Executive Director

~ Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA) is the oldest non-profit conservation organization in Idaho. Our mission is to conserve, protect and restore the environment with particular emphasis on the Idaho Panhandle and the Coeur d’Alene Basin. ~

The organization was founded in 1972 by former Idaho State Senators Art Manley and Mary Lou Reed, well-known environmental attorney Scott Reed, and representatives from several local and regional sporting organizations. KEA was organized in response to the extensive environmental damage in the Idaho Panhandle at the time, caused by timber and mining interests, land developers, and policies of land managers of the federal government.

The organization has always held that an informed public is essential to safeguarding our environment. To that end, KEA held public meetings almost every week for 30 years to provide the public an opportunity to hear experts, political candidates and local officials address local, regional and national environmental issues. Continuing the tradition in more recent years, we now hold “KEA Happy Hour” meetings at our new office at 206 Indiana Ave suite 112 the 1st Thursday of each month at 4PM, running September through June.

Position Overview

KEA’s Executive Director is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of all aspects of the organization’s development including: annual and strategic planning; Board, staff and volunteer training; program accreditation; fundraising and financial management; education and outreach. The Executive Director reports to the KEA Board of Directors, is full-time, and based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities:

• Support KEA’s Board of Directors, attend appropriate Board-related meetings and activities, and prepare monthly Board reports, financial statements and other reports as requested.
• Provide strategic leadership for all areas of the organization and collaborate with the Board of Directors to assess progress toward fulfilling KEA’s mission and priorities (as defined in KEA’s Strategic Plan).
• Serve as office manager: maintain a clean work environment; respond to voicemail communications and mail correspondence; pay utilities and stocking supplies.
• Manage the KEA website and provide current and accurate content.
• Represent the organization and its programs in the community through presentations, appearances and media releases.
• Respond to regional and local environmental issues.
• Other duties as needed or required by the Board.

Finance:

• Ensure the appropriate and effective use of KEA’s financial resources.
• Guide development of an annual budget and manage organizational resources to meet budget targets.
• Collaborate with KEA’s Board Treasurer to review and evaluate financial performance and to provide accurate and timely financial reports to the Board of Directors.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations and best practices for annual filings, financial accounts, internal controls, and organizational insurance(s).
• Serve as primary signer on all KEA fiscal accounts.
• Administer payroll.

Human Resources, Organizational Development, and Culture:

• Lead, coach, motivate, develop and evaluate KEA’s volunteers and staff.
• Model and uphold a positive, engaged, and sustainable work style and an ethical, respectful, and friendly organizational culture.
• Implement KEA’s personnel policies, in compliance with employment laws and regulations, including hiring, staff structure, compensation, and terminations.

Fundraising and Visibility:

• Lead the organization’s fundraising efforts to secure KEA’s long-term sustainability.
• Recruit volunteers to serve on event and program committees and to provide guidance and support to staff.
• Develop and implement a successful strategy to expand the base of support from new members, foundations, corporations, community organizations and law firms.
• Prepare and submit grant applications to support program initiatives.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with high-level donors and prospects.
• Represent the organization to funders, the media, and the general public.

Program:

• Ensure the success of KEA’s programs by managing the annual accreditation process and supporting volunteers.
• Develop and oversee new initiatives to expand KEA’s visibility, programmatic impact, and financial support.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with regional and local entities working on watershed issues related to Water Quality, Water Conservation, Wildlife Habitat, Forest Health, Land Use and Community Sustainability.
• Develop credibility and visibility among stakeholder communities, media representatives and the general public.
• Ensure successful strategies to reduce pollution and protect and restore watershed habitats by monitoring and investigating pollution sources, pursuing environmental enforcement litigation, when appropriate and advocating for policies that help to conserve, protect and restore the environment.

Qualifications

• Must have knowledge of environmental issues, excellent organizational, verbal presentation and written skills, grant writing and fundraising experience, impressive interpersonal skills, event planning experience and the ability to work independently.
• College degree and business/management experience preferred.

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.