Director, Rivers of the Puget Sound and Columbia Basin

The Director of the Rivers of Puget Sound and Columbia Basin plays an important leadership role for American Rivers in the Northwest. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing American Rivers’ conservation strategy in the Basin, including coordinating staff and contractors, and ensuring that on-the-ground conservation work advances regional and national goals and outcomes in support of the organization’s long-term strategic vision. The Director is also responsible for working with the Advancement department to secure funding for conservation priorities in the basin.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Activities

• Develops and implements a strategy for American Rivers’ conservation work in the Rivers of the Puget Sound and Columbia priority basin.
• Directs program work and conservation staff and contractors in the basin, in coordination with other river basin, conservation strategies, and conservation policy program directors.
• Builds and maintains relationships with key local, state, and federal decision makers representing jurisdictions in the basin, as well as with key strategic partners. Facilitates meetings between those decision makers and relevant conservation staff. Keeps Government Relations, Communications, and Basin and Program directors appraised of engagement with these key audiences.
• Works with support of Advancement staff to lead fundraising efforts in the Basin.
• Develops program budget for conservation work in the basin, and coordinates with other program directors on the development of their budgets.
• Participates in organizational learning activities including professional training activities.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Understand and effectively communicate the organization’s mission, vision and strategy.
• Provide exemplary leadership within the basin, including modeling professional behavior, mentoring staff, fostering strong inter- and intra-office communications and promoting strong organizational morale.

• Supervise direct reports, and hold them accountable for compliance with organizational policies and procedures.

• Lead staff to work in an effective, collegial, and integrated fashion with other basins, programs, divisions, departments, and offices.
• Ensure that all organizational policies and procedures are implemented to support strong performance.
• Ensure that American Rivers’ work in the basin is communicated to and coordinated with other basin and program directors and other AR departments to ensure that annual goals and objectives are being met and integrated with national work and work in other basins.
• Working with conservation group partners, develop and implement multi-faceted strategies to build political support for American Rivers’ conservation goals.
• Build and maintain relationships with strategic partners, stakeholders, and policy-makers, including other conservation organizations, water utilities, agricultural interests, and tribes to achieve conservation objectives.
• Lobby local, state, and federal elected officials.
• In coordination with the Communications Department, use communication tools (e.g., earned media, website, blog, social media, e-activism, etc.) to achieve conservation objectives.
• Help lead basin advancement work through drafting letters of intent, preparing grant proposals and reports, and meeting with donor prospects.
• Represent American Rivers at conferences, press events and other public events.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• An Advanced Degree in Environmental Science, Policy, or related field and more than eight years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s Degree and more than twelve years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated excellence in staff management, program leadership, strategic and critical thinking and judgment.
• Proven ability to set priorities, delegate responsibilities, maintain accountability, and allocate resources effectively.
• Effective advocate with superior communication skills (written, verbal, media and public speaking).
• Proven fundraising experience.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, flexible, self-motivated, and self-confident.
• Strong time, budget, and organizational management skills, including the capacity to manage several projects simultaneously.
• Team player and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to advance the organization’s broader goals and objectives.
• Proven personnel management skills, including the ability to clearly communicate expectations, build and maintain morale, and recruit and retain talented staff.
• Proven experience and a dedicated commitment to supervising and supporting staff.
• Personal commitment to American Rivers’ mission.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary is commensurate with experience. Full-time and full-time equivalent employee benefits include health, dental, vision and life insurance, a retirement plan, and generous leave time.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applications will be considered immediately. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to: jobs@amrivers.org with “PSC Basin Director” in the subject line. No phone calls please.