Executive Director

About

Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation (Catawba Riverkeeper/CR) was founded in 1997 as the 21st waterkeeper organization in the U.S. Now, proudly part of an international movement that boasts over 400 local organizations, we preserve, protect and restore the waters of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin for all through education, advocacy, and engagement. Our 5,000 square mile river basin includes over 8,900 miles of waterways across 26 counties in North and South Carolina. 

The Executive Director (ED) will be an experienced non-profit leader with the ability to operate on strategic, managerial, financial and hands-on levels and to help guide the organization on a day-to-day and long-term basis. The ED will lead a team of 13 full-time employees and initially will have 5 direct reports – Riverkeeper, Director of External Relations, Policy Director, Volunteer Manager, and Retail Manager.

The ED will bring proven management expertise and experience in fundraising, community-based programs, operations, and community and board engagement. Revenue generation, financial and organizational leadership are the top three responsibilities of the ED. The ED must also have a keen attention to detail, the ability to delegate effectively, a proven track record in motivating and unifying teams, and have solid organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The ED will be comfortable with and committed to fostering the development of staff. 

The ED identifies opportunities and challenges and works across departments and external teams to come up with highly innovative solutions. The ED’s work will serve to increase the effectiveness, stability, and impact of CR. The ED must demonstrate excellent communication and relationship-building skills, a deep belief in the mission of CR, and the ability to promote and support the Board of Directors’ vision to the staff and members of CR.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors 

Responsibilities 

• Proudly serves the local community, serving as a brand ambassador, promoting awareness and advocacy for the Catawba Riverkeeper and our mission. 
• Partners with the Riverkeeper, Director of External Relations, Policy Director, and Retail Manager to proactively identify internal opportunities and challenges and work with the staff and Board of Directors to address them.
• Serves as the organization’s primary contact to major donors, corporate partners, and philanthropic foundations to drive revenue through the development of these relationships.
• Responsible for the Profit & Loss of the organization.
• Manages key projects and special initiatives that relate to organizational growth and community engagement.
• Serves as the point of contact for all administrative support provided by Stowe Business Services including Human Resources, Legal, Governance, IT, and Facilities.
• Sustains an internal culture that promotes and aligns with the core values of CR.
• Serve as the day-to-day operational leader of the organization, developing and evaluating program strategies and goals for effectiveness, profitability, and impact.
• Represents CR as appropriate with stakeholders, partners, and members.
• Provides coaching and training to develop staff members to reach long-term professional goals and meet the growing needs of the organization
• Exemplifies the Catawba Riverkeeper mission statement and supports staff, departments and leadership in pursuing and achieving goals.
• Performs any other duties needed to help drive to our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by our values.

Requirements

• Exhibits a passion for the mission of Catawba Riverkeeper.
• Successfully pass a standard criminal background review. 
• Demonstrated experience and success in fundraising in a non-profit environment, preferably in the environmental or conservation sectors.
• Approachable, collaborative, and willing to learn as well as teach.
• Team-player capable of working both collaboratively and independently.
• Flexible and able to multitask; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions.
• Able to see complexity and navigate difficult situations; demonstrated resourcefulness in strategic planning, setting priorities and managing and solving complex operational problems.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, and the ability to translate data into clear and simple messages for a wide range of audiences.
• Superb emotional intelligence, including the ability to generate respect and trust from colleagues, direct reports, and external constituents. Demonstrate the ability to take the perspective of multiple and diverse stakeholders and integrate them into a coherent unified perspective and plan of action. Able to hold opposing ideas simultaneously. Strong emotional regulation and the ability to maintain calm and steadiness during times of crisis or stress.
• High self-awareness with the ability to self-reflect and adjust thinking and behavior in real time as needed in response to changing dynamics. Has strong, well-considered opinions but holds them lightly. Willing to be wrong.
• Ability to provide long-term, inspirational vision while simultaneously creating pragmatic solutions to day-to-day problems.
• Desire to grow and be mentored as an impactful non-profit Executive Director.

Experience & Qualifications: 

• Senior management experience in a dynamic, responsive environment – environmental non-profit leadership experience preferred.
• Proven track record of fundraising in the non-profit space.
• Proven track record of strategic financial management, business strategy, and strategic planning.
• Experience creating and managing budgets.
• Experience managing complex projects and departments.
• Highly skilled at staff leadership, coaching, and development.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams to develop and implement systems and processes to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
• Experience navigating complex issues and making difficult decisions, often in high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated experience as a collaborative leader both internally and externally.

Geographic Location

The successful candidate will reside in or be willing to relocate to the Catawba-Wateree river basin. The Catawba Riverkeeper main office is in McAdenville, North Carolina. As face-to-face interaction with staff, corporate partners, and foundation members is key, the Executive Director will maintain a daily presence in the office and across the basin.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $90,000-$120,000 annually, and includes unlimited paid time off, organization-paid health insurance, a matched retirement plan, and other benefits.  

Catawba Riverkeeper Values

We are an organization of action, quality, leaders, innovation, and engagement. We prioritize getting meaningful work done. We hold ourselves to a standard or excellence in everything we do. We strive to be leaders in our individual areas of influence as well as an environmental organization in this region. We are not afraid of trying new things and are willing to take thoughtful risks in achieving our mission. We work to actively bring our communities into the work we do. 

Catawba Riverkeeper provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. 

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