The American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) was formed as a project of the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) in 2011 with the aim of helping to build essential climate resilience of communities and the nation by focusing on connecting and supporting individual climate adaptation practitioners.  ASAP provides a platform for climate adaptation professionals to interact, share what’s working, and collaborate with their colleagues.  ASAP has had a remarkable four years of growth and evolution and now seeks applications for a new Managing Director.  

Professionals with: 1) experience building, maintaining, and managing a network of diverse professionals; 2) have a passion for building climate resilience, preparedness, and adaptiveness; and 3) are committed to developing and championing an emerging field of practice are invited to apply to join the ISC team and serve as the new Managing Director for the American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP).www.adaptationprofessionals.org   www.iscvt.org

Structure. ASAP is an ISC project and will continue to be supported by ISC until such time as both ISC and the ASAP Board of Directors determines is appropriate. At that time, the position is expected to be transferred from ISC to ASAP, a membership-based nonprofit corporation.  Until that point, the new Managing Director will report directly to Steve Adams, the Director of Strategic Initiatives at ISC.  Consistent with ISC’s role in supporting ASAP as it develops, the Managing Director will receive support from a variety of other ISC staff members for communication, financial management, and other key functions.

The mission of American Society of Adaptation Professionals (“ASAP”) is: to foster and encourage climate resilient, adaptive communities across the country through educating the public and by creating a platform for thought leaders, professionals, and scholars to develop and implement climate resilient adaptation practices.

ASAP has grown rapidly to a network of practitioners who share a common vision of creating and supporting a resilient nation ever-more prepared for the impacts of climate change at all levels of government and throughout both civil and private sectors of society. ASAP also aims to support the professionalization of the field writ large.

The new Managing Director will have a unique opportunity to help build the field of adaptation and work with a committed Board of Directors and larger group of ASAP members with extensive experience in adaptation and climate resilience. Working collaboratively, the Managing Director will lead the continued growth and ultimate success of ASAP.

ASAP is a unique organization that brings together member from all geographic regions of the country and a large variety of sectors and industries. Members have connected in person at national and regional climate change adaptation events across the country and virtually through webinars, affinity groups, a new website, and bi-weekly newsletters. While ASAP has incorporated as a stand-alone nonprofit organization, it is still functionally dependent on ISC for operational support. With the leadership of the new Managing Director, ASAP looks to build on this solid foundation, solidify its position as the professional society for the field, and continue to grow the membership and enhance support of member activities.

Role

In the next 1-2 years, the Managing Director will need to lead four key areas:

1. Strengthening and growing ASAP as an organization – This will involve: enhancing recruitment and expanding the ASAP network by bringing new members to the organization; strengthening network connections within the organization; and developing strategic partnerships and initiatives that build value for the organization and the membership.
2. Engaging members and delivering member services – Engaging with members in various ways to identify member needs and grow or strengthen the suite of membership services to meet those needs.
3. Professionalization of the field – Building the capacity of adaptation practitioners to deliver more, highest-quality, and ethically-informed adaptation and resilience projects and working collaboratively to build the professional structure of the field.
4. Business planning and financial stability – Growing the membership base of ASAP, establishing and solidifying organizational processes and practices including marketing and communications, strengthening and expanding strategic partnerships, and fundraising in order to ensure the successful delivery of member services and support of the field. The business planning will be informed by strategic visioning and planning with the full engagement of the ASAP board of directors to address the needs of the adaptation field at this time.

Overall organizational strategy and development. The Managing Director will be principally responsible for  building ASAP into a strong, visible, respected professional society, with tasks including but not limited to the following:

• Working with the Board to set the long-term vision for ASAP and identify clear near- and medium-term goals;
• Galvanizing and following through on strategic business planning;
• Growing the ASAP membership base, services, and connections;
• Furthering the professionalization of the field;
• Coordinating marketing and communications; and
• Building strategic partnerships and leveraging complementary institutions and initiatives.

