About OVLC

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) is a nationally accredited land trust with a powerful mission to protect and restore the natural landscapes of the Ojai Valley forever. The organization works to permanently acquire, protect, restore, and conserve lands cherished by the community for the use and enjoyment of this and future generations. Established in 1987, the organization delivers a breadth of land protection, restoration and stewardship programs and is supported by an incredible team of 20 dedicated staff members and a highly engaged community of volunteers, contributing over 6,650 volunteer hours annually. The organization currently protects more than 2,600 acres of open space, manages 27 miles of recreational trails, guides hundreds of visitors, and hosts tens of thousands of schoolchildren, hikers, equestrians, bikers, and more each year.

Funding for OVLC comes from broad-based community support, government agencies, private foundations and environmental mitigation funds. The conservancy is supported by 2,155 members and is governed by a 14-member Board.

The organization is poised for significant growth with the anticipated acquisition and restoration of Rancho Cañada Larga – a 6,500 acre area that will more than triple OVLC’s current land holdings. This expansion provides the opportunity for OVLC to do even more in securing the community’s collective future through science-based restoration, stewardship and recreational programs. The organization is entering its next phase of growth and development as it expands its capacity to maintain its exemplary level of stewardship with this exciting and significant project.

Location

The Ojai Valley is a picturesque community of approximately 22,000 people and is adjacent to Los Padres National Forest, 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The community is comprised of residential, agricultural, and wild lands - citrus and avocado trees abound. It is a passionate and supportive community and one OVLC anticipates the Executive Director will become an embedded and beloved member of.

Position Overview

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is seeking an Executive Director to lead its next chapter of growth and development. OVLC is at an exciting point in time – poised to triple its land holdings, mature its operations, and grow its staff and volunteer base to provide exceptional stewardship to its increasing land base. OVLC is seeking someone who can build off the existing strengths in the organization (talented team, strong organizational culture, deep community support, exceptional program quality, financial health, etc.) to enable the organization to significantly increase its impact and be an employer of choice in the Ojai Valley.

For this next chapter of the organization’s growth and development, we are seeking an experienced leader who has a powerful combination of passion for OVLC’s mission, land conservation expertise, organizational leadership experience, and someone who thrives on guiding an organization through a period of growth and maturing operations.

Position Summary

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the organization and is responsible for providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, financial stewardship, fundraising leadership, and community engagement in support of the organization's mission. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors and the OVLC staff, the Executive Director ensures organizational sustainability, program excellence, and mission impact. The Executive Director directly supervises the Deputy Director, Director of Field Programs, and Restoration Program Director and is supported by the Board, a dedicated staff team, and a highly engaged group of volunteers.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead development & implementation of the organization's strategic plan
• Partner with the Board to establish organizational priorities and short and long-term goals
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and trends
• Maintain up-to-date Strategic Conservation Plan
• Drive innovation and organizational growth and development
• Ensure alignment between mission, strategy, and operations
• Serve as primary OVLC representative in local matters that relate to conservation, and with regional and national trusts

Board Partnership and Governance

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors
• Support effective governance practices
• Provide timely and accurate financial, program, and other relevant information to facilitate Board decision-making
• Assist in Board development, recruitment, and engagement
• Attend all Board and Committee meetings

Organizational Leadership and Operations

• Foster a positive, inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture
• Supervise staff including setting performance objectives, managing and evaluating performance, and developing senior professional staff
• Ensure effective organizational structure and resource allocation
• Oversee organizational operations, ensuring systems are in place for effective people management, financial management, fundraising management and conservation management
• Establish and monitor organizational performance metrics
• Ensure OVLC compliance with organizations’ policies and procedures, government rules and regulations, required licenses and permits, and Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices

Financial Management

• Ensure compliance with financial policies and regulations
• Work closely with finance staff, auditors, and Board Finance Committee
• Work with Treasurer to develop annual operating budget and operating plan for Board approval and oversee implementation
• Ensure financial sustainability and responsible stewardship of resources
• Monitor financial performance and cash flow
• Ensure accuracy of monthly financial statements and regular evaluation and reporting of budget results
• Obtain a satisfactory audit annually
• With accounting firm, file OVLC’s Federal and State 990 returns

Land and Easements

• Direct acquisition projects, including leading the Acquisition Committee and Board in evaluating and deciding on land protection projects
• Serve as a primary OVLC representative with landowners regarding potential donations and acquisitions and with landowners whose lands are under OVLC protection
• Assist conservation efforts to build and nurture relationships with landowners, key stakeholders, and agency partners

Stewardship

• Ensure baseline documentation and management plans for newly acquired properties and easements are created
• Set annual priorities for maintaining and improving existing properties, and conduct and record annual easement monitoring
• Conduct site visits to OVLC’s most frequented properties for stewardship needs and assist with major stewardship work projects

