Washington Trails Association Executive Director Position Profile wta.org

Transcription

1 Washington Trails Association Executive Director Position Profile wta.org T H E F O R E S T G R O U P C L A R K MO U N T A I N R O A D L O T U S, CA

2 Washington's mountains and forests are big enough to provide a lifetime of adventure and exploration. There is a sense of wonder around every corner. Vistas. Waterfalls. Mountains. Everyone can have access to the best lands and the most beautiful wide open spaces as long as the trails can take us there... WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION OVERVIEW AND HISTORY: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS Washington Trails Association believes that outdoor recreation can have a powerful impact on a person s life.connection, community and purpose intersect at every trail associated with WTA. By educating, inspiring and engaging hikers, WTA has spent 50 years ensuring that the trails we love will be there for miles and years to come. It takes many voices to tell the stories of the impacts big and small that Washington's trails have imprinted on the people who hike them. WTA strives to share those stories and connect new generations of hikers from all walks of life to the beauty and open spaces of Washington State. From humble beginnings as a homemade newsletter to its current role as a leading voice for trails, WTA s goal to empower hikers has continued to drive its work of protecting and promoting trails throughout the state. WTA began with Signpost, a grassroots publication started in 1966 as a way for trail lovers in the Northwest to share their backcountry adventures and trail conditions. This small newsletter quickly created an outdoor community that shaped the conversation around trails in Washington and it soon evolved into Washington Trails Association, a diverse community of hikers, speaking for trails and wildlands. Now, as Washington s leading hiking resource, WTA serves more than 4 million hikers each year through a bimonthly magazine, online resources, social communities and collaborative partnerships. WTA has mobilized the nation's largest volunteer community focused on building and maintaining trails. Through grassroots advocacy, WTA focuses on trail issues, including funding, access and wildlands protection. The organization sinnovative youth programs educate and empower families, teachers and youth groups to discover the outdoors. Washington Trails Association s strength comes from the passion of its community. WTA s story is about harnessing that passion, using trails to connect communities and empowering stewards for Washington s wild places. As new challenges have threatened Washington s hiking trails, WTA has established new programs and partnerships to protect the places we love. WTA truly represents the very best of community action in the face of limited public resources. They continue to earn the trust of public agencies, recreation and conservation organizationsand businesses that care about the quality of life in Washington. The tools and tactics of WTA have evolved, but its passion and commitment to empowering the hiking community remain constant. WTA is ready to build on 50 years of experience for a future where public lands and recreation are widely valued, broadly accessible and adequately funded. 2 W T A - E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r

3 INSIDE WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION As the nation's largest state-based hiking nonprofit organization, Washington Trails Association is the voice for hikers in Washington State. WTA protects hiking trails and wildlands, takes volunteers out to maintain trails, and promotes hiking as a healthy, fun way to explore the outdoors. WTA s path forward is guided by strong, rooted principles: VISION: Washington Trails Association envisions a world where trails connect communities, and people are empowered stewards of Washington s wild places. VALUES: Washington Trails Association believes that being out in nature has a positive impact on people s hearts, minds and bodies.wta values stewardship and volunteerism; cooperation and partnership; community and inclusion. And they like to have fun! MISSION: The mission of Washington Trails Association is to preserve, enhance and promote hiking opportunities in Washington State through collaboration, education, advocacy and volunteer trail maintenance. Headquartered in lively downtown Seattle with regional staff in Bellingham, Vancouver and Spokane, WTA has tremendous reach through its staff and programs and has the potential to grow under the leadership of the next Executive Director. Four programs define the work of WTA and carry out the organization s mission: VOLUNTEER TRAIL MAINTENANCE Active nearly every day of the year, rain or shine, WTA volunteers build and maintain trails in Washington s three largest metro areas, every corner of the state, and many places in between. In 2015 more than 4,400 individuals, including 140 volunteer leaders, from a variety of backgrounds and communities statewide volunteered on trail maintenance projects.working in partnership with federal, state and local agencies,wta leads more than 1,000 volunteer work parties each year. Work parties range from one day to one week in length, from city parks to remote wilderness. With a motto to be safe, have fun and get a little work done, WTA volunteers have put in 1.5 million hours of donated labor to Washington s trails and public lands since ADVOCACY AND POLICY WTA is Washington s leading voice for hikers, protecting our wild places and the trails that take us there.wta s advocacy program is collaborative, well respected and highly effective.through its lobbying efforts and grassroots support, WTA advocates for trail funding, hiker access and wilderness protection at the local, state and federal levels. COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH More people look to WTA and WTA.org for their Washington hiking information than any other source. WTA uses cutting edge technology to connect and engage the hikers of today and 3 W T A - E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r

