Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust is the nationally accredited, locally based, nonprofit land trust serving New Hampshire's northern Grafton County and Coös County regions. In our 26 years, we have protected 44 properties (7,000+ acres) for all who live or visit here, now and in the future. Our presence in the communities we serve spans recreation, conservation, education, and creating ties to the natural world and each other. Our partnerships, sponsorships, collaborations, and land conservation speak to our success.

As an equal opportunity employer, ACT does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or belief, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reports to: Board of Trustees

Collaborates with: ACT staff, volunteers, partners, donors and other stakeholders.  Supports/attends monthly meetings of ACT`s board and committees.

Hours, Compensation & Benefits:

• Full-time: 40 hours-per-week (120-day probation period/evaluation)
• Voluntary participation in ACT`s retirement package after one year of employment with an Employer Matching retirement contribution of up to 3%
• 100% employer single-person medical coverage, with out-of-pocket add-ons
• Paid Time Off (PTO) (80 hours) and wellness hours (8 hours), increasing with years of service
• 10 paid Federal holidays plus two floating days per year
• Seasonal off-site staff workdays
• Willingness to relocate to Grafton or Coös Counties if not already resident.
• Flexible schedule, potential partial remote work after onboarding
• Requires some evening and weekend availability
• Organization-wide mindfulness of work/life balance
• Salary range: $80k-$95k commensurate with experience
• Great co-workers!
• Great mission!

Summary:
The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT)  and is responsible for the overall management and direction of the organization in accordance with its vision and mission. The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Trustees; works collaboratively with and under the board’s general oversight.

The Executive Director provides oversight and overall management, planning, leadership, vision, and development of the 26-year-old 501-(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The position serves as the primary public interface of the organization for the purpose of creating positive community interactions that enable and support all fundraising critical to ACT’s existence. The Executive Director prioritizes and organizes all ACT’s work, and works with staff, volunteers, and financial resources to most efficiently and effectively achieve strategic goals.

The Executive Director oversees the routine immediate and operational issues, as well as longer-term, strategic issues. The Executive Director works with the Board of Trustees to develop and maintain positive working relationships with the board, landowners, strategic partners, community decision makers, and funders. The Executive Director ensures compliance with Land Trust Alliance (LTA) accreditation standards and represents the organization in the larger land trust community.

Qualifications:  

• Relevant experience in a related field such as natural resources, environmental science, business administration and at least five years of professional experience in organizational management.
• Proven success in all aspects of capital campaign-based fundraising, from feasibility analysis
  to donor engagement and follow-up.
• A track record of developing strong community relationships, an affinity for organized fundraising and the strong ability for both persuasive public speaking and written communication and experience in financial management of a non-profit organization.
• A commitment to establishing, communicating and achieving organizational goals and accommodating a flexible work schedule.
• Ability to work in a broad range of environments from “boardrooms” to private homes to outdoor settings. Additionally, the Executive Director must show respect for and an understanding of family dynamics, sensitivities and an absolute need for confidentiality.
• Be a proven team builder and creative problem solver with representative leadership experience developing and leading a productive and motivated staff to achieve both personal and organizational objectives.
• Demonstrate a strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 suite of products and be comfortable with learning new technology.
• An undergraduate degree is required and a graduate degree in a relevant field would be a plus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the position include:

Strategic Planning (collaborates with the Board of Trustees)

• Articulates the vision, mission, theory of change, statement of need, and overall strategy and direction of the ACT; and oversees the revision and update of the strategic plan on a three-to-five-year cycle
• Appreciates and monitors current issues, trends; and evolving standards in the field and communicates these to the board, committees and staff.

Conservation - Acquisition and Stewardship (in coordination with the Conservation staff and Lands Committee)

• Oversees the development and implementation of a strategic conservation plan.
• Engages with landowners to protect land and water with Conservation Easements or by fee simple acquisition.
• Collaborates with partners, conservation commissions, community leaders and businesses to participate in land and water conservation and promote principles of sustainable community conservation.
• Oversees research, preparation of supporting data, grants, other resources, and necessary agreements in support of specific conservation initiatives.
• Oversees stewardship of all properties using best management practices.
• Oversees compliance with LTA standards and practices.

Fundraising and Donor Relations (in coordination with the Community Engagement Manager, Board of Trustees, and Development and Outreach Committees)

• Identifies and develop major donor prospects.
• Fosters major donor relationships in support of the organization.
• Expands the organization's planned giving program and actively solicits planned gifts.
• Oversees volunteer development and annual gift appeals, systems, and strategies.
• Maintains and fosters relationships with funders and grant makers and secure grants for projects and operations.
• Refines and promotes ACT’s value and mission propositions and case for support.
• Develops a long-term comprehensive strategy to raise capital to ensure ACT`s long term financial stability.

Public Relations, Partner Relations, Communications (in coordination with the Community Engagement Manager, Board of Trustees, and Development and Outreach Committees)

• Represents and promotes the organization and its community conservation principles in
  the region.
• Serves as the primary spokesperson with decision makers, partners, and media.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with all community partners and the public in general.
• Oversees the production (as needed) of all materials, social media, etc. for consistency of brand and message; oversee strategic communications development and implementation.

Finance (in coordination with managers, Finance Committee, and organizational bookkeeper)

• Monitor finances for accuracy and transparency, provide full reports to the board to keep them informed of monthly financial situations.
• Work with staff and consultants to ensure clean audits/financial reviews for all accounts.
• Create the annual operating budget for board approval.

Organizational Management and Development (in coordination with the Operations Manager)

• Builds and maintains positive and productive partnership with the ACT Board of Trustees. Provides timely, accurate, and complete information to the board to ensure governance, due diligence, transparency, and accountability including standardized monthly reports of progress toward achieving goals, completing projects, initiatives and staff performance
• Oversees the staff interface with ACT`s volunteer committees.
• Hires, supervises, and provides mentorship and leadership to staff, establishing and maintaining a positive organizational culture to best fulfill ACT`s mission.
• Ensures organizational, operational, and technological tools to support a highly functioning and efficient office (i.e., uses the best tools available to do the job efficiently and effectively).
• Ensures compliance with all legal requirements of a nonprofit corporation.
• Ensures compliance with LTA standards and practices associated with LTA accreditation.

This position is classified as exempt under applicable wage and hour laws.