Executive Director Job Description

Organizational Summary

Red-tail Land Conservancy’s mission is to protect and restore land and habitats in East Central Indiana while engaging our community with nature and conservation.

By strategically preserving and restoring critical forests, prairies, wetlands, and waterways, Red-tail Land Conservancy plans for a future where the natural beauty and healthy habitats of east central Indiana will exist for generations to come. Land preserved by Red-tail is protected from development forever. 

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is funded by private contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations. Our mission focuses on five counties in east central Indiana: Delaware, Henry, Madison, Randolph, and Wayne counties.

To date, with the support of over 700 donors, volunteers and community supporters, we have:

• Created 21 nature preserves, which are open to the public
• Protected 21 properties with conservation easements in collaboration with private landowners
• Protected 2,936 acres of land

Our core values drive our work:

• We believe preservation and stewardship are important in creating a legacy to transfer to future generations.
• We believe in using innovative practices based in science. 
• We believe experiential education fosters personal responsibility to make choices that promote preservation and stewardship of natural land.
• We believe responsibility is important for the community to trust our commitment to accomplish our mission.
• We believe relationships are important because they enable east central Indiana communities to connect and collaborate on ideas, initiatives, and projects.

Our on-the-ground efforts are guided by a strategic plan for the organization and a strategic conservation plan that identifies priority corridors and areas for protection, restoration, and stewardship.

Position Title

Executive Director

Position Summary

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive and chief fundraiser of the organization, providing visionary, people-centered leadership to advance land conservation, organizational sustainability, and long-term impact. The Executive Director is responsible for guiding strategy, cultivating philanthropic relationships and support, strengthening staff and organizational culture, and serving as the organization’s primary ambassador and advocate.

The next Executive Director will build on a strong organizational foundation, honor the organization’s history and culture, and lead with humility, collaboration, and transparency. Success in this role requires balancing strategic leadership with practical execution, and deep respect for the expertise of the staff, partners and volunteers.

We’re looking for a leader with:

• Demonstrated experience as an organizational leader, not just a program or project manager
• Proven fundraising and major donor relationship experience
• Background and experience in conservation, natural resources, science, environmental education and/or outdoor recreation 
• Presence: someone credible, confident and comfortable representing the organization in public, government, and peer settings
• Ability to delegate operational work and build skilled, accountable teams
• Comfort with governance, board relations, and organizational strategy

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic & Executive Leadership 

• Provide overall strategic direction consistent with mission, values, and long-term goals.
• Work collaboratively with the board of directors and board committees to lead implementation of the organization’s strategic plan.
• Guide staff in their work to translate the mission and strategy into tangible, measurable action and impacts through annual planning, risk management, and performance oversight.
• Ensure organizational stability and continuity during leadership transition.

Fundraising & Revenue Development 

• Plan and implement an effective fundraising strategy to support and grow operations and endowments - including conducting major donor relationships, public and private grants, planned giving, annual campaign, and member stewardship
• Serve as chief fundraiser and lead and maintain a personal portfolio of individual major donor relationships and relationships with grantmakers and philanthropic foundations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with individual donors, foundations, and philanthropic partners.
• Support revenue diversification and continued growth of fundraising program and systems.
• Together with the treasurer and finance committee, manage finances and annual budgets, working strategically to grow sustainable funds for operations.

External Leadership, Positioning and Partnerships 

• Oversee external messaging and programming to ensure alignment with RLC’s values, vision, mission and voice.
• Represent RLC to external audiences building strong relationships with landowners, donors, partners, government, and the community.
• Serve as primary spokesperson and ambassador.
• Build and maintain partnerships with municipalities, counties, state agencies, and peer organizations.
• Represent the organization in coalitions, with local, state, and federal government, and in community forums. 
• Advocate for land conservation policies and funding at local, state, and national levels.
• Translate technical conservation work into compelling public and donor-facing narratives.

Program Oversight: Land Protection, Stewardship and Community Engagement 

• Evaluate and advance potential land and easement acquisitions, together with appropriate staff and committees in alignment with the RLC Strategic Conservation Plan
• Provide strategic oversight – not day-to-day task management – of the organization’s core conservation programs.
• Oversee due diligence, funding, contracting, closing, and recording for land transactions, with support from staff, committees, and legal partners.
• Empower staff to own program and project execution and decision-making, while serving as a credible advisor, resource and champion for staff.
• Ensure that conservation work is scientifically sound, legally strong, and mission-aligned.

People Management & Organizational Culture 

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, retain, develop, and evaluate a high-performing, mission-driven staff.
• Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Lead organizational capacity building. Build and retain a team capable of handling operational and administrative functions.
• Delegate effectively and empower staff to lead within their areas of expertise.

Board Engagement 

• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board, supporting their high-level governance, recruitment, committee work, and strategic board engagement.
• Provide timely, transparent information to enable informed board governance and decision-making.

Operational & Financial Oversight 

• Willingness to perform essential financial administrative tasks (payroll, approvals, coding review, grant compliance) in collaboration with the Treasurer and Finance Committee.
• Write, administer, and report on grants and maintain relationships with grantmakers and philanthropic foundations.
• Strengthen internal systems, technology, and processes.
• Oversee risk management, compliance, and legal integrity.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal non-profit business practices and have familiarity with the LTA Best Practice Standards.

How the Position’s Success Is Measured

• Progress toward land conservation goals and strategic priorities.
• Growth and stability of philanthropic revenue.
• Retention, engagement, and development of staff.
• Strength and effectiveness of external partnerships.
• Organizational health, financial stability, and positive culture.
• Trust and alignment among staff, board, and stakeholders.

Will be required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Credibility and passion for land conservation and environmental protection.
• Senior executive leadership experience, preferably in nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, especially major gifts.
• Strong people-centered leadership and emotional intelligence.
• Financial acumen and experience with nonprofit budgeting and oversight.
• Experience with QuickBooks Online and Little Green Light or similar systems — or willingness to learn them.
• Experience working with boards and managing complex organizations.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Bachelor’s degree required OR equivalent experience.
• Must live in the service area (Delaware, Henry, Madison, Randolph, and Wayne counties)

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Experience with land trusts or conservation organizations.
• Familiarity with land acquisition, easements, and complex conservation transactions.
• Knowledge of Indiana land preservation policy, funding, and regulatory environment.
• Experience leading through organizational transition.
• Comfort operating in hybrid or flexible work environments.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and multi-generational engagement in conservation.

Work Environment

This role requires primarily office-based work. The role also involves frequent off-site meetings with staff, board, donors, and partners. There is some occasional evening and weekend work. 

Physical Abilities

This position requires frequent site visits with landowners and other stakeholders, on unpaved surfaces on uneven and often hilly terrain, under all weather conditions. The role requires an ability to travel locally and regionally, attend site visits, and participate in meetings and events, and an ability to access RLC’s second-floor office, reachable only by stairs.