Posted on February 8, 2013

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Vice President/State Executive Director

For more than a century, Audubon has championed the protection of birds and their habitat. Audubon’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the Earth’s biological diversity. With nearly 700 staff, 22 state programs, 465 local chapters, 43 centers and sanctuaries, and close to half a million members throughout the United States, Audubon achieves its mission by engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education, and on-the-ground conservation action.

In the fall of 2011, Audubon adopted a new strategic plan to renew the organization’s focus on the biggest and most important opportunities for addressing critical threats to birds and their habitat. At the core of this plan is a focus on flyways: Each year, more than 10 billion birds use major flyways to travel up and down the continent and to points beyond. Underneath these flyways are migratory rest stops and the homes for non-migratory birds that are critical to birds’ survival. These places form a web that represents the richest veins of biodiversity across the Americas. They are the tipping point places that connect people to birds and ecosystems—and where birds thrive, people greatly benefit. By mobilizing and aligning Audubon’s unparalleled network of chapters, centers, state programs, and Important Bird Area (IBA) programs to focus on the four major migratory flyways in the Americas (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific), the organiza tion will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive. Within each flyway, Audubon will sharpen its focus on the most critical species and places, working only where there is a theory of victory for delivering measurable conservation impact at scale. As part of BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in more than 100 countries working to protect a network of IBAs around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level. Critical to Audubon’s conservation success will be engaging a growing and more diverse audience to take conservation action.

Vice President/Executive Director – Audubon Connecticut

Audubon seeks an Executive Director to build on Audubon Connecticut’s rich history and expand its contributions to conservation in Connecticut and the Atlantic Flyway, leading the organization to its next level of programmatic and financial success. This is a high-profile, pivotal opportunity for a dynamic conservation professional to be an environmental entrepreneur in representing one of Audubon’s largest state programs. With an annual budget of $3.3 million and a staff of 25, Audubon Connecticut uses its statewide conservation initiatives, educational programming, network of seven Audubon Centers and Sanctuaries, seven affiliated local Audubon Chapters, and 12,000 grassroots members to protect birds and their habitats. The successful candidate will have the passion and leadership skills necessary to articulate, develop, and implement Audubon’s conservation goals and strategies in the state, while working closely with the Audubon Connecticut Board and sta ff, and the Vice President of the Atlantic Flyway to continue to develop the state program in tandem with strategic regional and national priorities. The Executive Director will hold the title of Vice President within the national organization and will report to the VP Atlantic Flyway.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Vice President/Executive Director – Audubon Connecticut will perform the following and other duties as assigned:

Strategy Development and Organizational Leadership

• Develop and lead the implementation of a five-year strategic plan for Audubon Connecticut to grow the organization’s capacity across the state to achieve conservation of priority birds and their habitats.
• Focus resources on the most critical, top priority projects: Long Island Sound, the highland forests, the Connecticut River Blueway, and other state and national governmental initiatives.
• Provide leadership, management, and mentoring to a staff of 25 including a team of dedicated program directors in the areas of science, policy, and education to reach the goals set out by the new strategic plan as they relate to Connecticut.
• Work with the directors of Audubon Connecticut’s nature education centers and sanctuaries to help them realize their potential for on-the-ground conservation and education in the context of the Atlantic Flyway infrastructure. Provide guidance and oversight to center directors to establish and maintain sustainable financial and administrative business models appropriate to each center and sanctuary.
• Manage the day to day operations of the state, including setting financial and programmatic goals, analyzing results, and taking corrective actions, in close collaboration with senior staff.

Fundraising and External Relations

• Represent and raise the profile and visibility of Audubon Connecticut externally to funders, partners, policymakers, and the public.
• Lead Audubon Connecticut’s fundraising, working closely with Audubon Connecticut’s Director of Development, the VP Atlantic Flyway, and the Chief Development Officer of the National Audubon Society. Cultivate and solicit major donors and foundations for Audubon Connecticut and Atlantic Flyway initiatives of which Audubon Connecticut is a part. Significantly increase contributions from diverse stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Audubon Connecticut Board to support the efforts of Audubon Connecticut in continuing the development of a strong statewide organization through fundraising, program development, and conservation advocacy.
• Work with the Chapter Council to strengthen the statewide presence of Audubon and support these organizations in their local efforts.
• Further engage Connecticut’s extensive and diverse population in Audubon programs through strategic outreach efforts.
• Work with government departments and non-governmental organizations to promote bird science and habitat conservation.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have the following minimum qualifications:

• Strong leadership skills, including an engaging and energetic demeanor and the ability to inspire and motivate staff, volunteers, donors, and potential partners
• A leadership style that is entrepreneurial and creative and a solution-focused spirit when addressing challenges
• Passion for the environment and a deep concern for preserving and protecting our natural resources—interest in/passion for birds and birding a plus
• Demonstrated ability to succeed in a highly matrixed, complex organization—strong ability to influence and persuade others required
• 7-10 years of experience, including 5 years at a senior management level with comparable staff and budget responsibilities
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, in particular extensive experience with major donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders
• Experience managing institutional growth and change highly desirable, as well as the ability to bring new and creative solutions to challenges
• 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
• The ability to represent Audubon Connecticut effectively to its members, state, and federal elected officials, donors, and chapter leaders, as well as in traditional and social media
• Knowledge and appreciation of Connecticut and its environment, its conservation and political history, and the role of science in developing conservation strategies strongly preferred, as well as an understanding of the role that science, policy, and education cooperatively play in achieving conservation goals and outcomes
• Willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout the state and nationally, as required
• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree in a relevant field preferred

Compensation and Location

Audubon offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. This position will be located in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Application Instructions

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 Audubon with this search. Please direct all applications and inquiries to CEA Recruiting. This position will remain open until filled.

http://www.ceaconsulting.com/what/position_details.aspx?client=CEA&jobId=214

Audubon is an equal opportunity employer.

CEA Recruiting works with leading environmental nonprofits, foundations, and businesses to recruit top talent and design effective organizational staffing strategies. For more information, visit www.cearecruiting.com.