Description:
The Forest Exploration Center seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to guide the development of a state-of-the-art educational facility. A successful candidate will be a creative leader with outstanding strategic thinking and communication skills displaying intellectual curiosity and breadth, imagination, political savvy, and an enterprising spirit.
The Executive Director will be responsible to the Board of Directors for all aspects of the planning and funding including maintenance and security of the property. S/he will be the chief strategist, fundraiser and spokesperson for this exciting project and will report to and work with the Board of Directors on strategies for implementation of the vision of the organization. This will be a demanding challenge but, a rare opportunity to spearhead the design and development of a new facility, offers great rewards for the person who possesses the defined competencies and skill set as well as passion for the mission of the project. This once in a lifetime chance
Primary Responsibilities:
• Fundraising: The director will need to organize an annual campaign to fund ongoing operations as well as planning and beginning a capital and endowment campaign.
• Board development: S/he will need to recruit additional board members to supplement the current seven members (the by-laws allow up to 28 members) and build the capacities of the board in the areas of fundraising and leadership.
• Organizational development: Although the organization’s framework is in place, the Executive Director will need to develop a suite of policies and complete other organizational groundwork.
• Community and public relations: This position requires a person who can represent the organization and its mission to other organizations, government agencies and the public and establishes sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with other entities as appropriate. The successful candidate will possess the organizational and political savvy that will build, manage and leverage relationship
Skills:
• Ability to create, manage and successfully implement a development campaign; effective fundraising skills and demonstrated fundraising success.
• Proven fundraising, managerial, financial and administrative abilities.
• Strong presentation and communication skills including the ability to inspire enthusiasm and support for this start-up project through written and spoken words.
• Dynamic, passionate and energetic leadership with the ability to position and develop an organization; ability to work effectively with the board, various stakeholders and the public.
• Ability to focus on setting realistic priorities.
• Commitment to the mission of the organization. Desire and ability to promote the mission and vision of the Center to a wide range of audiences.
• Bachelors degree required.
• Experience and familiarity with existing organizations and institutions in Wisconsin is preferred.
Application Instuctions:
Please send cover letter and resume by October 14, 2011 to:
fec@forestfoundation.org
Application Email: fec@forestfoundation.org
Website: forestexplorationcenter.org
Additional Info:
About the Forest Exploration Center
A nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status has been formed to explore, explain and experience Wisconsin forests and forestry. The vision of the Board of Directors is to create a forest-based science center that inspires and engages people in learning about the social, cultural, economic and ecological importance of Wisconsin forests. They envision the eventual development of a facility (to be called the Forest Exploration Center) with dynamic, high-quality, hands-on experiences that allow visitors of all ages to develop an understanding of forests, our relationship to them and the role each of us plays as stewards of our forests and the benefits they provide.
While the organization is young, the project concept originated in the late 1990s and much initial groundwork has been laid, including an educational needs analysis and tourism niche research. The Founding Board, during their one-year term in 2009, completed a strategic planning process and business outlook.
|
