Wilcox Miller & Nelson
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
“United Way California Capital Region has been serving our five-county region for nearly 100 years to build stronger, healthier, and more compassionate communities. We are dedicated to improving the lives of families and children, and strengthening communities in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties.”
Our client, United Way California Capital Region (UWCCR) [yourlocalunitedway.org], is seeking a dynamic new President and Chief Executive Officer. This individual will replace Stephanie McLemore Bray, who left UWCCR after seven very productive years, to join Seattle Foundation as its Chief Engagement Officer. At the end of 2020, UWCCR received a “game changer” donation of $10 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The new President and CEO is coming into a well-resourced organization, one that is seeking new leadership to leverage this incredible gift.
United Way California Capital Region is an independent local affiliate of United Way Worldwide with a local board of directors. United Way Worldwide is an international movement of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 40 countries. It advances the common good by focusing on education, income, and health – the building blocks for a good quality life. The United Way movement mobilizes millions to action – to give, advocate and volunteer – to improve conditions in their local community.
Founded nearly 100 years ago to improve people’s lives and build stronger communities in the capital area, UWCCR continues to be a backbone in the community, serving as a leader amongst nonprofits. It serves a five-county region -- Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo -- with a total population of nearly 2.4 million people. The mission of UWCCR is to improve people’s lives in the region by mobilizing and integrating resources.
The current work has UWCCR spearheading regional relief efforts during the pandemic. In the early months, the organization raised $572,000 to provide 1,145 families with $500 to offset costs of rent, bills and basic needs. The organization is also working with the city of Sacramento on a digital equity program to provide free broadband access to up to 10,000 low-income Sacramento households, plus free computers and digital literacy training for another thousand households. UWCCR also continues their The Square One Project, launched in 2016. Square One is a 20-year promise to significantly increase the number of local students who graduate from high school, ready for success in college or career. Ending poor health, high unemployment, racial inequality and poverty starts in school. School is “square one” for reaching all families and ensuring children are healthy and successful.
Importantly, our United Way shares the community’s feelings of sadness and outrage toward racial violence and injustice. We are committed to building stronger, healthier and more compassionate communities and channeling our justifiable outrage to collaborative action, and we are seeking new leadership to do just that.
POSITION SUMMARY
The President and CEO reports to an engaged, dedicated, and high energy 25-member Board of Directors, comprised of regional community members and business leaders. The position oversees 39 staff members, an operating budget of approximately $7 million, assets of $19 million, and is projected to raise $9 million in the current budget cycle. In 2018-19, UWCCR generated nearly $13 million in resources for the communities it serves.
As the leader of the organization, the President and CEO establishes a vision for community impact in the five-county region. The President and CEO is the chief mobilizer, leveraging the power of relationships and networks to engage private, public, and corporate sectors to improve communities in our region. The President and CEO is the steward of the brand and understands his/her/their position’s role in growing and protecting the reputation of United Way California Capital Region, building trust, and clearly establishing the relevance of United Way in the community.
The President and CEO’s primary responsibilities include:
Partner with the Board to craft and adapt the strategy to achieve increased community impact and thereby build the core business.
Establish and build relationships with leaders in the community including those representing the top levels in the business, government, and non-profit sectors.
Drive key results in fundraising and promote a culture of philanthropy in the organization, both at the staff and board level.
Serve as the principal resource to the Board of Directors and its key committees and give strong direction in policy formulation and interpretation.
Partner with the Board of Directors and staff to craft organizational goals and develop strategies to ensure that they are achieved.
Ensure coordination and alignment of all United Way activities and resources towards achieving the goals.
Build and lead a high-performing team, ensuring team alignment, and collaboration to achieve organizational results.
Oversee the operational and fiscal integrity of the organization, managing within policies set by the Board of Directors.
Assess organizational capacity to implement strategies and identify gaps in systems and staffing while managing organizational spending, budget compliance, and financial risks.
