Overview
Wild Whatcom is a flourishing non-profit organization dedicated to fostering lifelong connections to nature. We provide experiential learning opportunities that inspire participants of all ages to build healthy relationships with nature, community, and self. We serve more than 2,000 individuals each year through our school programs, weekend outings, nature preschool, summer camps, community programs, and projects with many community nonprofits. With a talented staff of 25, we provide more than 50,000 nature hours to individuals in Whatcom County each year.
Wild Whatcom board, staff, and volunteers are united in a vision of organizational development that continues to increase opportunities for diverse populations to (re)connect with nature; allows us to attract, retain, and nurture talented staff from all parts of our community; and deepen our programs and partnerships. We seek an Executive Director with excellent fundraising, financial management and organizational skills, and a focus on collaboration, equity, and distributed leadership.
Equity and access are at the center of our organizational goals. We’re regularly working to reduce barriers in the outdoor education field in all of our decision making. For example, we have robust school-based programs to connect students to the outdoors for free during the school day; we are continuing to develop a staffing model that provides consistent pay and hours for field instructors; we are practicing a new model for our Board and Committees to offer several avenues for participation and a diverse body of advisors. We are committed to advancing social & economic equity and seek a capable Executive Director to help continue this important journey.
The Board of Directors is looking for a dynamic leader to further the mission of Wild Whatcom. We are a strong organization with a healthy internal culture and solid financial footing. Seventy-five percent of our annual income is generated through fee-based revenue, our reserve fund holds several months of operating expenses, and we have a track record of strong financial management & performance. The high quality of our programming and staff draw participants, partners, and donors to our organization. We have deep roots in distributed leadership, prioritizing shared decision-making, and stakeholder engagement. We seek someone to cultivate these strengths and bring new capacities, vision, and perspectives to the work. The Executive Director reports to a dedicated Board of Directors and working Committees and holds responsibility for the daily operations of the organization as well as the strategic implementation of its vision and mission. The Director has a network of internal and external support including, but not limited to: several working Committees (Finance, Governance, Outreach, Grant Review), a strong staff leadership team with long histories with the organization, long standing community & funder partnerships, and involvement in an ED roundtable.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have excellent people & communication skills to develop, build, & maintain strong relationships with internal & external stakeholders. Proven non-profit management, budgeting, & fundraising skills are essential, as is the ability to build teamwork in a collaborative manner so that board members, volunteers, & staff are supported and empowered to use their collective skills & experiences to advance the mission. Please see details at www.wildwhatcom.org/employment.
Required Skills:
Please see full job description at www.wildwhatcom.org/employment.
About Wild Whatcom
Wild Whatcom is dedicated to connecting people of all ages to nature and developing positive character traits through outdoor exploration and discovery. We provide experiential learning opportunities that inspire participants to explore, connect, and serve, while building healthy relationships with nature, community, and self.
