Executive Director

~ The Okanogan Land Trust (OLT) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, collaborating with landowners and other community members, organizations and businesses, to protect what we love about life here: wide open spaces, clean air and water, natural landscapes, abundant wildlife, local food from our working farms and ranches, and resilient rural communities. ~

From the Cascade Mountains to the Kettle Crest, and from Canada to the Columbia River - OLT serves the Okanogan Basin, its tributary and neighboring valleys, the surrounding highlands, and the sylvan foothills of Ferry County.

OLT is operated by a handful of staff members, with considerable support from members and volunteers, partners and sponsors. In addition to organizing community events that heighten appreciation of life in the Okanogan, OLT's Board of Directors, staff and volunteer committees provide landowners with an avenue to preserve what they love about their own property, on their own terms.

Position Overview

The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for carrying forward the vision of the Okanogan Land Trust (OLT), including fundraising, community involvement, private land protection projects, land stewardship and ongoing organizational integrity. The ED serves as the public point person for the organization and represents the values and mission of the organization at all times. The ED reports to the OLT Board of Directors, and works alongside and supervises all OLT staff.

Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership:

• Work with the Board of Directors to facilitate the development and ongoing review and revision of organizational plans and performance measures;
• Develop an annual budget that reflects organizational plans;
• Provide sound financial management and reporting;
• Lead ongoing identification and recruitment of additional Board members and volunteers;
• Supervise OLT staff and build program capacity.

Fundraising:

• Develop and execute an effective fundraising strategy to secure funding for OLT’s operations and conservation work;
• Build a growing, enthusiastic circle of individual supporters by fostering strong, trusting personal relationships throughout the community;
• Solicit and expand foundation, public agency, and business support;
• Work with the Board and staff, planning and leading all OLT external fundraising communication and activities.

Land Protection:

• Provide oversight for OLT land protection programs including conservation easements, land acquisitions, and stewardship;
• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with landowners, other non-profits and agencies to increase land and resource protection within the OLT work area.

Outreach/Education:

• Provide oversight for outreach and education programs and projects advancing the OLT mission.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

Strong fundraising skills:

• We seek a trustworthy, friendly, charismatic leader who likes people and understands the critical importance of continually building honest, trusting relationships with potential investors in our mission;
• The ideal candidate will have proven experience obtaining significant funding from donors, foundations, sponsors, and a variety of grant making organizations.

Outstanding writing and communication skills:

• We seek a clear, concise, persuasive private and public speaker;
• Mastery of technological skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Quick Books, Website development and maintenance, Facebook, Twitter and other social media, and other programs as appropriate for small business management and development;
• Familiarity with, and skill and enthusiasm for all the administrative elbow grease and hard work necessary to run a small organization and build it into a larger one;
• Highly self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision in non-traditional and unstructured environments;
• Demonstrable passion for the OLT mission and vision;
• Residency in the OLT service area after hire;
• A college degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience leading a successful fundraising effort in a rural area;
• Prior experience as a manager or leader in land conservation work;
• Land trust experience;
• Experience with GIS mapping, GPS navigation and digital imagery technology;
• A sense of humor;
• An advanced degree.

Compensation

• $50-60K depending on experience;
• Health insurance allowance;
• Simple IRA with a 3% match;
• Flexible leave policy.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply" below to upload your cover letter, resume, references and writing sample;
• No phone calls, please;
• OLT hopes to fill the position as soon as possible;
• However, applications will be received until the position is successfully filled;
• First review will be March 27,2019.