Ensure that United Way California Capital Region demonstrates the importance of inclusiveness and diversity among staff and volunteers.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES FOR THE FIRST YEAR
It is expected that the President/Chief Executive Officer will achieve the following by the end of the first year (in implementation order):
Within the first 90 days…
In conjunction with the Board Chair and Executive Committee, will have:
met with UWCCR executive staff and other employees to begin building relationships and understanding the high-priority activities and key dates already in flight.
identified and met with an agreed upon “top 10%” of major stakeholders (board members, committee chairs, other nonprofits, community leaders, unions, and business community) to begin establishing relationships.
will have gained an understanding of the Board’s priorities and the current “state of the business” and conducted an internal and external SWOT assessment (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats).
will have assessed the current five-year strategic plan.
Within the first 180 days…
will have met with the balance of the noted stakeholders and, as appropriate, commenced ongoing communication and continued relationship building.
in support of the strategic plan, will have assessed the current fundraising structure and strategy and elevated it to support the dynamic level of fundraising required to fulfill the mission.
with the Board’s support, will have made value-added changes and plans to execute in support of creating “UWCCR 2.0,” addressing the issues in the five-county region.
in support of the strategic plan, will have evaluated current roles (including possibly adding a COO), aligned responsibilities, and created development plans to support and retain valued staff.
will have established effective and transparent financial internal controls and record keeping.
will be inviting and have been invited to the table for significant regional initiatives.
Will have assessed the tools (e.g., technology) needed for ongoing operations in support of the strategic plan.
By the end of the first year of employment…
as defined by the metrics, will be successfully implementing the strategic plan.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Successful candidates will have the following professional experience that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above (in priority order):
Demonstrated ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets (Internal)
Senior-level leadership with supervisory responsibility of multiple direct reports (Internal)
Significant fundraising and campaign experience with proven record of successfully cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts and grants (External)
Experience in successful coalition building to achieve strategic aims (External)
Experience in working with a board. Could be as a board member (Internal)
Experience partnering with non-profit service organizations (External)
Experience in advocacy, government affairs, and public relations (External)
A track record of a focus on staff development and experience in building a positive workplace culture (Internal)
A track record of a significant, dedicated, intentional focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, demonstrated by involvement in programs and initiatives (Internal/External)
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
Successful candidates will have the following competencies that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above (in priority order):
Financial management
Ability to raise funds for mission-related causes
Future focused/visionary
Exceptional communication skills, oral and written
Servant leader
Ability to develop strategic alliances and collaborate with other leaders
High level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Ability to effectively relate to people at all levels, internally and externally
EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS
Successful candidates will have the following education and credentials that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above:
Undergraduate degree required
History of ongoing self-education
VALUES / WORK CULTURE
The ideal candidate will possess values, a work style, personal traits, attributes, and characteristics that will create an excellent fit with the organization’s culture and structure (in priority order):
Integrity and trustworthiness
Passion for our mission
We dream BIG! Visionary
The highest level of customer service, internal and external
Equity and inclusion
Forward-thinking
Heart
Transparent
THE COMMUNITY
This position is located in the Sacramento Region which includes the five counties of Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo. The largest metropolitan area is Sacramento, the capital of California.
The city of Sacramento is the cultural and economic center of the Sacramento metropolitan area, the fourth largest city in California and the 25th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, in nearby Davis. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of 19 hospitals in the Sacramento region.
The Sacramento region is experiencing a profound shift in its competitive position, in large part due to an influx of entrepreneurs, businesses, creative professionals, and remote workers looking to escape costly urban living. The Greater Sacramento Area is a top employer in life sciences and health services. As part of the agriculturally rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of agritech innovation and is considered America’s Farm-to-Fork capital.
Sacramento is also home to the NBA Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento River Cats (the San Francisco Giant’s AAA baseball team), and the Sacramento Republic FC, a USL Professional soccer team. The Golden 1 Center, a high-tech basketball and entertainment arena and the new home of the Kings, opened in 2016, starting a downtown renaissance.
The Crocker Art Museum is one of the leading art museums in California. Plans are underway for the development of an adjacent park into a public, art-focused gathering place. The Sacramento metropolitan area boasts more than 200 parks, four public golf courses, and is known for outdoor recreation including hiking, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, running, and biking.
