Executive Director of Wild Seed Project

As Wild Seed Project enters our second decade, we are excited to hire our next Executive Director.  We are looking for a seasoned, collaborative, purpose-driven leader with experience cultivating sustainability with non-profit organizations. We encourage applicants with a passion for the mission of Wild Seed Project, who are dedicated to fundraising, organizational management and stewardship of relationships and partnerships to strengthen collective impact. Apply by May 31st by sending a cover letter and resume to edsearch@wildseedproject.net 

Organization Overview

Wild Seed Project was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 2014 with a mission to inspire people to take action and join us in increasing the presence of native plants grown from wild seed. Our vision is that people create and repopulate landscapes to be abundant with native plants that safeguard wildlife habitat, support biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change. To this end, Wild Seed Project ethically collects and sells seeds of wild and uncultivated forms of native plants and educates the public through its interactive website, events, publications and partnerships with schools and other organizations. 

During its first five years, founding director Heather McCargo along with early board members and dedicated volunteers helped to grow the organization to an annual budget of $220,000 by 2019. The next year, in 2020, increased interest in home gardening and climate change solutions, along with publicity from a New York Times article, brought an explosion in requests for education and access to native seeds. In 2021 the  Wild Seed Project Board hired a succeeding Executive Director to expand the staff and organizational capacity.

Now, Wild Seed Project works with an annual budget of $1.2M, with 11 dedicated staff, a Native Plant Nursery and Seed Center, a robust community education program, transformative school programming, and over 25,000 packets of hand-collected and hand packed wild seeds distributed annually. Dozens of volunteers and 2000 members learn and deepen their involvement as part of a community of practice. This year, after a leadership transition, an Interim Director worked with staff and board to clarify systems, values, and roles, preparing the ground for new leadership, to be hired in summer of 2025. Learn more at www.wildseedproject.net

Core Values 

All Wild Seed Project staff and board, including the new Executive Director, work by these core values: 

• Community: We are connecting people with one another and the web of life around us, in tune with complexity, mutuality, beauty and an awareness of how we impact one another. 
• Care: We can and will create conditions for a life-affirming future, informed by scientific methods and reflective action, learning and adapting along the way. 
• Humility: We strive to continuously build knowledge and skills with an open mind, and share what we learn. We value many ways of knowing and being, and we are committed to ongoing learning, unlearning and practice toward equity, inclusion and decolonization.
• Responsibility: We cultivate many ways to participate in repairing people’s relationships with the life around us through responsibility and accessible collective action. 

Role and Responsibilities

Wild Seed Project is seeking an Executive Director who engages our core values in external outreach, fundraising, and stewardship of the organization, as well as management, communication and staff and board support.  The new Executive Director will partner with the staff and board in strategic planning, oversee all aspects of the project’s operations, drive development and support messaging and broad outreach. This individual will be responsible for the management and development of the project’s staff, programs and partnerships, the financial health of the organization, and the strength of its relationships with diverse stakeholders. The Executive Director will also provide leadership with regard to learning and practice toward building a culture of community, care, humility and responsibility within Wild Seed Project. 

The board and staff collectively identified the following capacities of the successful candidate:

• Passion for the mission, vision and values of Wild Seed Project, deep curiosity, and a keen interest in community-engaged environmental and ecological work
• A strong track record of organizational leadership in the nonprofit sector, including financial management and planning
• Strong fundraising skills across multiple streams of income, including major donor relations, membership, grants management and monthly donations
• Experience and commitment to building effective diverse external relationships and enduring partnerships
• Demonstrated creative ability and discernment in problem-solving, strategic planning and effective implementation
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to connect with a broad audience through listening, honesty, and engaging and accessible language
• Facility with systems management, including utilizing relevant technology and managing multiple priorities
• A collaborative and attuned staff management style that leverages individual and team strengths and fosters a grounded, supportive work environment. 
• Experience working with a governing board of directors, with clear roles and healthy collaboration
• Experience facilitating ongoing organizational learning and culture change
• Transparent and supportive internal communication, attuned to the needs of staff and the organization 
• Connection and responsibility to place, land and the natural world
• Understanding of one’s positionality, and a strong practice of working with dynamics of power and privilege in relationships
• Self-awareness and self-reflection 

Work Location

Wild Seed Project’s office is located in North Yarmouth, Maine, approximately 30 minutes north of Portland and our Native Seed Center is located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, approximately 30 minutes south of Portland. We are currently working via a flexible, hybrid model, with staff splitting time between home and the office/in the field as their role demands. 

Compensation 

Wild Seed Project Executive Director position is a full time, exempt position with an annual salary of $90,000.  Reporting directly to the board of directors, the successful candidate can expect a formal review after the initial six months, and an annual review thereafter. Compensation includes a generous benefits package including 20 vacation days, 6 sick/personal days, paid holidays, and 75% employer coverage of medical insurance premiums. Dental and vision insurance are available and paid 100% by employees. 

Nondiscrimination

Wild Seed Project values diversity and equity and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, national origin, ancestry, public assistance, ethnic background, religion, marital status, economic class, age, disability or handicap (mental or physical), sex, creed, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and any other legally protected characteristics in admission or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. The project complies with all applicable national, state and local laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.