Executive Director

~ Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) was formed in 1998 by a group of dedicated anglers, donors, guides, and scientists in the Florida Keys. BTT works to conserve and enhance global bonefish, tarpon and permit species and their marine ecosystems through science, research, education, and advocacy. ~ 

BTT is a membership based organization. BTT follows a science-based approach whereby scientific research is used to guide interactions with resource management agencies to improve management strategies for bonefish, tarpon, permit, and their habitats: to protect healthy fisheries from decline and to restore troubled fisheries.

BTTs philosophy is to work collaboratively with scientists, sponsors, guides, anglers, resource management agencies, and governments to sustain and protect functioning flats fisheries in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South-eastern United States coast.

Over the past 17 years, BTT has grown to include anglers, scientists and donors from over 20 countries. BTTs annual budget is approximately $1.5 million and there are currently nine professional staff who work full time. BTT is governed by an active Board of Directors, who meet three times a year. 

Position Overview  

The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) seeks to recruit a dynamic and innovative leader to serve as Executive Director of a growing conservation organization based in Miami, Florida. 

BTT is at a point in its evolution as a science-based conservation organization to make a transition from a dedicated group of volunteer leaders to an organization that optimizes its volunteer contributions to enhance the work of staff through the stewardship of professional leadership.

The Executive Director will be a leader who inspires the organization to engage in a deeply worthwhile mission. The Executive Director will possess the skills to continue developing and leading the organizations strategic direction and to greatly enhance BTTs fund raising resources. The Executive Director should be skilled in leading an organization that relies upon its volunteer Leaders and science-based communication strategies to advance critical policy and fundraising objectives. 

The Executive Director will be a person who has a keen desire to develop sustainable partnerships with nonprofits, corporations, foundations, public policy leaders and individual donors to advance BTTs science-based conservation strategy. In addition, the Executive Director will work to continue to enhance the governance and leadership capabilities of Board. 

In the role as Executive Director, this person will work with BTT scientists to carry BTTs conservation message to critical international, national and state private and public sector leaders. In that regard, the Executive Director needs to bring a genuine excitement and commitment about BTTs mission. The Executive Director must be an intellectually agile and engaging individual. 

Responsibilities  

The broad objectives for the Executive Director are as follows: 

• To provide leadership in evolving and implementing BTTs organizational vision, mission and strategic priorities.
• To support the development of a vibrant future by continuing to cultivate, expand and make the best use of BTTs Board, volunteer leaders, staff and members.
• To continue to expand the financial base of BTT, pursuing philanthropic funding sources and other creative sources of revenue for the organization.
• To retain, attract and manage a team of professional staff who possess the capacity to fulfill the organizations mission.
• To expand the reach, influence and public recognition of BTT as a trusted science-based conservation organization. 

Qualifications  

The Executive Director should ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes: 

Professional Qualifications: 

• A capacity to lead, inspire and mobilize people -- particularly leaders, volunteers, and other supporters -- in advancing the vision of a vibrant, science-based conservation enterprise.
• A management style that is goal oriented, but flexible; that respects the capabilities and independence of volunteers and staff alike, but provides them with a clear sense of direction.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and administering a comprehensive fundraising program including individual donor, corporate and foundation solicitation, capital campaign activities, direct mail, and other revenue generating programs.
• Experience building effective networks, partnerships, and/or coalitions.
• Bachelors degree required with an advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• The highest level of personal and professional integrity and quality standards.
• Strong work ethic and willingness to travel extensively, often for weekend and evening engagements. 

Personal Attributes: 

• Passionate commitment to the values and mission of BTT and a demonstrated conservation ethic.
• Ability to inspire trust, lead and facilitate with strong interpersonal skills and move from ideas to action.
• A team builder and an individual committed to collaboration, and volunteerism.
• A superb professional and personal presence.
• Ability to think strategically, tactically and creatively.
• Visionary, articulate, and diplomatic. 

Compensation: Compensation for the Executive Director includes a base salary and employee benefits. 

More About BTT  

Strategy 

• BTT regularly assesses the status of biological knowledge of and threats to bonefish, tarpon, and permit, and uses this information to prioritize research and conservation. Projects are identified, and either funded as grants to scientific collaborators or conducted by BTT scientific staff. Research results are used to inform and guide conservation strategies in collaboration with resource management agencies, sponsors, partners, guides, lodges, anglers and other stakeholders.

• Research results are also used to formulate education and outreach programs. The focus of BTTs strategic communication efforts is to highlight the research, conservation, and education activities as widely as possible. This interactive approach allows BTT to address both short- and long-term conservation issues affecting the flats fishery. 

A representative list of BTT's recent noteworthy accomplishments, include: 

• Hosted the 5th International Bonefish and Tarpon Symposium in November 2014, bringing together scientists, guides, anglers, and resource managers from around the world to share findings and raise awareness about global concerns around bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries.
• Funding an on-going study of water-quality, habitats, and bonefish prey in the Florida Keys to identify causes of the ongoing bonefish population decline.
• Ongoing research of juvenile tarpon habitat restoration to determine what methods of restoration are most effective. This will lead to effective restoration in the future.
• An ongoing regional population genetics study to determine population connectivity for bonefish and tarpon, which will help guide regional and international conservation strategy.
• Larval sampling and oceanographic modeling to identify tarpon spawning locations in the Gulf of Mexico, which will apply to efforts to protect these locations.
• Ongoing education and outreach programs with guides and anglers on proper catch and release practices, the importance of habitat conservation to the fisheries, and other topics. Long-term tag-recapture program to identify fish habitat use, movement patterns, migrations, and spawning locations. This information is being used to prioritize locations for conservation efforts. 

Note: The Florida Keys are recognized as the birthplace of flats fishing and it remains at the heart of modern flats fishing. Despite this long history and the continued fervour of flats anglers in pursuit of bonefish, tarpon, and permit, BTT finds itself fighting for the health of the fisheries and the flats that have provided so much to so many for so long. Although BTT is active throughout the region, the Florida Keys remain our top focus. 

Compensation: Compensation for the Executive Director includes a base salary and employee benefits. 

To Apply 

• Interested candidates should email a cover letter explaining how their skills and background fit this position and a resume to: Daniel Sherman, President, Explore Company.
• Be sure to indicate "BTT/ED" in the subject line.
• No phone inquiries please. 

~ The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~