Fundraising and Resource Development

• Oversee the successful development and implementation of an annual fundraising plan
• Cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders
• Partner with the Board on fundraising activities
• Identify new revenue opportunities
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the organization
• Work with Deputy Director in solicitation of major gifts and planned giving programs and in the implementation of all membership recruitment and retention programs and fundraising activities

External Relations and Community Engagement

• Represent the organization with key stakeholders
• Strengthen community visibility and reputation
• Build strategic partnerships and collaborations
• Serve as a spokesperson for the organization and advocate for its mission
• Represent OVLC through public presentation and participation in community events
• Serve as primary media contact for OVLC, creating press releases and media advisories
• Oversee and contribute to social media communications and ensure OVLC website is up to date and accurate                                      

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies
• Oversee organizational risk management efforts
• Maintain ethical and transparent practices
• Ensure proper governance and accountability systems

Desired Qualifications

• Passion for OVLC's mission and commitment to conservation
• Conservation, land trust, and/or land management experience and subject matter expertise
• Executive Director, CEO, or equivalent senior leadership experience successfully guiding an organization through a period of growth while strengthening operations, developing organizational capacity, and preserving culture
• Experience leading large-scale land acquisition, conservation, and stewardship initiatives
• Strong strategic thinking, vision-setting, and planning capabilities
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and relationship management
• Exceptional partnership-building, community engagement, and stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrated success building strong relationships with Boards of Directors and advancing governance practices to support a growing and increasingly complex organization
• Experience building deeply respectful partnerships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, and/or organizations engaged in Indigenous land stewardship, or demonstrated commitment and ability to develop expertise in this area
• Knowledge of California conservation issues, policies, and regulatory environments, or a willingness and ability to quickly develop this expertise
• Strong financial management skills, and understanding of relevant legal and policy considerations

Desired Leadership Competencies

• Deep connection to OVLC's mission, values, and the lands and communities it serves
• Transparent, authentic, and effective communicator
• High emotional intelligence, integrity, and professionalism
• Skilled at fostering trust, partnerships, and team engagement during periods of change
• Empowers individuals and teams through trust, accountability, and shared ownership
• Collaborative, inclusive, and relationship-centered leadership style
• Adaptable, approachable, and open to feedback and diverse perspectives
• Decisive, thoughtful, and composed under pressure
• Demonstrates strong ethical judgment and accountability
• Builds meaningful community relationships and serves as a visible organizational ambassador
• Honors organizational history while thoughtfully leading future growth and evolution

A Note to Prospective Candidates: The qualifications outlined above describe the experience and attributes that would position a candidate for success in this role. We recognize that exceptional candidates may not meet every qualification listed above and research consistently shows that many talented individuals hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. OVLC welcomes applications from individuals whose experiences may differ from those listed, but who can demonstrate the leadership, skills, judgment, passion for the mission, and commitment necessary to excel as Executive Director at this stage in the organization’s growth.

Key Initial Priorities for the Next Executive Director

• Successfully lead OVLC through the acquisition and management planning for Rancho Cañada Larga
• Strengthen organizational infrastructure and systems to support growth
• Develop and deepen relationships with donors, partners, and other key stakeholders
• Establish community presence and deepen relationships across the Ojai Valley
• Continue cultivating a high-performing and engaged organizational culture
• Partner with the Board to advance governance practices and strategic planning

Compensation and Benefits

OVLC offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation package designed to attract and retain exceptional leadership talent.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $160,000–$195,000 annually. This range represents the organization's good-faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including the selected candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, and internal equity considerations.

Benefits include:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan, with 3% Employer Match
• Paid Sick Leave (80 hrs./year)
• Paid Company-Recognized Holidays (currently 14 days/year)
• Paid Vacation Time
  • 0-2 years of service: 12 days/year
  • 2-5 years of service: 15 days/year
  • 5 years+ of service: 20 days/year

In addition, significantly reduced-cost rental housing on OVLC property may be available for the selected candidate, if desired, providing a unique opportunity to live within and further connect with the community served by the organization.

OVLC is committed to providing a compensation and benefits package that supports the well-being, professional growth, and long-term success of its employees. OVLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All decisions to recruit, hire, promote and release from employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disabilities, or veteran status.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in the position.

This executive search is being supported by Sadowski Coaching & Consulting’s Executive Search Services. All applications, nominations, and confidential inquiries regarding the position should be directed to:

Krysta Sadowski
Sadowski Coaching & Consulting, LLC
Email: Krysta@KrystaSadowski.com

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Early application is encouraged. All inquiries and application materials will be handled confidentially.

**Please visit https://ovlc.org/careers for a complete position description and more information about the organization**