Posted on February 4, 2013

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Executive Director

Located 30 miles north of San Francisco, The Point Reyes National Seashore, 71,000 acres of forest, grassland, beaches and protected bays, includes over 33,000 acres of dramatic coastline protected as wilderness. The Seashore is unique in providing wilderness so close to a major urban center.

The Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) was founded in 1964 as a Section 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are the Cooperating Association for the National Seashore, supporting its efforts to protect endangered species, preserve and restore native habitat, and conserve cultural and historic legacies. Our mission is to encourage stewardship of the Seashore’s diverse resources through a variety of environmental education opportunities for all ages, especially those who otherwise might never have a wilderness experience. Our slogan is Explore Discover Connect.

To this end we seek an Executive Director with an outstanding track record in leadership and fundraising to extend our relationship with the National Park Service, build a strong relationship with staff and the Board, and manage a budget of at least $1M. The successful candidate has a deep appreciation of both the Seashore and the National Park Service.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership: Provide dynamic leadership for the PRNSA mission, strategy, core program areas and operating departments according to policies set by the Board of Directors.

Fundraising and Revenue Generation: Be the leader, working with the Seashore, our Board, and our Development Director, to significantly increase fundraising revenue; effectively and enthusiastically communicate the case for supporting PRNSA’s programs and projects, identify new earned revenue sources, and ensure sufficient financial and staff resources are available to carry out the mission and goals identified in our strategic plan. A significant portion of the Executive Director’s time will be devoted to fundraising activities.

Enhance Partnership with NPS: Build on the existing strong relationship with the NPS by meeting regularly with the Park Superintendent and senior staff to coordinate programs, solve problems, and design new initiatives, dedicating significant time as necessary to supporting and enhancing this relationship.

Direct and Expand Core Programs: Work with our existing very capable staff to support and strengthen the Nature Science and Adventure camps, School Science Camp, Field Institute, book stores, and special park projects; collaborate with staff to identify and implement best practices and to evaluate outcomes; investigate and analyze opportunities to make our programs available to new constituencies.

Sustain productive and mutually supportive relationship with Board of Directors: Provide the Board with all information and other resources available to conduct their work; promptly inform them of all issues and opportunities that may affect PRNSA; recommend appropriate courses of action; lead the strategic planning process.

Staff Leadership: Lead and collaborate with a staff of nine, five of whom report directly to the Executive Director while preserving the culture of mutual respect, individual initiative, collegiality and diversity.

Financial Oversight: Develop a proposed annual budget for Board approval; implement the budget; report performance results.

Qualifications, Skills, and Characteristics

Required

• Strong appreciation of and commitment to our National Parks
• Strong track record in and enthusiasm for fundraising and leading a major development effort
• Experience working with government agencies, including understanding NPS operations
• Leadership and management experience including nonprofit experience
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills
• Record of successful hiring, leading and mentoring staff
• Record of sound financial management
• Capability to work collaboratively with an experienced staff
• Proven ability to collaborate with diverse organizational partners, stakeholders, and personalities
• Bachelor of arts/science degree; postgraduate studies desirable
• Love of the outdoors, patience, flexibility, and ability to inspire and motivate others

Desirable

• Experience in natural resource conservation, environmental education, and/or historic preservation
• Belief that wilderness experience and environmental education change lives
• Understanding of relationships between NPS and Cooperating Associations
• Familiarity with Point Reyes area and adjacent communities

Compensation and Location: PRNSA offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation and sick leave, Flexible Healthcare Spending Account, and 403(b) match. This position is located in Point Reyes Station, CA, thirty miles north of San Francisco.

Application Instructions

To Apply: To be considered for this position, interested candidates must follow the link below to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements. CEA Recruiting is assisting PRNSA with this search. Please direct all applications to CEA Recruiting. This position will remain open until filled.

http://www.ceaconsulting.com/what/position_details.aspx?client=CEA&jobId=209

The resume should include educational and work history, and references to articles or other publications, if any, authored by the applicant. The cover letter should succinctly describe the applicant’s goals, suitability for the position, salary requirements and other pertinent facts that may not appear in the resume. Principals only. No phone calls please. For more information about PRNSA, an equal opportunity employer, please go to www.ptreyes.org