Executive Director

The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) seeks to recruit an Executive Director to be based in Washington, DC. ASOC is a global coalition of conservation groups that work to conserve biodiversity and protect wilderness values in Antarctica and the surrounding waters of the Southern Ocean.  The international conventions that govern activities in this global commons are the Antarctic Treaty and its Environmental Protocol and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).   The Coalition, formed more than 30 years ago, is incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) in Washington DC and is the only recognized environmental NGO observer by both of these treaties.

Position Overview

Working at the ASOC Secretariat office in Washington, DC, the Executive Director is responsible for ASOC’s consistent progress of its mission and financial objectives, including primary fundraising duties.  Working with a Secretariat staff of two, a dedicated all volunteer board and the Council of representatives of 25 member organizations that include WWF, Greenpeace, Pew Environment Group and Friends of the Earth, the Executive Director is responsible for the following broad goals and objectives:

• To serve as a champion for the mission, direction and activities of ASOC, building, strengthening and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, donors, partners and critical constituencies.

• To provide organizational leadership for ASOC, working with consultants and member groups to implement established program priorities

• To support the development of a vibrant future by continuing to cultivate, expand and make best use of the ASOC’s Board of Directors, members and partners.

• To develop, raise and manage the annual budget and ensure the overall financial and administrative health of the organization, which includes supervision of all contracts, preparation of proposals and reports to funders, and soliciting dues each year from Council members

• To manage paid staff, contractors and volunteers – approximately 20 people at present.

• To ensure that timelines set by the treaties for the preparation of policy papers for important meetings are met. This requires managing relationships with contractors, partners and Council members regarding preparation of all policy papers, based on a working modus operandi for achieving consensus since these documents constitute ASOC policy.

• To serve the Board in representing the organization and presenting ASOC in the media, including active engagement with journalists and the press.

• To represent ASOC at international conferences including the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). ASOC also holds observer status to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP) and is actively engaged with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

• To maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field of Antarctic conservation and environmental protection

The Executive Director will be challenged to mobilize resources (human, financial and political) from a diverse group including the Antarctic Ocean Alliance, which ASOC serves as a fiscal sponsor and plays a key role in governance and policy regarding the Marine Protected Areas campaign, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and governments that are party to the Antarctic Treaty and CCAMLR.  This requires a wide range of personal relationships, which are continuously evolving, and the ability to listen and help find consensus.

The Executive Director should ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

Professional Qualifications and Personal Attributes

• Passionate commitment to ASOC’s mission.

• Experience building a comprehensive fundraising operation which aligns all aspects of revenue development.

• Experience working and thriving in close partnership with an engaged Board of Directors.

• Strong interpersonal skills, confident presence and the ability to effectively build strong relationships both internally and externally.

Compensation

The Executive Director will receive a competitive base salary, and a package of employee and health benefits.