4 tomorrow via the website, e-newsletters, social media, a full-color magazine and events around the state. WTA connects people with the outdoors with the goal of developing hikers as advocates for our public lands. Each year thousands of hikers become members, write trip reports or volunteer because WTA inspired them to get outside, explore a new place and give back to trails. YOUTH PROGRAM WTA is committed to developing the next generation of hikers, outdoor leaders and environmental stewards.the youth volunteer trail maintenance program hosts day and weeklong trail work parties.the Outdoor Leadership Training program introduces growing numbers of youth and families to hiking, camping and volunteering. WTA s mission is backed by the financial generosity and engagement of its members. WTA s growing base of 14,000 member households, up 13% since 2013, provide 70% of WTA s annual operating budget through membership support, major gifts and legacy giving. WTA s diversified base of contributed revenue also includes corporate sponsorships and grants from corporate, foundation and government sources. WTA TODAY: BOLD GOALS As WTA celebrates its golden anniversary, the organization has developed a strategic plan focused on inspiring a movement of empowered hikers who protect Washington s trails and ensure the outdoors are equally accessible to everyone. The demographic makeup of Washington is changing. WTArecognizes the need to develop its programs and diversify their staff and board of directors to engage an audience that better reflects the state s population. As WTA advocates for and strives to create more equitable trail access and a more inclusive outdoor culture, WTA wants to ensure that more people of all ages, races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and socio-economic backgrounds will be able to enjoy Washington s natural areas and discover the benefits of being outdoors.as more people venture outside, WTA will redouble its efforts to promote both the value of hiking and the responsibilities of trail users. Today WTA is working towardthree bold goals, outlined in the organization scurrent five-year strategic plan, that will result in a Washington transformed by hikers: 1. Everyone in Washington will have access to local trails and opportunities to enjoy quality hiking experiences. WTA will drive an increase in quality trailsfrom urban areas to remote wilderness, driven in part by a greater investment in our public lands. 2. New generations will connect with, explore and conserve the outdoors. From young people to new residents, to those who face barriers to getting outside, WTA will empower new generations of responsible trail users and stewards. 4 W T A - E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r

5 3. Washington will be the nation s strongest voice for hikers and trails. WTA will build a statewide community of advocates dedicated to protecting Washington s wild places for future generations to enjoy. THE PATH FORWARD THE OPPORTUNITY: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As the leader of the largest state trails organization in the country, the WTA Executive Director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for fulfillment of Washington Trails Association s mission to preserve, enhance and promote hiking opportunities in Washington state. The next Executive Director of WTA will have an opportunity to take the helm of a vibrant, growing and respected organization and build a lasting legacy for Washington State.We seek an individual with proven leadership skills who can continue to grow and strengthen the organization. This person must have a strong desire to share the benefits of the outdoors and hiking witheveryone in Washington. WTA s reach and impact continues to grow in response to demand from hikers, public agencies and the recreation and conservation community. Over the last five years, WTA s staff and budget has roughly doubled with strong support from major donors and a growing membership. WTA has also invested in the long-term financial stability of the organization by expanding its major gifts program, establishing two new long-term funds and launching a legacy giving program. Washington is projected to grow by 1.8 million people over the next 25 years. Our state will benefit from new perspectives and new resources while trails and natural areas will face tremendous pressures. The next Executive Director must meet this challenge head on. In 2015, the organization adopted an ambitious five year strategic plantoprovide a framework for future growth. The incoming Executive Director is charged with building a sense of shared vision and purpose to achieve the goals of the plan, set priorities for implementation and ensure that the organization secures the funding necessary to successfully carry it out. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will oversee a staff of 33full-time employees, 18 seasonal employeesand an operating budget of $3.5 million.working from WTA s downtown Seattle headquarters and leading a statewidestaff, they will represent the interests of hikers in the broader outdoor recreation and conservation community; ensure continuing strong relationships with donors, volunteer leaders, policymakers and partner organizations;and lead a collaborative, high functioning team of directors and staff. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WTA is seeking a visionary, energetic and experienced professional who is inspired to continue the work that WTA started 50 years ago to build a world where trails connect communities, and people are empowered stewards of Washington s wild places. 5 W T A - E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r