Membership services: The Managing Director will ensure that services appropriate for and commensurate with the ambitions of a new and growing professional society are being delivered on a regular basis.  This will include:

• Assessing member service needs and desires;
• Developing and delivering high-value member services;
• Developing plans for, and aiding in the delivery of, desired professional services;
• Administration of the ASAP Prize for Progress; and
• Leading updates to the web-platform as necessary;
• Enhancing the use of social media, in-person networking, and other events to strengthen the connections between ASAP members.

Member network coordination and administration: The Managing Director will lead the coordination and administrative functions of ASAP, including:

• Staffing and supporting the ASAP Board of Directors' monthly meetings;
• Providing a point of contact for current and potential ASAP members; and
• Providing outward-facing communications, including the progress report, blog posts, newsletter, media outreach, promotion with key audiences, etc. as necessary.

Fundraising and grant reporting: The Managing Director will work with the Board, ISC, and relevant partners, to raise funds for the organization and its activities as well as complete any necessary grant reporting requirements. This will include:

• Strengthening/diversifying revenue through membership dues, grants, sponsorships, and other means;
• Overseeing the financial management and planning for ASAP in collaboration with ISC financial staff;
• Scanning the funding horizon for relevant grant opportunities; and
• Working with the Board of Directors to fundraise for ASAP.

The ideal candidate will have the proven ability to lead projects and develop organizations, work independently, be visionary and courageous, develop and  implement work plans, interact with a variety of people from diverse backgrounds, and understand climate change science, policy, and response options. The ideal candidate will also have a passion for promoting a cause and supporting and connecting people in the service of building climate resilience and preparedness across the United States. The ideal candidate will have:

Education

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field plus 5 or more years of work experience;

Candidate Profile

Collaboration and Relationship Building Experience

• Demonstrated experience working with and coordinating diverse organizations and people and marshaling them in a common direction. The Managing Director will be a “people person” with an ability to work well in teams, in-person, on the phone, via email and other forms of long-distance communication
• Experience managing and growing a network based organization, preferably in the nonprofit sector, strong networking skills and connections, strong organizational, management, and business development expertise;

Subject Matter Expertise

• Broad substantive understanding of climate adaptation and resilience, along with a strong sense of adaptation as a field of practice (relevant experience with neighboring fields of sustainability, hazard mitigation, planning, engineering, law, public policy,  management, ecology, climate policy, etc. can substitute for direct adaptation experience though adaptation experience is preferred);
• An interdisciplinary and integrated, problem oriented thinker, and experience applying knowledge in practice, both of which are axioms of adaptation;
• Proven verbal, writing and presentation skills for a range of audiences.  Experience should include writing and/or producing blogs, white papers, reports, progress reports, stories of success, web content, newsletters, and presenting to variously sized groups;

Leadership

• A balanced set of skills encompassing big-picture, strategic thinking as well as a strong eye for detail;
• Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking;
• An entrepreneurial perspective with a proven willingness to take action and solve problems on sometimes complex and difficult issues;
• The ability to manage multiple projects with differing timelines, participants, and work products at the same time;
• Fundraising experience;

Personal Integrity and Trustworthiness

• A commitment to the highest personal and professional standards, quality work, ethical basis, and building the field of adaptation/resilience practice; and
• Integrity, hardworking, high standards, and a sense of humor,
• Comfortable working independently.

Please submit:

• Cover letter – describing how your previous education and experience have prepared you for this position 

• Resume or CV

Position is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed starting Monday February 15th.

Salary. Commensurate with experience.  

Location: Flexible

Start Date. The ideal start date for the new Managing Director is March 1st, 2016. This is a full-time grant-funded position through December 1st, 2017, with continued employment contingent upon job performance and funding availability.

Visit our web site at http://www.iscvt.org for more information on ISC.

ISC is an equal opportunity employer.