Executive Director

~ Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, Capitol Land Trust is an accredited, non-profit and membership-based land trust dedicated to helping people conserve land. Capitol Land Trust has permanently conserved more than 13 miles of Puget Sound shoreline and 5,000 acres in southwest Washington, including land now managed as public parks, wildlife habitat, and working farms and forests. ~

Position Overview

The Board of Directors of Capitol Land Trust announces the search for their next Executive Director. Located in Olympia, Washington, we seek a dynamic leader to continue our legacy of conserving the essential lands of southwest Washington. 

In conjunction with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for leadership of Capitol Land Trust with particular focus on strategic planning and fundraising for operations, land acquisition, and perpetual stewardship. The Executive Director reports to the Executive Committee and to the Board of Directors and oversees all operational aspects of the organization.

Specifically the Executive Director is responsible for achieving the organization's land conservation, fundraising, communication, and staff development goals, and providing inspiring leadership. The Executive Director strengthens Capitol Land Trust's ability to conduct land conservation efforts, and recruits volunteer and donated resources to build the collaborations and campaigns that will make long-term success possible.

Desirable Leadership Attributes

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic candidate of high integrity and a passion for the mission, who has demonstrated persistence, and his/her ability to be creative, solve problems, listen, collaborate, and be a team player. The successful candidate will be a smart, decisive strategist with diverse interests and an affable personality.

The successful candidate must excel in the following characteristics:

• Judgment -- The Executive Director will face unanticipated opportunities and challenges on a near-daily basis. It is imperative that he/she possess the analytical skills that enable him/her to rapidly develop creative solutions, assess multiple options, and decide on the best solution.
• Creativity/Entrepreneurial Savvy -- Capitol Land Trust's mission requires completion of complex, multi-year transactions, which require the ability to rapidly assess unanticipated challenges and opportunities and develop creative solutions. The Executive Director must have the ability to find ways around significant obstacles and to envision solutions that have not previously been tried.
• Trustworthiness and Respect for Others -- Every landowner, individual, or business gives Capitol Land Trust their support voluntarily. This support is directly tied to the trust they have in the organization and its leadership. The Executive Director must sincerely respect the perspectives of every individual with whom he/she engages in the line of work.
• Commitment to the End Goal -- Each major grant and project runs into seemingly unresolvable problems along the way. Clarity in selecting the goal, and commitment to reaching it, no matter the challenges, are essential to our work, and are characteristics that Capitol Land Trust is known for.
• Renaissance Personality -- A genuine interest in and broad knowledge of all aspects of Capitol Land Trust's operation are more important than a highly-developed expertise in one, specific area.
• Ability to Balance Demands of Job and Personal Well-being -- The Executive Director must be willing to address obstacles and opportunities as they arise, and be comfortable with circumstances outside of his/her control while ensuring the ability to remain physically and emotionally fit for leading the organization into the future.

Responsibilities  

Roles and Responsibilities:

Capitol Land Trust's Executive Director serves as the face of the organization and as its administrator/manager. As the organization's face, he or she is expected to build and maintain community, collaborator, and donor relationships, ensure our positive reputation, and facilitate the organization's vision. As administrator/manager, the Executive Director must have the ability to plan ahead, handle complex negotiations, and be a persuasive fundraiser and public speaker.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Administration and Financial Management

• Manage the day-to-day operations, programs and activities of Capitol Land Trust and foster a work environment characterized by excellence, teamwork, creativity, and professionalism.
• Participate and provide guidance in Executive Committee, Development Committee, and Board Nominating and Governance Committee meetings.
• Manage all administrative aspects of Capitol Land Trust directly and through assignment of tasks to staff.
• Lead development and monitoring of the strategic plan, committee work plans, and the budget process to implement the mission, goals, and programs of the Trust.
• Coordinate and lead staff meetings.
• Oversee financial and budgetary processes to provide consistent quality financial administration, including understanding key financial controls and performing those duties, as defined within the Financial Procedures.
• Work with the Finance and Operations Manager and Board Treasurer to prepare the annual budget.
• Understand, follow, and improve (when necessary), organizational policies.

Fundraising and Outreach

• Represent Capitol Land Trust to governmental units, other organizations, the media, and the public.
• Sustain operational stability by diversifying Capitol Land Trust's funding base.
• Participate in major gift fundraising and sponsorships.
• Oversee fundraising operations and support development staff as needed.
• Encourage planned giving as a long-term strategy.

Land Conservation

• Consistent with strategic land conservation plans and in collaboration with the Conservation Program Manager, identify lands of greatest priority, undertake landowner contact, and negotiate with landowners interested in land conservation.
• Pursue appropriate strategies to complete these land conservation projects with the Board's knowledge and approval.
• Support Capitol Land Trust's Board of Directors to ensure a thorough understanding of conservation projects and an ability to make risk assessments and decisions.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with conservation and funding partners to identify and implement shared conservation priorities.
• With collaborating units of government or nonprofit partners, identify larger-scale land conservation opportunities and strategies.
• Set land acquisition goals and engage in larger-scale campaigns or programs.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong commitment to habitat and working lands conservation, and talent for collaboration and outreach.
• Ability to foster a work environment characterized by excellence, teamwork, creativity and professionalism.
• Ability to lead, encourage and manage staff, consultants, volunteers, and collaborating entities to achieve the organization's mission and goals.
• Capabilities in management of personnel through a style of open communications, accountability, and engagement of all staff in generating ideas.
• Experience in management, fundraising, outreach and marketing for land trusts, businesses, or other nonprofit organizations.
• Capabilities in business and financial management of nonprofit organizations
• Experience working effectively and collaboratively with a board of directors.
• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in natural resources, business, non-profit administration or a related field, and experience commensurate with the needs of the position.
• Working knowledge of local, state and federal land protection regulations, laws and programs, including state and federal funding mechanisms.
• Working knowledge of methods for land conservation real estate transactions, including conservation easements through cooperative relationships with landowners.
• Valid Washington State driver's license and reliable vehicle.

Compensation: Salary: $67,000 to $77,000 annually, commensurate with experience. 

To Apply

Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to submit your letter of interest and résumé.