6 The incoming Executive Director must be a steady leader who embodies the values of WTA and acts as a strong advocate for the organization s mission. They must be an accessible and approachable individual who inspires and motivates board, staff, volunteers and donors alike. The Executive Director will have a commitment to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion at WTA. The Executive Director will demonstrate a collaborative leadership style; have confidence in decision making; empower staff initiative; model personal integrity and high ethical standards; have clear and open communication skills; and havean aptitude for building a sense of shared vision and purpose. The next Executive Director will be a role model for WTA s healthy, balanced, team-based organizational culture.working with a strong leadership team, the ED will be an active listener who can promote staff cohesion and opportunities for growth and development. The Executive Director will prioritize use of resources toensure that the organization is working in the most effective way and is positioned to take calculated risks as opportunities arise. The successful candidate will possess a successful fundraising acumen; strong personnel management experience; comprehensive experience managing a complex, multi-million dollar organization or program; an ability to find creative solutions to achieve ambitious goals; and a keen understanding of the dynamics of the nonprofit sector. CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Strategic Vision and Plan Implementation The ED will build a sense of sharedvision and purposewith staff and the Board of Directors toachieve the objectives of WTA s five-year strategic plan. Working with the Board and staff, the ED is responsible for developing a long-range funding plan thatenables the organization to achieve its ambitious goals. In collaboration with staff, the ED will developan annual organizational work plan that guides implementation of the strategic plan. 2. Fund Development Working with the Development Director, the ED will raise the funds necessary to implement the strategic plan; develop and grow a diversified revenue base; strengthen relationships with key donors and funders; and forge new funding relationships. The ED will build and maintain a portfolio of major and planned giving donors, prioritizing personal contact on a regular basis. 3. Staff Management The EDwill beresponsible forleading, developing and retaining a collaborative, high functioning team of directors and staff to fulfillwta s mission.the ED serves as an inspiring leader for a seasoned staff. The ED mustmodel excellent communication and teamwork, foster innovation and creativity, hold staff accountable to high performance standards and nurture a work environment based on mutual respect and the values of theorganization.currently the ED has six 6 W T A - E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r

7 direct reports including the following directors: development, finance and operations, communications and outreach, advocacy, trail maintenance and youth. 4. Organizational and Financial Management Working with the Director of Finance and Operations, the ED will oversee the financial management of the organization and will work to ensure its long-term financial viability. The ED ensures that resources are allocated in alignment with organizational values and goals. The ED will guide the growth of WTA s organizational infrastructure that supports successful execution of its mission. 5. Board Development and Management WTA's Board is a governance board.the ED will advise and supportthe Board President, Executive Committee and Development (Nominating) Committee to recruit and build a strong Board of Directors to govern the organization. WTA has an actively engaged Board and the ED must foster strong working relationships with members of diverse backgrounds and concerns. The ED partners with the Board to develop new ideas and ways in which the organization can achieve its mission. 6. External Relations, Partnerships and Advocacy The ED will establish and deepen relationships across a broad spectrum of constituencies and stakeholder groups, fostering partnerships that further WTA s mission, values and positions. The ED will passionately and confidently engage with major donors, volunteers, partnerorganizations, policymakers, the media and other influencers about the organization s work. The ED represents WTA and hiker interests at regional, state, and national levels in the recreation and conservation communities and in political arenas. The ED strives to strengthen WTA s position as the nation s leadingstatetrails organization. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS The competitive candidate will possess proven experience leading a growing organization, or a program of significant size and visibility, preferably in a nonprofit setting. The candidate should demonstrate experience in leadership, staff management and coaching, organizational development, financial management, partnership development, solicitation of major gifts, strategic planning and community and public relations.experience, skills and other qualificationsinclude: Demonstrated personal alignment with and passion for the WTA mission and values. Ability to engage and work with multiple stakeholders at all organizational levels, internally and externally to the organization. Transparency, integrity, positive attitude and sensitivity to the needs of staff, board of directors, members and volunteers. Ability to maintain an organizational culture which attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people. 7 W T A - E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r

8 Strong written and verbal communication skills; passionate and persuasive communicator with outstanding interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities and economic backgrounds. Prior cultural competency training a plus. Aptitude for managing the complexity of a multi-million dollar organization with multiple funding sources and numerous strategic alliances and partnerships. Track record of effectively leading and regionally and/or nationally scaling a performance- and outcomes-based program or organization. For additional information, please contact Adam Forest, Mary Maliff or Deb Mason at: T H E F O R E S T G R O U P 6181 Clark Mountain Road Lotus, CA (530) ph (530) fax adam@theforestgroup.com / mary@theforestgroup.com / deb@theforestgroup.com All inquiries will be held in strict confidence. The Forest Group works only with equal opportunity employers 8 W T A - E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r