Conservancy now hiring new Executive Director

Title: Executive Director

Start Date: Spring 2022 (April start date preferred)

Salary: $70,000 - $90,000 annual full-time exempt salary with benefits including employer paid health insurance, paid holidays and time off, $100/month phone stipend, laptop, professional development opportunities and flexible work arrangements (including option for partial remote work)

Reports to: Board of Directors

Purpose: Provide overall leadership, strategic direction and program oversight; manage development and fundraising efforts, facilitate stakeholder partnerships and ensure fiscal health of Central Colorado Conservancy

About us:

Central Colorado Conservancy (Conservancy) is an accredited land trust and collaborative, community-based conservation organization based in Salida, Colorado. Our mission is to protect the land, waters and quality of life of Central Colorado as we face pressure and rapid growth. With its location in beautiful Central Colorado, the Conservancy has become a tremendously impactful, successful and respected nonprofit within one of the state’s most vibrant agricultural, arts and recreational communities.

Since 2001, the Conservancy has protected over 5,000 acres of private lands through easements and acquisitions in our six-county service area (Chaffee, Lake, Park, Fremont, Saguache and Gunnison counties). The Conservancy also leads large-landscape watershed restoration work with partners in key landscapes (e.g. Upper Badger Creek Watershed, Park County, Colorado); delivers short-term protection of working lands through conservation contracts and funded by local government (Chaffee Common Ground); and serves in a leadership capacity in partnership with the Upper Arkansas Conservation and Lake County Conservation Districts that provide assistance to agriculture producers in the region.

We envision a future for Central Colorado that is supported by thriving communities that have safeguarded their rural character, lands, waters and wildlife for future generations.

About the Position:

The Executive Director is a full-time, exempt position (40hrs/week) who will lead our successful, growing Conservancy into a dynamic future while embracing our mission and partnering with the Board of Directors to implement the goals articulated in the strategic plan. The Executive Director will have a passion for land conservation and deeply appreciate the values of working lands, restoration, wildlife and natural resources. A resilient and enthusiastic champion of the Conservancy, the Executive Director embraces teamwork and recognizes and appreciates the extraordinary talents of the Conservancy’s staff while promoting transparency, inclusiveness and diversity. As a skilled and creative collaborator, the Executive Director will forge partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders to enhance and continue the Conservancy’s long history of success.

Candidates who identify as BIPOC, disabled, LGBTQIA+ or other underrepresented minority in the field of conservation are encouraged to apply for this role. Our work culture embraces—and is strengthened by—the unique perspectives, contributions and experiences of all our staff.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Champion and enthusiastically represent the Conservancy as the outward face and visionary leader of the organization.

• Build a resourceful, dynamic team by supporting and developing the talents of a robust staff.

• Propel organizational growth with strong development abilities and fundraising from a diversity of sources ranging from individuals to federal and state agencies.

• Foster partnerships with key stakeholders by actively collaborating with a diverse range of organizations in the community and cultivating and sustaining strong relationships with donors and members.

Other Duties:

• Create and nurture a culture of transparency, communication and support throughout the Conservancy.

• Plan, organize and direct the Conservancy’s operations and programs, welcoming the opportunity to work with staff to further solidify and enhance processes and policies.

• Embrace the Conservancy’s strategic plan by coordinating and implementing strategic goals and objectives and developing an annual budget to support the plan.

• Prepare accurate and timely analyses that capture and communicate fundraising results, variances and performance trends to donors and the Board of Directors.

• Lead and oversee the efforts of Conservancy staff to ensure appropriate support of all departments.

• Address internal and external challenges to inform best practices within the organization.

• Engage with the Board of Directors to establish a solid and collaborative partnership, including generating periodic financial statements for Board review.

Supervisory Responsibilities: five full-time and part-time staff

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Master’s degree in conservation, nonprofit management or other relevant field with 5+ years of progressive experience (may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work).

• Proven experience in leading and supervising a diverse team of professionals towards impactful strategic outcomes in a fast-paced work environment.

• Knowledge of nonprofit standard business practices.

• Innovative fundraiser with a long-term approach to organizational sustainability and the flexibility to capitalize on new opportunities that align with the Conservancy’s mission, values and priorities.

• Solid understanding of human, wildlife and private lands conservation issues in the west; an advocate for land protection and restoration on working lands, ranch lands and agricultural lands.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.

• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.

• Willingness to travel locally and regionally.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and QuickBooks.

This announcement is more of an overview of the position than a list of required qualifications. We understand that candidates have a wealth of talent, competencies and knowledge beyond the technical requirements of the position. Please consider applying if you meet most of the above qualifications and are eager and willing to learn the additional skills required to execute the position’s essential job duties and responsibilities. Professional development is an integral part of this role and working at the Conservancy.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Flexible workplace allows for partial remote work, but the position requires that the Executive Director must reside locally and be in the office regularly.

• Ability to work in a standard office setting, with considerable sitting and viewing of monitor.

• Requires reaching continually throughout the workday (mouse, keyboard and telephone).

• May include lifting up to thirty pounds on an infrequent basis. Proper lifting techniques required.

• Ability to visit remote land protection and restoration projects.

Submit your cover letter and resume as a single PDF with the file name and subject line: “Executive Director application – your full name” to Rob@CentralColoradoConservancy.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We will begin reviewing applications on March 14, 2022.

Central Colorado Conservancy provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, sex, age and any other status protected by law.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their supervisor. Nothing in this job description shall create or is intended to create, or shall be construed to constitute a contract of employment, express or implied. Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job.

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