The world-renowned Napa Valley is an hour’s drive away. San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and more than a dozen ski resorts are less than a two-hour drive from Sacramento. Sacramento International Airport handles non-stop flights to and from more than thirty-two U.S. destinations (including Hawaii), as well as Canada and Mexico.
For more information, visit the Greater Sacramento Economic Council’s website www.selectsacramento.com .
COMPENSATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS
The competitive compensation package includes a salary of $200,000 plus a results-based bonus of up to 10%, based on meeting the above noted expectations. The position is also eligible for employer-paid health insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan.
Pre-screened, selected candidates will be invited for an initial interview in Sacramento, CA, with the Search Committee, on Monday, September 13, 2021, with second interviews the following morning.
PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
For confidential consideration, at your earliest convenience and no later than COB on August 13, 2021, please email your chronological resume (to include description and size of current/prior organizations and responsibilities) and compensation expectations to:
UnitedWay-CEO@wilcoxcareer.com
We strongly encourage and welcome applications from all qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender identity and expression, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
“United Way California Capital Region has been serving our five-county region for nearly 100 years to build stronger, healthier, and more compassionate communities. We are dedicated to improving the lives of families and children, and strengthening communities in Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties.”
Our client, United Way California Capital Region (UWCCR) [yourlocalunitedway.org], is seeking a dynamic new President and Chief Executive Officer. This individual will replace Stephanie McLemore Bray, who left UWCCR after seven very productive years, to join Seattle Foundation as its Chief Engagement Officer. At the end of 2020, UWCCR received a “game changer” donation of $10 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The new President and CEO is coming into a well-resourced organization, one that is seeking new leadership to leverage this incredible gift.
United Way California Capital Region is an independent local affiliate of United Way Worldwide with a local board of directors. United Way Worldwide is an international movement of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 40 countries. It advances the common good by focusing on education, income, and health – the building blocks for a good quality life. The United Way movement mobilizes millions to action – to give, advocate and volunteer – to improve conditions in their local community.
Founded nearly 100 years ago to improve people’s lives and build stronger communities in the capital area, UWCCR continues to be a backbone in the community, serving as a leader amongst nonprofits. It serves a five-county region -- Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo -- with a total population of nearly 2.4 million people. The mission of UWCCR is to improve people’s lives in the region by mobilizing and integrating resources.
The current work has UWCCR spearheading regional relief efforts during the pandemic. In the early months, the organization raised $572,000 to provide 1,145 families with $500 to offset costs of rent, bills and basic needs. The organization is also working with the city of Sacramento on a digital equity program to provide free broadband access to up to 10,000 low-income Sacramento households, plus free computers and digital literacy training for another thousand households. UWCCR also continues their The Square One Project, launched in 2016. Square One is a 20-year promise to significantly increase the number of local students who graduate from high school, ready for success in college or career. Ending poor health, high unemployment, racial inequality and poverty starts in school. School is “square one” for reaching all families and ensuring children are healthy and successful.
Importantly, our United Way shares the community’s feelings of sadness and outrage toward racial violence and injustice. We are committed to building stronger, healthier and more compassionate communities and channeling our justifiable outrage to collaborative action, and we are seeking new leadership to do just that.
POSITION SUMMARY
The President and CEO reports to an engaged, dedicated, and high energy 25-member Board of Directors, comprised of regional community members and business leaders. The position oversees 39 staff members, an operating budget of approximately $7 million, assets of $19 million, and is projected to raise $9 million in the current budget cycle. In 2018-19, UWCCR generated nearly $13 million in resources for the communities it serves.
As the leader of the organization, the President and CEO establishes a vision for community impact in the five-county region. The President and CEO is the chief mobilizer, leveraging the power of relationships and networks to engage private, public, and corporate sectors to improve communities in our region. The President and CEO is the steward of the brand and understands his/her/their position’s role in growing and protecting the reputation of United Way California Capital Region, building trust, and clearly establishing the relevance of United Way in the community.
The President and CEO’s primary responsibilities include:
Partner with the Board to craft and adapt the strategy to achieve increased community impact and thereby build the core business.
Establish and build relationships with leaders in the community including those representing the top levels in the business, government, and non-profit sectors.
