Executive Director

~ North Cascades Institute is a regional conservation organization with a national reputation focused on “transformative learning experiences in nature,” including place-based environmental education, outdoor recreation, health and wellness, conservation, environmental justice, and community engagement. ~

The Institute was established in 1986 to connect people, nature, and community in the Pacific Northwest. We do this through science, art, literature, storytelling, and direct engagement with the natural and cultural history of the region. Many of our programs are conducted at the world class North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, a green-built residential facility that opened in 2005, which we operate in partnership with the National Park Service and Seattle City Light.

We share a deep love of nature, especially for the North Cascades ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. We approach our work with an entrepreneurial spirit and an enduring belief that all people have a fundamental right to learn, recreate, explore, connect, celebrate, and heal through direct relationships with natural places. As a learning institute, we are committed to cultivating a community of belonging that is welcoming and accessible to everyone so that people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, people, and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest.

Position Overview

North Cascades Institute seeks their next Executive Director to lead the organization in inspiring environmental stewardship and a community of belonging through transformative learning experiences in nature.

The Executive Director must be equally an educational visionary, entrepreneurial fundraiser, and an organizational leader. North Cascades Institute utilizes a strong endowment, a committed group of donors and customers, and a high-quality group of dedicated staff and educational, agency and school partners to deepen its ties to its region and grow the breadth of its impact. The Executive Director oversees the organization’s annual operating budget of approximately $4 million, oversees 60 staff, and reports to a 16-member board of directors. The Executive Director is also responsible for advancing North Cascades Institute’s vision, mission, and goals and for upholding the beliefs and values that form its organizational culture.

We are looking for a leader who brings a whole-hearted approach to work and strives to create a sense of kinship, inclusion, and stewardship that encourages all to care for and protect this special place.

North Cascades Institute utilizes a strong endowment, a committed group of donors and customers, and a high-quality group of dedicated staff and educational, agency and school partners to deepen its ties to its region and grow the breadth of its impact. The Executive Director oversees the organization’s annual operating budget of approximately $4 million, oversees 60 staff, and reports to a 16-member board of directors. The Executive Director is also responsible for advancing North Cascades Institute’s vision, mission, and goals and for upholding the beliefs and values that form our organizational culture.

• Location: The Executive Director will be based out of the Institute’s main office in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, with frequent travel to the Environmental Learning Center in North Cascades National Park. Remote leadership is expected until it is safe to resume working in an office setting.
• Note: To view the entire position specification, click here.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate may come from a variety of career pathways. Critical to success will be a passion for the mission of the organization and a capacity to lead an established, successful organization through changing times while continuing to deliver on that mission. Executive leadership skills, paired with a creative, collaborative, and often entrepreneurial approach, are essential.

The following are desired qualities:

• Passion for the organizational mission and deep experience working in nature with people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds
• A practical idealist, curious listener, provocative question asker, and creative problem solver with a demonstrated ability to think strategically and make decisions efficiently
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to motivate others, offer a steady hand through adversity and uncertainty, and present an inspiring and imaginative vision for the future
• Humble, empathetic, and inclusive of various perspectives; able to resolve conflicts and find common ground
• Extensive management experience in positions of increasing responsibility and authority that showcase an ability to develop the strengths of staff, board, and partners as well as acknowledge one’s own areas for potential growth
• Previous experience in building internal capacities and creating more access for historically marginalized peoples/groups
• Demonstrated fundraising experience and success, including private philanthropy, corporate donations, and government grants
• Experience managing a complex budget with multiple funding sources
• Able to maintain a wide network of stakeholders, including local, state, federal, and/or tribal government agencies and other organizational partners, delivering clear communication and working to build cohesion
• Skilled in organizational development, administration, and personnel management, with attention to detail, flexibility, integrity, confidence, and a sense of humor
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and comfort with public speaking

Compensation

This is a regular, full-time, exempt position with an anticipated salary between $120,000-$150,000 with a competitive compensation package; benefits include paid time off, medical/dental insurance, long- and short-term disability insurance, life insurance, tax-deferred annuity and contribution retirement plan, and a yearly stipend to participate in Institute programs. Relocation assistance will be offered if necessary.

To Apply

• Interested candidates should click "Apply" below to email a cover letter describing their qualifications that match the position criteria and what they will bring to the role, along with a resume, to Cleveland Justis, with the subject line “North Cascades Institute, Executive Director Search.”
  • Start Date: Applicant should be available to start no later than May 1, 2021 to allow overlap with current and founding executive director, Saul Weisberg, who will be retiring in June.

North Cascades Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our effectiveness is enhanced when equity and inclusiveness are practiced and protected throughout our organizational governance, culture, and staffing. Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at North Cascades Institute. The Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship, or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies, programs or operations.