Executive Director

The Sierra Nevada is known throughout the world for its rugged beauty, rich biodiversity, year-round recreational opportunities, rural and historic communities, and plentiful timber and water resources-including the source of water for 65% of Californians. With a long legacy of conservation leadership beginning with John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt, the region nonetheless faces immediate threats from irresponsible development and catastrophic wildfire, as well as the likelihood that global climate change will significantly affect its natural resources.

To address these challenges and safeguard the outstanding resources of the Northern Sierra for future generations, two local land trusts, a regional business council, a national land conservation group, and a worldwide conservation organization have come together to form the Northern Sierra Partnership, a pioneering alliance dedicated to cooperative action that will conserve the lands and waters of this region.

Drawing on the complementary strengths of these organizations, the Partnership has developed a visionary plan that integrates land protection, restoration, policy development, and community enhancement. Over the next decade, the Partnership plans to protect at least 100,000 acres of the region's highest-priority lands, and to attract up to $100 million in private funds that will leverage as much as $300 million in public funding. The effort has already inspired the strong support of a wide array of elected leaders and an impressive group of philanthropists.

Since its launch in 2007, the Partnership has identified the most critical conservation priorities for the region, secured private gifts and pledges of over $28 million, established solid working relationships between its partner organizations, and succeeded in preserving thousands of acres of land.

Position Overview:

With this foundation in place, we are now recruiting a leader with the creativity, vision and skill to build this campaign into one of the largest and most successful conservation initiatives in America today. We seek a facilitator, who can help 5 organizations achieve more than each alone might deliver. We seek an entrepreneur who can open doors, forge alliances, and create opportunities. And we seek a fundraiser, who can engage and inspire major donors with his/her vision and passion for the region.

Responsibilities:

The Executive Director's primary responsibilities include:

• Strategic planning: Working with the Governing Council and the managing partners, the ED will guide the development, implementation and periodic review of the Partnership's strategic plan (fundraising, conservation projects, strategic initiatives, and communications);
• Fundraising from private sources: Working with the Governing Council and the managing partners, the ED will design and implement long and short-term fundraising strategies to meet the goals set forth in the Partnership's strategic plan. That work will include identifying potential donors (individuals, corporations, and foundations), building relationships with those donors, soliciting gifts, and otherwise overseeing the success of the Partnership's ambitious campaign to raise funds from private sources.
• Raising public funds: Working with the Governing Council and the managing partners, the ED will identify and exploit opportunities to raise funds from state and federal sources to implement the Northern Sierra campaign.
• Leadership recruitment and development: Working with the Governing Council and the managing partners, the ED will spearhead the recruitment of talented individuals to serve on the Governing Council and ensure that they are effectively engaged in the Partnership's work. The ED will work with the Chair of the Governing Council to plan Council meetings and take other action as necessary to ensure that the Governing Council is a sophisticated and powerful driver for the Northern Sierra campaign;
• Communications: The ED will work with the Governing Council and the managing partners to develop and implement a communications and marketing strategy that advances the goals of the Northern Sierra Partnership. The ED will serve as primary spokesperson for the Partnership but will engage the managing partners in every aspect of the communications strategy.

The Executive Director will report directly to the Governing Council of the Northern Sierra Partnership and will serve as chair of the Managing Partners Committee to facilitate and advance the Partnership efforts.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have:

• a passion for the Sierra Nevada and a deep personal commitment to its protection;
• outstanding fundraising skills and a track record of demonstrated success in raising major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations;
• a proven ability to motivate volunteers and staff to achieve ambitious goals;
• 10 years of experience in conservation and/or a demonstrated knowledge and passion for the environment and an understanding of key regional policy issues;
• proven managerial skills, specifically the ability to develop, direct and manage diverse activities under deadlines and deliver high quality results;
• experience developing and implementing marketing and communications strategies;
• the skills, temperament and experience necessary to lead this unique conservation collaborative;
• a willingness and ability to make a 3 to 5 year commitment to this campaign.  

Compensation: The salary and benefits for this position are competitive and commensurate with experience.

To Apply:

If interested and qualified, please submit a resume and cover letter via email as Word document attachments.