Please submit Cover Letter and Resume to president@nvbirdalliance.org by September 9, 2024.

Details of the position are below and at https://www.nvbirdalliance.org/news/northern-virginia-bird-alliance-executive-director-job-announcement

The Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (formerly Audubon Society of Northern Virginia), a 501c3 organization, is an independent chapter of the National Audubon Society. We are a dynamic, innovative, and financially stable organization. Our mission is to engage all Northern Virginia communities in enjoying, conserving, and restoring nature for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people. Our service area encompasses the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William; and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls, Church, and Manassas. We aim to involve the diversity of communities that live in the Northern Virginia region in valuing, appreciating, and conserving birds and the habitats they depend on.

We advance our mission through educational programs, citizen science, conservation initiatives, and advocacy initiatives. This work is carried out by members of the Board of Directors, our large corps of volunteers, and a small number of paid staff. The Executive Director is a new position. The person selected for this position will be expected to work with the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to effectively implement the objectives of the organization’s strategic plan. The Executive Director works for and reports to the Board of Directors.

This is a fulltime exempt position. The Executive Director will be an ambassador for the organization and will work in concert with local government agencies, like-minded non-profits, and community organizations. The Executive Director will also be expected to raise funds for our work, and to manage the paid staff. We are seeking an individual who is a self-starter with experience managing a non-profit organization.

Earlier this year the Board of Directors and chapter members voted to change the organization’s name. Rebranding the organization, communicating these changes and the reasons for making them, and involvement in wider conversations about this decision will be a significant part of the new Executive Director’s role in the first year.

The Northern Virginia Bird Alliance maintains an office in Reston VA. This is a hybrid position in that the Executive Director may work virtually or at the office as needed, as well as attending organizational events. Upon taking this position, the Executive Director must reside within the Northern Virginia region.

Interested candidates should apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to president@audubonva.org. The deadline for receiving applications is September 9^th.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Executive Leadership and Coordination of Committees

● Work with the Board to implement its organizational objectives

o Ensure that the organization is using the strategic plan adopted by the Board to guide its decisions and set its priorities, and work with the Board to monitor and measure progress toward the plan’s goals

● Provide vision and oversight for organization’s programs

o Develop and improve organizational structure including processes, systems, and policies to increase efficiency and achieve organizational goals

o Work with the committees to develop, implement and review their goals and objectives

o Provide overall support for the committees to achieve their goals and help ensure that they are working synergistically and cohesively to implement the organization's mission

● Develop strategic partnerships and facilitate community building with programmatic partners

2. Fundraising

● Work with the Board to prioritize projects and programs that require fundraising

● Work with Fundraising Committee to develop an annual and multi-year plan to raise funds to support organizational priorities

● Work to enable Board members, staff, and volunteers to engage with fundraising

● Lead efforts to diversify revenue sources such as increasing individual, foundation, and corporate giving, grants, special events and earned income

● Manage and steward key relationships with individual, institutional, and corporate donors

● Develop and oversee fundraising systems and campaigns

3. Communication

● Ensure appropriate communication with the staff and with the Board and all other stakeholders

● Serve as an ambassador of the organization with partners, community leaders, government officials, and others .

o Promote and advocate for the organization’s vision and mission to the public and private sectors

o Serve as an articulate, passionate, and visible spokesperson and as a prominent leader throughout the organization, among partners, and in the community

● Develop and implement consistent standards and practices for internal and external communications

● Improve the visibility of ASNV and network with organizations with similar missions

4. Human Resources

● Hire, manage, and develop staff

● Manage HR policies and administration including staffing and ensure legal compliance

● Seek out professional development opportunities for staff

● Work with Board and Committees to recruit, develop and recognize volunteers.

● Review and recommend systems for recruiting, training, and assigning volunteers

● Oversee management of volunteers in implementing the Board’s directives and developing metrics of success

5. Finance and Operations

● Work with the Board of Directors to develop and manage annual revenue and expense budgets

o Work with the Board Treasurer (and Finance Committee) to provide leadership and transparency with respect to the budget process

o Work with the Board Treasurer to enable a regular formal audit of the organization

● Provide oversight and management of day-to-day operations and finances and organizational infrastructure, ensuring there is adequate budget review and management throughout the year

6. Diversity and Inclusion

● Ensure that diversity and inclusion are considered in all aspects of the organization’s work with the aim of becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization (leadership, staff, membership, and programming)

● Work with diverse communities to broaden diversity of our membership and activities

7. Build Organizational Culture

● Build an organizational culture of cooperation, communication, DEI values, teamwork, and a passion for conservation

Preferred Qualifications

1. Leadership experience in organizational management and working with a board of directors

● Experience working with a board and running an organization, with proven integrity and leadership skills

● Track record in developing and executing strategies for organizational and financial growth

● Demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and manage staff

● Minimum of five years’ experience in a senior-level leadership position

● Demonstrated experience in project management within an organization, preferably in the environmental sphere

● Creativity and vision in programmatic activities

● Time management skills and ability to handle multiple competing priorities

2. Communication skills

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills

● Comfortable with public speaking

● Confident and professional communicator

● Experienced in the use of social media for organizational communication

● Desirable: fluency in a language other than English

3. Fundraising skills

● A history of successful fundraising, including cultivation of individual and corporate donors, membership drives, and grant acquisition

● Familiarity and successful experience with at least one aspect of nonprofit fundraising: major donors, foundation, government, etc.

● Desirable: Familiarity with fundraising software

4. Community engagement

● Strong community engagement skills with experience in public speaking, networking, building partnerships and collaborating with local stakeholders, government agencies, and other organizations; ability to connect with many different audiences and community partners

● Effective cross-cultural relationship-building skills, including building partnerships with local community groups and peer organizations

5. Experience with Diversity and Inclusion

● Proven commitment to D&I in all aspects of an organization

● Experience with developing and sustaining cross-cultural relationships, activities, and programs

6. Passion for conservation

● Deep passion for conservation

● Knowledge of and commitment to conservation issues

● Experience working with natural sciences

7. Staff management experience

● Experience in building and growing a team

● Experience in personnel management

● Volunteer management experience

8. Desirable: Degree in nonprofit management (or equivalent experience in nonprofit or for-profit management)

● Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or extensive experience in organizational leadership is preferred but not required

● Will also consider candidates with a degree in natural sciences with extensive experience in organizational leadership

Desirable Qualities

1. Management and other people skills (sense of humor desirable)

● Ability to work well with others, being responsive and patient, willing to listen

● Sensitivity, honesty and tolerance for other views

● A sense of perspective and sense of humor

2. Friendly and flexible

● Flexibility to handle demands from many constituencies

3. Ability to inspire, motivate, and deal with conflict

● Integrity and character to build trusting relationships with diverse groups

4. Energetic and visionary, aspiring to grow with the organization

Salary and Benefits

● Compensation will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience and will be competitive with similar positions in the Northern Virginia area. In addition to salary, we offer additional compensation to offset health insurance premium costs.

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