Drive key results in fundraising and promote a culture of philanthropy in the organization, both at the staff and board level.
Serve as the principal resource to the Board of Directors and its key committees and give strong direction in policy formulation and interpretation.
Partner with the Board of Directors and staff to craft organizational goals and develop strategies to ensure that they are achieved.
Ensure coordination and alignment of all United Way activities and resources towards achieving the goals.
Build and lead a high-performing team, ensuring team alignment, and collaboration to achieve organizational results.
Oversee the operational and fiscal integrity of the organization, managing within policies set by the Board of Directors.
Assess organizational capacity to implement strategies and identify gaps in systems and staffing while managing organizational spending, budget compliance, and financial risks.
Ensure that United Way California Capital Region demonstrates the importance of inclusiveness and diversity among staff and volunteers.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES FOR THE FIRST YEAR
It is expected that the President/Chief Executive Officer will achieve the following by the end of the first year (in implementation order):
Within the first 90 days…
In conjunction with the Board Chair and Executive Committee, will have:
met with UWCCR executive staff and other employees to begin building relationships and understanding the high-priority activities and key dates already in flight.
identified and met with an agreed upon “top 10%” of major stakeholders (board members, committee chairs, other nonprofits, community leaders, unions, and business community) to begin establishing relationships.
will have gained an understanding of the Board’s priorities and the current “state of the business” and conducted an internal and external SWOT assessment (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats).
will have assessed the current five-year strategic plan.
Within the first 180 days…
will have met with the balance of the noted stakeholders and, as appropriate, commenced ongoing communication and continued relationship building.
in support of the strategic plan, will have assessed the current fundraising structure and strategy and elevated it to support the dynamic level of fundraising required to fulfill the mission.
with the Board’s support, will have made value-added changes and plans to execute in support of creating “UWCCR 2.0,” addressing the issues in the five-county region.
in support of the strategic plan, will have evaluated current roles (including possibly adding a COO), aligned responsibilities, and created development plans to support and retain valued staff.
will have established effective and transparent financial internal controls and record keeping.
will be inviting and have been invited to the table for significant regional initiatives.
Will have assessed the tools (e.g., technology) needed for ongoing operations in support of the strategic plan.
By the end of the first year of employment…
as defined by the metrics, will be successfully implementing the strategic plan.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Successful candidates will have the following professional experience that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above (in priority order):
Demonstrated ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets (Internal)
Senior-level leadership with supervisory responsibility of multiple direct reports (Internal)
Significant fundraising and campaign experience with proven record of successfully cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts and grants (External)
Experience in successful coalition building to achieve strategic aims (External)
Experience in working with a board. Could be as a board member (Internal)
Experience partnering with non-profit service organizations (External)
Experience in advocacy, government affairs, and public relations (External)
A track record of a focus on staff development and experience in building a positive workplace culture (Internal)
A track record of a significant, dedicated, intentional focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, demonstrated by involvement in programs and initiatives (Internal/External)
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
Successful candidates will have the following competencies that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above (in priority order):
Financial management
Ability to raise funds for mission-related causes
Future focused/visionary
Exceptional communication skills, oral and written
Servant leader
Ability to develop strategic alliances and collaborate with other leaders
High level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Ability to effectively relate to people at all levels, internally and externally
EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS
Successful candidates will have the following education and credentials that will allow them to achieve the outcomes noted above:
Undergraduate degree required
History of ongoing self-education
VALUES / WORK CULTURE
The ideal candidate will possess values, a work style, personal traits, attributes, and characteristics that will create an excellent fit with the organization’s culture and structure (in priority order):
Integrity and trustworthiness
Passion for our mission
We dream BIG! Visionary
The highest level of customer service, internal and external
Equity and inclusion
Forward-thinking
Heart
Transparent
THE COMMUNITY
This position is located in the Sacramento Region which includes the five counties of Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo. The largest metropolitan area is Sacramento, the capital of California.
The city of Sacramento is the cultural and economic center of the Sacramento metropolitan area, the fourth largest city in California and the 25th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, in nearby Davis. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of 19 hospitals in the Sacramento region.
