Berkshire Watershed Director

~ The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is a nonprofit regional conservation organization and accredited land trust located serving the entire 1,948 square mile tristate Housatonic River Watershed (western Massachusetts, western Connecticut, eastern New York and south to Long Island Sound). ~

HVA has worked for over 75 years to protect and enhance environmental health of the rivers, streams and waters, and surrounding lands, of the Housatonic Watershed. We have diverse programs in collaborative land conservation, water quality and quantity, education and advocacy. HVA’s annual budget is about $1.7 million. To learn more please visit our website or find us on social media.

Position Overview

• Position title: Berkshire Director
• Reports to: Executive Director (CEO)
• Classification: Full‐time, exempt
• Desired start: July 1, 2019

Put your passion to work for the Housatonic River Watershed! HVA seeks a dynamic, strategic‐thinking, self‐starting and articulate individual to serve as its Berkshire Watershed Director based in Stockbridge Massachusetts.

The position is part of the senior management team, reports to the ED, and is responsible for aligning our conservation programs in western Massachusetts with HVA’s strategic goals, including: land and water protection/restoration; community/stakeholder engagement; increased visibility of HVA as a trusted partner and watershed resource; and advocacy for the Housatonic Watershed at local, state and federal levels.

The Berkshire Watershed Director works closely with peer land and water directors based in HVA’s Connecticut and New York offices to align strategies and operations to achieve our goals. This position has primary responsibility for our work in Massachusetts, but may also be tasked with supporting and advocating for our water protection work in other parts of the Housatonic watershed.

Responsibilities

Specific Duties include creating and implementing annual plans, strategies and timelines, in consultation with the ED and senior leadership team, to achieve river, land, watershed environmental, recreational and community/public engagement goals. Specifically:

• Advancing programs that support HVA’s strategic conservation goals and objectives, including healthy rivers, streams and lakes; clean drinking water sources; connected and protected terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitats from local to landscape‐scales; local communities and natural areas that are climate change ready, resilient and mutually sustaining; and increased environmental awareness, and an ethic, of environmentally sound land and water use and stewardship throughout the Housatonic Watershed.
• Building on the stream assessment (water quality, shoreline surveys, culverts) work in the Southwest Branch, Green/Williams, Konkapot, Housatonic Mainstem and other river reaches within the Berkshire Housatonic Watershed, bring together key stakeholders and partners in each region to collaboratively craft watershed plans.
• Identify key implementation objectives, strategies, funding opportunities and timeline for completion, and lead on bringing same to fruition.
• Launch Water Trail Program for the Mainstem Housatonic River that creates and celebrates recreation access sites, bringing together partner and community stakeholders in a collaborative venture.
• Create opportunities for widespread public understanding of HVA’s river protection brand (river festival with partner organizations and other stakeholders, for example)
• Recognize, prioritize and take appropriate action in response to emerging issues and policy opportunities to better protect and advocate for healthy rivers and the lands that nurture them within the Housatonic Watershed.
• Oversee and manage Berkshire staff and office operations.
• Prepare annual workplan and budget for HVA’s conservation program in western Massachusetts, and effectively manage same.
• Represent HVA – be the voice for the Housatonic Watershed – in state and regional policy making and legislation.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, management, training, supervisory and evaluations skills.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including proven ability in budget development and tracking, and success in soliciting and closing local, state and national grant opportunities.
• Goal driven, with the initiative, ability and desire to successfully engage partners and stakeholders in collaborative initiatives with measurable results.
• Demonstrated accountability to the HVA mission and the HVA team.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the proven ability to develop and manage productive relationships with donors, partners, staff, board, and others.
• Strong people‐centric communication skills (verbal and written).
• Prior leadership in regional conservation partnerships or other collaborative work with local and regional conservation groups and constituencies strongly preferred.

Compensation

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Benefits include health Insurance,  retirement savings with company match, and paid time off.

To Apply

• Please email your cover letter and resume to Lynn Werner, Executive Director.