Executive Director

The Northwest Natural Resource Group (NNRG) seeks a new Executive Director with the vision, entrepreneurial skills and passion to lead the organization through continued innovation and growth.

NNRG is an environmental and rural development advocacy organization focused on conserving small and mid-sized working forests in Washington and Oregon. These lands are at high risk of conversion to non-forest uses and contribute tremendously to lowland habitats and regional wood supply.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification underlies all of our programmatic activity. Through our Northwest Certified Forestry group certification program, we have more than 170 member landowners who have completed or are pursuing FSC certification. These include a wide range of private, public and non-profit ownerships and collectively represent 160,000 acres. In addition, we have a broad and diverse network of partners and service providers that spans the forest industry, government, environmental groups, rural development, academia and other sectors.

NNRG has pioneered FSC certification in the Northwest since the mid 1990s. This includes the certification of Fort Lewis, the first Federal land certification in the U.S., Iisaak Forest Resources, the earliest First Nations certification in British Columbia, and a variety of other milestones.

Since 2006, a major focus of the organization has been the development of ecosystem service programs and markets that benefit small forest landowners. To that end, NNRG manages NW Neutral, a carbon offset program designed to deliver high-quality carbon credits while also ensuring a predictable revenue stream to small landowners.

Position Overview:

We are looking for a new Executive Director committed to aggressively building on the successful foundation built to date. 2011 marks the beginning of a new multi-year strategic plan and the incoming Executive Director will work with the Board of Directors to shape the future of the NNRG.

We aspire to have a much-expanded positive impact within the region. To make our efforts successful, the new Director will need strong communications skills to articulate our vision to the full range of partners and stakeholders. The new Director will also need to secure new sources of funding and build new networks of support to make expansion of NNRG programs a reality.

Essential Role:

Direct community relations and oversee all fundraising activities. Cultivate new and existing supporters of the mission.

Reports To:

Board President. Serves as the team leader for relations with staff, board, volunteers and contractors to:

• Develop the annual work plan and the multi-year strategic plan;
• Lead the major donor and foundation relationships, fundraising events and capital campaigns;
• Coordinate with the Development Director on grant writing opportunities;
• Guide outreach to landowner partners, organizational partners, local and state governments, the media, NNRG's constituents, and the public at large.

Responsibilities:

Planning and implementation:

• Spearhead Annual and Strategic Planning and ensures that plans are aligned with NNRG mission;
• Lead implementation for Strategic and Annual plans;
• Develop, in partnership with Finance Director, a budget for implementing the annual plan in line with the strategic plan;
• Develop and drive, in partnership with Development Director and board, all projects related to grant writing and capital campaigns.

Program management:

• Direct development and implementation of NW Certified Forestry (NCF) and NW Neutral programs;
• Oversee financial and program development in conjunction with NCF Directors;
• Lead partnership development in both OR and WA;
• Manage operation and growth of NW Neutral program with staff and contractors.

Manage fundraising, communications and event planning:

• Create and implement, in partnership with Board of Directors, annual development plan and strategy;
• Generate fundraising and cash flow projections for the year and update monthly with finance director;
• Analyze effectiveness of fundraising strategies;
• Develop, in partnership with Board of Directors, annual budget and calendar for outreach and fundraising activities.

Develop and grow individual donor base:

• Initiate and directs annual giving campaign;
• Cultivate donors and prospects including:
• Effective communication and solicitation strategies;
• Consistent relations with multi-year donors;
• Solicitation of internal prospects;
• Fosters major donors including 1 to 2 donor recognition events annually;
• Implementation of NNRG's annual auction and other fundraising activities and events as needed.

Staff management and development:

• Supervise staff operations, serve as liaison between staff and board, and coordinate staff training and hiring within annual budget set by board;
• Drive planning, hiring and recruiting process for staff, in alignment with budget and organizational plans;
• Manage annual goal setting and regular tracking as it relates to strategic plan and grant tracking requirements;
• Define job roles and duties and build competitive compensation programs;
• Manage professional development initiatives for all staff members.

Other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Qualifications:

A successful candidate will have:

• Minimum 3-5 years experience in staff management, marketing, promotion, and fundraising.
• Demonstrated passion for environmental conservation and social equity.
• Exceptional communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team of creative and technical contractors, staff and board members.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-level projects.
• Sensitivity to, and experience in, challenging organizational development projects.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office software.

You will find a copy of the Executive Director Job description here.

Position is open until filled. Resumes will be reviewed beginning May 1st, 2011.

To Apply:

To apply, please email your resume (with salary levels), cover letter, and writing samples Shelley French, NNRG. Please reference "New Executive Director" in subject line.

Northwest Natural Resource Group 
P.O. Box 1067 
Port Townsend, WA 98368