The Sacramento region is experiencing a profound shift in its competitive position, in large part due to an influx of entrepreneurs, businesses, creative professionals, and remote workers looking to escape costly urban living. The Greater Sacramento Area is a top employer in life sciences and health services. As part of the agriculturally rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of agritech innovation and is considered America’s Farm-to-Fork capital.
Sacramento is also home to the NBA Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento River Cats (the San Francisco Giant’s AAA baseball team), and the Sacramento Republic FC, a USL Professional soccer team. The Golden 1 Center, a high-tech basketball and entertainment arena and the new home of the Kings, opened in 2016, starting a downtown renaissance.
The Crocker Art Museum is one of the leading art museums in California. Plans are underway for the development of an adjacent park into a public, art-focused gathering place. The Sacramento metropolitan area boasts more than 200 parks, four public golf courses, and is known for outdoor recreation including hiking, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, running, and biking.
The world-renowned Napa Valley is an hour’s drive away. San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and more than a dozen ski resorts are less than a two-hour drive from Sacramento. Sacramento International Airport handles non-stop flights to and from more than thirty-two U.S. destinations (including Hawaii), as well as Canada and Mexico.
For more information, visit the Greater Sacramento Economic Council’s website www.selectsacramento.com .
COMPENSATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS
The competitive compensation package includes a salary of $200,000 plus a results-based bonus of up to 10%, based on meeting the above noted expectations. The position is also eligible for employer-paid health insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan.
Pre-screened, selected candidates will be invited for an initial interview in Sacramento, CA, with the Search Committee, on Monday, September 13, 2021, with second interviews the following morning.
PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
For confidential consideration, at your earliest convenience and no later than COB on August 13, 2021, please email your chronological resume (to include description and size of current/prior organizations and responsibilities) and compensation expectations to:
UnitedWay-CEO@wilcoxcareer.com
We strongly encourage and welcome applications from all qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender identity and expression, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
National Wildlife Federation
MISSOULA, MT; or SEATTLE, WA
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone in America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21st century.
Our organization operates from offices across the country, including our headquarters in Reston, Virginia; a National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C.; and seven regional centers. The Federation also works with our 53 state and territory affiliates—autonomous, nonprofit organizations that take the lead in state and local conservation efforts and collaborate with the National Wildlife Federation to conduct grassroots activities on national issues.
Through conservation policy oversight, program development, fundraising, collaboration and personnel management, the Regional Executive Director (RED) provides organizational leadership in the Northern Rockies, Prairies and Pacific Region. The RED collaborates with affiliate partners and other organizations within the region in support of the National Wildlife Federation's strategic plan ( A Common Agenda for Wildlife ) and our Equity and Justice Strategic Plan . The RED strategically engages NWF Board members and collaborates with regional center staff to help identify and cultivate potential new leaders for NWF.
The RED reports to the Chief Program Officer and works collaboratively with other senior leaders to advance the strategic direction of the organization. This position may be based in Missoula, MT or Seattle, WA . Please Note: Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return to work decisions.
About Our Region:
The Northern Rockies, Prairies & Pacific Region spans a large and diverse geographic landscape across the states of Alaska, Hawai’i, Oregon, Washington and California in the Pacific; Montana and Idaho in the Rockies; and North and South Dakota in the Great Plains. Our work is based out of two primary offices, in Missoula and Seattle, and a smaller office near Portland, Oregon.
Our regional team has proven its commitment to wildlife and people by advancing landscape-scale conservation through four decades of successful campaigns to protect grizzly bears, restore bison on public and Tribal lands, secure safe habitat for bighorn sheep, and fight for runs of wild salmon. Working closely with our affiliates, Tribal/Native/Indigenous entities and other conservation and community partners, our programs help expand Monarch migration pathways, restore beavers for riparian health, expand protection for Native Hawaiian seabirds, and connect children and families with nature, and more. Some of our conservation programs extend beyond our region, including work on western water, wildlife habitat connectivity, and youth and adult education. Details on these and other program priorities can be found on our regional website: https://www.nwf.org/Northern-Rockies-and-Pacific-Region .
