Executive Director

The Northwest Earth Institute, with headquarters in Portland, Oregon, seeks to hire an Executive Director. The Institute has a staff of ten and an annual budget of $600,000. 

The Institute's mission is motivating individuals to examine and transform personal values and habits, to accept responsibility for the earth, and to act on that commitment. The Institute develops programs and, with trained volunteers, offers them to groups of people where they naturally spend their time: the home, workplace, center of faith, high school, and neighborhood. The core program is a series of six discussion courses carefully designed in both substance and process to have significant impact on participants. 

Thousands of people are involved each year in the Northwest Earth Institute's programs that empower individuals and organizations to protect the earth. In addition to an active outreach in the Portland area, the Institute offers programs through a network of chapters and organized volunteer groups in 14 Northwest communities (in Oregon and Washington). 

Additionally, in 1997 the Institute began sharing its discussion courses with community organizers and autonomous organizations in other regions. The courses have now been offered in over 600 communities in all 50 states; cumulative enrollment is 64,000 (16,000 in the Portland area, 12,000 in other Northwest communities, and 36,000 in other regions). For more information about the Institute, see www.nwei.org. 

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive of the Institute, reporting to the Board of Directors. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with strong interpersonal skills who loves a challenge, and who derives satisfaction from working on a cause that has far-reaching community impact. He or she will have excellent leadership and communication skills; will have the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances; and will have imagination, vision, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep personal commitment to the values of the Institute's mission. 

Responsibilities: 

The Executive Director is responsible for developing, and ensuring that the Institute meets or exceeds, its financial, strategic and programmatic goals each year. Specific responsibilities include: 

*  Strategic planning and program development. 
*  Communications with the board of directors and key stakeholders. 
*  Management of the Portland office, including a staff of nine employees; oversight of financial and management systems; and coordination of the annual budgeting process. 
*  Management of the Institute's outreach with programs in Portland and other Northwest communities, and through autonomous groups in other regions. 
*  Fundraising from individual donors and foundations; membership development. 
*  Management of the Institute's large network of committed volunteers. 
*  Originates effective and positive public relations and community relations. 

Skills and Attributes: 

The successful candidate should possess a broad skill set, including the following professional skills and personal attributes: 

*  Proven success in organizational effectiveness and achieving results; strategic, entrepreneurial, and proactive in developing and managing programs. 
*  Demonstrated leadership skills; effectively communicate organizational mission; ability to inspire and motivate others. 
*  Demonstrated skills as a supervisor in developing staff. 
*  Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
*  Strong analytical and problem solving skills and experience. 
*  Proven ability to develop project and organizational budgets, to oversee financial details, and to manage a budget in accordance with revenue developments. 
*  Successful fundraising skills, preferably with experience obtaining funding from both foundations and major donors. 
*  Deep personal commitment to the values of environmental sustainability and to the mission of the Northwest Earth Institute. 
*  The highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards. 
*  Previous experience in a nonprofit environment a plus. 

Send cover letter & resume to peter@whitefoxgroup.com