Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida

https://wildlifeflorida.org/

The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida was formed on September 29, 1994, as a nonprofit organization to support the health and well-being of Florida’s fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. They work closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and many other public and private partners.

Scope and Responsibilities

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive and public face of the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, providing visionary leadership to advance its mission of conserving and enhancing Florida’s fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. Reporting to the Board of Directors and leading a team of approximately 13 staff across the state, this individual will strengthen alignment, collaboration, and organizational focus while maintaining strong partnerships with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other key stakeholders.

This is a high-visibility opportunity to guide Florida’s largest conservation foundation into its next phase of growth advancing priorities such as conserving wildlife and getting youth back into nature while uniting board, staff, and partners under a shared vision for impactful environmental stewardship. The position may be based remotely within Florida, with regular travel to Tallahassee and throughout the state.

Specific Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other key collaborators to ensure strategic priorities are aligned and impactful.
• Provide visionary leadership in shaping and executing conservation, fundraising, and operational strategies, with focus areas including the Florida Wildlife Corridor, coastal conservation, and youth programs.
• Unify and engage a diverse Board of Directors, fostering effective governance, transparency, and shared purpose.
• Expand the Foundation’s philanthropic reach by cultivating individual, corporate, and institutional donors to achieve annual fundraising goals of $5–10 million.
• Oversee the Foundation’s budget, ensuring sound fiscal management, accountability, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead, empower, and develop a statewide staff of approximately 13, strengthening infrastructure and organizational capacity.
• Serve as the Foundation’s chief ambassador, maintaining strong relationships with policymakers, funders, and community partners, while fostering a collaborative and mission-driven culture across the organization.

Key Selection Criteria

• Proven success leading a complex nonprofit, foundation, or public-sector organization, preferably in conservation, environmental sciences, or natural resources.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and inspire a geographically dispersed team and engage effectively with a large, active board.
• Record of achievement in major gift fundraising, donor relations, and institutional partnership development.
• Strong business and financial acumen, with experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and organizational growth.
• Familiarity with Florida’s conservation, political, and environmental landscape or the ability to quickly build expertise.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills; comfortable serving as the organization’s primary spokesperson.
• Bachelor’s degree required, an advanced degree in conservation, environmental science, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred.
• Highest level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to public service.