Principal Duties of the Regional Executive Director:
The RED is accountable for developing and implementing programs and strategies that enable the National Wildlife Federation to achieve outcomes articulated in our Strategic and Equity and Justice Plans and serves as an important “face and voice” for the organization in the Northern Rockies, Prairies & Pacific Region.
Additionally, the RED:
Provides organizational leadership, program development, and targeted campaign management that effectively advances our mission and objectives;
Fosters an inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture that supports staff in functioning as a highly integrated and effective team across a geographically diverse, highly matrixed organization;
Achieves the organization’s regional philanthropic and fundraising goals by working with staff to engage current and potential funders, individuals, foundations, and corporations to support our work;
Manages the Regional Center’s budget and stewards the organization’s financial resources;
Builds and maintains authentic relationships with political, affiliate, business, education, indigenous, governmental and community leaders with a diverse and representative range of group identities;
Demonstrates a personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity and justice within the organization and in external program delivery, partnerships, and communications;
Advances the National Wildlife Federation's long-term conservation goals as well as our values of collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, mindfulness, and mission-focused work.
Qualifications:
Strong candidates for this position will bring experience in organizational leadership, including demonstrated proficiency in personnel management, teambuilding and delegation; strategic planning and program implementation; conservation advocacy and policy advancement; developing and engaging partners from diverse communities; non-profit fundraising, and working with non-profit boards, government and Tribal agencies, and corporate entities. These proficiencies are typically consistent with approximately ten years of professional experience.
Conservation Policy, Advocacy and Implementation
Familiar with fundamental conservation principles and practices, with educational background and/or professional expertise in conservation, environmental justice or a related field
Comfortable leading and participating in advocacy campaigns and activities, including public speaking and press interviews as well as written communications
Shows insights about diverse tools to achieve conservation goals, including advocacy, education/outreach, and direct work on the ground (implementation); able to help staff prioritize which tools are appropriate given different opportunities.
Exhibits insights about how diverse program activities can be integrated for long-term conservation success
Fundraising and Fiscal Accountability:
Demonstrates proficiency and success in cultivating donor relationships, soliciting gifts and stewarding ongoing support from new and existing major donors, in cooperation with philanthropy staff
A track record of foundation and corporate fundraising success
Familiar with successful approaches to expand support though events, digital format fundraising and one-on-one engagement
Desired Leadership Competencies:
Self-Awareness & Learning
Exhibits a commitment to continuous learning and growth and models this approach with others
Dedicated to deepening understanding of cultural and systemic racism and the intersectionality of multiple forms of social inequality
Demonstrates awareness of positional power and privilege (both personally and professionally) and its attendant impacts
Consistently brings a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions
Authentic Relationships & Community Partnerships
Maintains a sophisticated understanding of how group dynamics impact supervisory relationships, organizational culture, partnerships, campaigns and coalition work
Demonstrates capacity to maintain relationships across difference and create greater psychological safety in the workplace
Acknowledges when mistakes are made and harm is done; works to repair breaches in relationships
Openly holds space, and invites others into conversations during sensitive engagements, exhibiting a responsible and respectful demeanor with colleagues and partners
Demonstrates inclusive leadership through collaboration, active listening skills and authentic team building abilities
Seeks to build authentic community partnerships, encouraging diverse approaches to advocacy
Direct Communication
Exhibits strong interpersonal skills rooted in teamwork, diplomacy, and respect
Provides clear and direct communication with colleagues
Strives to match intent and impact in all interactions
Works proactively to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings toward restorative solutions; attends to conflicts as opportunities for learning and growth
Supervision & Power Sharing
Supports the leadership, success, and professional development of staff members, with a commitment to utilizing power to ensure equitable access and opportunities for staff of color and with other marginalized identities
Consistently provides positive and developmental feedback to support growth of team members
Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them
Intentionally shares power through decision-making, clear definition of roles and responsibilities, effective delegation, and equitable access to resources
Innovation
Actively seeks new solutions to persistent problems by engaging a diversity of perspectives and experiences
Practices both/and thinking and the ability to accept ambiguity
Demonstrates willingness to take risks, pilot new approaches, learn from failure, and continually improve efforts
Equity Analysis & Action :
Motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
Committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement
Demonstrates awareness of the attributes associated with a white dominant culture and takes actions to dismantle hierarchies of oppression within that culture
Dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work
Travel:
Once safe travel resumes, extensive travel throughout the region and to national meetings will be required. Anticipate 5-8 days every month, 30-60 nights per year.
