Executive Director

Environmental Advocates NY (EANY) is the leading New York nonprofit fighting for healthier communities and thriving ecosystems for all. Through education, partnerships, and advocacy, EANY has devoted more than 50 years of service to the people of New York and has been on the frontlines of every major environmental victory the state has enjoyed in the past half century.

EANY is governed by a 27-member Board of Directors and has an annual budget of approximately $2 million and a dedicated staff of 15 who oversee administration, policy, government affairs, safe and health natural resources (including clean air and water and a safe climate), campaigns, membership, fundraising, and communications. An Advisory Board of 10 provides valuable perspective and connections to other organizations and stakeholders to help further EANY’s work.

EANY is a key player as both watchdog and advocate, particularly with legislation that affects clean air and water for all New Yorkers. Most recently it was instrumental in the passage of two significant bills in New York State: the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019 and the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act of 2022*1, legislation that align closely with EANY’s mission. The implementation of these plans will be included in the new Executive Director’s work with Board, staff, partners, and other stakeholders in developing a strategic plan that will address EANY’s role, work, and resource development over the next five to 10 years.

• 1 $4.2 billion including $1.5 billion for climate.

BASIC FUNCTION

EANY seeks a dynamic, committed, and visionary Executive Director who will build upon the organization’s strong reputation and impact as both leader and partner in securing the healthy and safe climate, air, water, and communities that New Yorkers deserve. Reporting to the Board, the Executive Director will oversee the day-to-day operations and be the external face of EANY.

Leadership – Serving as the organization’s leader internally and primary advocate and thought leader externally, the Executive Director will engender the trust and confidence of the Board, staff, partners, members, and donors and will continue to raise EANY’s profile by articulating its vision and cultivating and stewarding relationships with legislators and other government stakeholders, peer institutions, grassroots and other community stakeholders, programmatic partners, the private sector, and the public. The Executive Director will ensure that programs and activities maintain high levels of quality, outreach, and participation while continuing to strengthen and safeguard internal systems, processes, and policies that support and inspire the staff.

Culture – Fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, integrity, effectiveness, and excellence, the Executive Director will advance and ground justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across EANY’s staff, programs, partnerships, collaborations, and Board. The Executive Director must be politically astute, socially agile, approachable, and grounded.

Fundraising and Resource Development – The Executive Director serves as the lead fundraiser and primary public spokesperson to garner private and public support. Working in partnership with the development, membership, and communications teams and the Board, the Executive Director will steward the portfolio of strong relationships built with foundations and individual donors, as well as manage the development of a plan for long-term income strategies that will augment and ensure diverse and robust funding streams.

The successful candidate will have experience building and diversifying an organization’s funding base. Further, they will demonstrate an ability to engage a range of current and prospective funders.

People – The Executive Director will attract, build, lead, and retain a deeply committed, competent, and responsible team with cultural sensitivity and dedication to collaboration, equity, diversity, and social justice. The Executive Director will: understand each staff member’s strengths and contributions and support and promote their work; allow staff’s skills and abilities to come forward; and assess and clarify roles, responsibilities, and scope of authority as necessary to ensure the right structural model and talents are in place to sustain EANY’s vision and direction. The Executive Director will lead, manage, and embrace the value of in- person/virtual/hybrid working.

Governance – The Executive Director will build a productive working relationship with the EANY Board, with a focus on formulating the strategic vision and direction for the organization’s future and growing and diversifying its base of private support. Additionally, they will play an active role in suggesting and recruiting new directors to the Board with an eye toward diversity of all kinds. The Executive Director also will foster Board-staff relations, building mutual trust and understanding.

THE PERSON

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, the following are highlighted:

Credibility in the Field and Passion for the Mission – The ideal candidate will exhibit passion for and commitment to climate, air, water, and other issues related to healthy communities in New York State, bringing demonstrated excellence and effectiveness from a relevant corporate or nonprofit organization or government agency. Environmental policy experience is a plus.

The Executive Director will be politically savvy. They will possess the intellectual curiosity and rigor to build relationships and promote understanding of and interact effectively with a wide range of members, peers and peer institutions, community and government stakeholders, the private sector, programmatic partners, and the public. Sensitivity to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across a wide range of communities will be important.

The Executive Director will bring experience in advocacy and credibility in a social justice arena that aligns with EANY’s mission and work. They must be equally comfortable with change coming from all sectors and halls of power and influence the grassroots, government, the law, other nonprofits, and the private sector.

Strategic Vision and Leadership – The successful candidate will have a track record as an entrepreneurial and innovative thinker with the ability to develop and implement a creative, strategic, and effective vision. This person will demonstrate broad knowledge of the key issues influencing EANY’s mission as well as the top thought leaders and organizations with whom EANY may want to collaborate and will bring a mindset of what leadership means in 2023 and will mean in the future.

Communicating, Influencing, and Building Relationships – The successful candidate will exhibit a consensus-seeking and decisive approach to problem solving that enables them to effectively build support for EANY’s initiatives. This individual will be a skilled communicator with an ability to engage effectively internally with staff and Board and externally with a diverse range of partners and audiences including grassroots partners with whom EANY has built significant credibility.

Personal Attributes – The successful candidate will lead and manage with empathy and humility and will recognize and amplify the staff’s competency, expertise, and resourcefulness. They will have the ability to be diplomatic and effective in cultivating and stewarding relationships.

COMPENSATION AND DEIA

The salary range for this position is estimated at $180,000 to $210,000. EANY is committed to an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible work environment and further recognizes that diversity in its workforce fosters excellence in its mission.

Please send applications or nominations to G. Angela Henry and Mark Tarnacki at EANY@PhillipsOppenheim.com.