Audubon seeks a dynamic leader to serve as the Vice President and Executive Director of Audubon Minnesota and Upper Mississippi River, leading the organization to its next level of conservation and fiscal success. The leader will build on the rich history of conservation and expand Audubon Minnesota’s contributions to conservation across Minnesota and throughout the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi Flyway.
The Vice President and Executive Director will exercise broad leadership and management responsibility in developing statewide conservation strategies, initiatives, and public programming. This will include working closely with the Audubon regional Advisory Boards of Directors and staff, and Audubon’s key national conservation leaders to continue to develop the state program in tandem with strategic regional and national priorities, including Audubon Minnesota’s evolving role with the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi Flyway.
The position will report directly to Rebeccah Sanders, Vice President, Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi Flyway and Senior Advisor to the Chief Conservation Officer.
Areas of Responsibility:
Conservation Strategy Development
- Develop strategic goals and initiatives aligned with Audubon’s overall conservation goals and strategies that result in the organization’s increased region-wide capacity to achieve the conservation of priority birds and their habitats. Priorities include:
- Important Bird Areas (IBAs) protection throughout the region;
- Engaging in community science, conservation, and engagement;
- In conjunction with senior management, explore opportunities and the feasibility of expanding Audubon leadership along the Upper Mississippi Flyway.
Organizational Leadership
- Provide leadership, management, and mentoring to staff while preserving open communication and recognizing the value of the management team.
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the office, including setting financial and programmatic goals, analyzing results, and taking corrective actions, in close collaboration with local and national staff; ensure that all Audubon financial standards, operating policies, programmatic commitments, and legal requirements are met.
- Focus resources on the most critical, high-leverage projects and strategies, including policy development and public engagement, focused on population centers.
- Leverage the impact of Audubon physical assets to achieve state, regional and national goals.
Fundraising and External Relations
- Represent Audubon throughout the region and raise its profile and visibility to funders, partners, policymakers, and the public.
- Play a key role in fundraising and ensure Audubon’s ability to cultivate and solicit major donors, foundations, corporations and government agencies to significantly increase contributions.
- Play an active role in helping to promote fundraising for regional priority projects across the Mississippi Flyway working with other state directors, the program managers and other supporting staff.
- Collaborate with other Audubon state programs and national Development staff on donor strategies under the One Audubon approach to members and donors.
Stakeholder Relations
- Work closely with the Audubon Advisory Board of Directors to support development and growth to further the development of a strong regional organization through fundraising, program development, and conservation advocacy.
- Work closely with, support and provide guidance to the Chapters in the region to expand Audubon’s capacity for on-the-ground conservation and education at scale. Work to strengthen the regional presence of Audubon, and support these organizations in their local efforts.
- Prioritize engagement and activation of the region’s diverse population communities in the Audubon movement, including chapter leadership, advisory board participation, staffing, volunteers, program participation, and partnerships across the region.
- Work with government departments and non-governmental organizations to promote and prioritize bird science and habitat conservation.
Educational Background:
Bachelor’s degree required.
Skills/Experience:
- Substantial and progressively responsible professional experience, including 3+ years as an enterprise executive with accountability over multiple programs and/or regions.
- Experience in the field of conservation; knowledge of how conservation work is advanced in the region (Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri) and knowledge of key conservation leaders is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing complex or multiple projects through to success, including meeting financial goals, project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners, in organizations of similar or greater size.
- Demonstrated success in fundraising; experience with major donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders.
- An array of experience in public policy development and advocacy, campaigns, lobbying, and/or involvement in the state legislature and/or in working with members of Congress.
- Demonstrated commitment to creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment; ability to build and lead a diverse team of staff, board members and supporters.
Skills
- Strong leadership skills, with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong business and management skills; demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate staff, volunteers, donors, and potential partners a must.
- Demonstrated ability to succeed in a highly matrixed, complex organization—strong ability to influence and persuade others required.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, judgment, and a demonstrated ability to collaborate and build coalitions with a wide range of individuals and organizations at the local, regional, and national levels.
- Excellent and persuasive communication skills, both written and verbal, including substantial public speaking experience, and the ability to effectively represent Audubon to its members, state and federal elected officials, donors, and chapter leaders, as well as in traditional and social media.
- Tech-savvy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, budgeting systems and donor databases. Comfort with and interest in leveraging technology to maximize conservation impact and network engagement. Knowledge of Salesforce is strongly preferred.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of regional political and demographic reality with broad connections to partners and the philanthropic community strongly desired.
- Knowledge and appreciation of, as well as connection to Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes area and its environment, conservation and political history, and the role of science in developing conservation strategies.
- Knowledge of funders and donors engaged in conservation philanthropy in Minnesota preferred. Experience with Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund and Legacy Funds is strongly preferred.
Personal Characteristics
- Willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout the state and nationally, as required.
- A strong commitment to the mission, values, and programs of the National Audubon Society.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Oct 4 2018
Active Until:
Nov 4 2018
Hiring Organization:
National Audubon Society
industry:
Nonprofit