Compensation and Benefits:
The starting salary for this position is $130,000 annual salary, and is based upon a wage analysis across the organization. The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, open wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year. In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers .
Application:
Candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.
The National Wildlife Federation is committed to increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted through July 9th.
If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.
Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 53 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation believes that in order to save wildlife and ourselves, we need to ensure that everyone in America has clean air and water, safe communities, easy and equitable access to the daily benefits of nature, and protection from the ravages of climate change. These basic needs, equally necessary and urgent for all people, are foundational to bringing the conservation movement and ethos into the 21st century.
Our organization operates from offices across the country, including our headquarters in Reston, Virginia; a National Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C.; and seven regional centers. The Federation also works with our 53 state and territory affiliates—autonomous, nonprofit organizations that take the lead in state and local conservation efforts and collaborate with the National Wildlife Federation to conduct grassroots activities on national issues.
Through conservation policy oversight, program development, fundraising, collaboration and personnel management, the Regional Executive Director (RED) provides organizational leadership in the Northern Rockies, Prairies and Pacific Region. The RED collaborates with affiliate partners and other organizations within the region in support of the National Wildlife Federation's strategic plan ( A Common Agenda for Wildlife ) and our Equity and Justice Strategic Plan . The RED strategically engages NWF Board members and collaborates with regional center staff to help identify and cultivate potential new leaders for NWF.
The RED reports to the Chief Program Officer and works collaboratively with other senior leaders to advance the strategic direction of the organization. This position may be based in Missoula, MT or Seattle, WA . Please Note: Due to COVID-19 all employees are working remotely until we make return to work decisions.
About Our Region:
The Northern Rockies, Prairies & Pacific Region spans a large and diverse geographic landscape across the states of Alaska, Hawai’i, Oregon, Washington and California in the Pacific; Montana and Idaho in the Rockies; and North and South Dakota in the Great Plains. Our work is based out of two primary offices, in Missoula and Seattle, and a smaller office near Portland, Oregon.
Our regional team has proven its commitment to wildlife and people by advancing landscape-scale conservation through four decades of successful campaigns to protect grizzly bears, restore bison on public and Tribal lands, secure safe habitat for bighorn sheep, and fight for runs of wild salmon. Working closely with our affiliates, Tribal/Native/Indigenous entities and other conservation and community partners, our programs help expand Monarch migration pathways, restore beavers for riparian health, expand protection for Native Hawaiian seabirds, and connect children and families with nature, and more. Some of our conservation programs extend beyond our region, including work on western water, wildlife habitat connectivity, and youth and adult education. Details on these and other program priorities can be found on our regional website: https://www.nwf.org/Northern-Rockies-and-Pacific-Region .
Principal Duties of the Regional Executive Director:
The RED is accountable for developing and implementing programs and strategies that enable the National Wildlife Federation to achieve outcomes articulated in our Strategic and Equity and Justice Plans and serves as an important “face and voice” for the organization in the Northern Rockies, Prairies & Pacific Region.
Additionally, the RED:
Provides organizational leadership, program development, and targeted campaign management that effectively advances our mission and objectives;
Fosters an inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture that supports staff in functioning as a highly integrated and effective team across a geographically diverse, highly matrixed organization;
Achieves the organization’s regional philanthropic and fundraising goals by working with staff to engage current and potential funders, individuals, foundations, and corporations to support our work;
Manages the Regional Center’s budget and stewards the organization’s financial resources;
Builds and maintains authentic relationships with political, affiliate, business, education, indigenous, governmental and community leaders with a diverse and representative range of group identities;
Demonstrates a personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity and justice within the organization and in external program delivery, partnerships, and communications;
Advances the National Wildlife Federation's long-term conservation goals as well as our values of collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, mindfulness, and mission-focused work.
