC with integrity and distinction.
• Ability to maintain a sense of humor and exhibit grace under pressure.
How to Apply
Please electronically send a cover letter and resume including 3 references to the contact email provided. PDF documents are preferred.
The following link is to apply online: http://jobs.oriongrassroots.org/jt/jobs/apply.php?node_hash_id=2a4866e060e0f93b8182cc2fb2a1647d&source=alert&go=Apply+to+This+Job
Office Contacts:
Tucson Office
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 40340, Tucson, AZ 85717
Phone: 520-326-4300
Staff in this office: Matt Skroch, Executive Director; Meghan Mix, Office Manager
Phoenix Office
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13524, Phoenix, AZ 85002
For UPS and FedEx deliveries, please send to: 307 W. Latham St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-252-5530
Staff in this office: Kate Mackay, Deputy Director; Ian Dowdy, Conservation Outreach Associate