Qualifications:
Strong candidates for this position will bring experience in organizational leadership, including demonstrated proficiency in personnel management, teambuilding and delegation; strategic planning and program implementation; conservation advocacy and policy advancement; developing and engaging partners from diverse communities; non-profit fundraising, and working with non-profit boards, government and Tribal agencies, and corporate entities. These proficiencies are typically consistent with approximately ten years of professional experience.
Conservation Policy, Advocacy and Implementation
Familiar with fundamental conservation principles and practices, with educational background and/or professional expertise in conservation, environmental justice or a related field
Comfortable leading and participating in advocacy campaigns and activities, including public speaking and press interviews as well as written communications
Shows insights about diverse tools to achieve conservation goals, including advocacy, education/outreach, and direct work on the ground (implementation); able to help staff prioritize which tools are appropriate given different opportunities.
Exhibits insights about how diverse program activities can be integrated for long-term conservation success
Fundraising and Fiscal Accountability:
Demonstrates proficiency and success in cultivating donor relationships, soliciting gifts and stewarding ongoing support from new and existing major donors, in cooperation with philanthropy staff
A track record of foundation and corporate fundraising success
Familiar with successful approaches to expand support though events, digital format fundraising and one-on-one engagement
Desired Leadership Competencies:
Self-Awareness & Learning
Exhibits a commitment to continuous learning and growth and models this approach with others
Dedicated to deepening understanding of cultural and systemic racism and the intersectionality of multiple forms of social inequality
Demonstrates awareness of positional power and privilege (both personally and professionally) and its attendant impacts
Consistently brings a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions
Authentic Relationships & Community Partnerships
Maintains a sophisticated understanding of how group dynamics impact supervisory relationships, organizational culture, partnerships, campaigns and coalition work
Demonstrates capacity to maintain relationships across difference and create greater psychological safety in the workplace
Acknowledges when mistakes are made and harm is done; works to repair breaches in relationships
Openly holds space, and invites others into conversations during sensitive engagements, exhibiting a responsible and respectful demeanor with colleagues and partners
Demonstrates inclusive leadership through collaboration, active listening skills and authentic team building abilities
Seeks to build authentic community partnerships, encouraging diverse approaches to advocacy
Direct Communication
Exhibits strong interpersonal skills rooted in teamwork, diplomacy, and respect
Provides clear and direct communication with colleagues
Strives to match intent and impact in all interactions
Works proactively to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings toward restorative solutions; attends to conflicts as opportunities for learning and growth
Supervision & Power Sharing
Supports the leadership, success, and professional development of staff members, with a commitment to utilizing power to ensure equitable access and opportunities for staff of color and with other marginalized identities
Consistently provides positive and developmental feedback to support growth of team members
Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them
Intentionally shares power through decision-making, clear definition of roles and responsibilities, effective delegation, and equitable access to resources
Innovation
Actively seeks new solutions to persistent problems by engaging a diversity of perspectives and experiences
Practices both/and thinking and the ability to accept ambiguity
Demonstrates willingness to take risks, pilot new approaches, learn from failure, and continually improve efforts
Equity Analysis & Action :
Motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized
Committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement
Demonstrates awareness of the attributes associated with a white dominant culture and takes actions to dismantle hierarchies of oppression within that culture
Dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work
Travel:
Once safe travel resumes, extensive travel throughout the region and to national meetings will be required. Anticipate 5-8 days every month, 30-60 nights per year.
Compensation and Benefits:
The starting salary for this position is $130,000 annual salary, and is based upon a wage analysis across the organization. The National Wildlife Federation values work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our paid time-off includes 3 weeks of vacation leave, open wellbeing leave, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, a week-long winter break, and additional leave options, per year. In addition, our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability, 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, 403b retirement plan with employer matching and annual contribution, adoption benefits, and flexible work options including telecommuting, non-traditional work hours, and compressed work weeks. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers .
Application:
Candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.
The National Wildlife Federation is committed to increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity .
If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.
The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted through July 9th.
If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.