Employment

Posted: June 22, 2010
Position Announcement
Executive Director

Established in 1997, the Allen and Alice Stokes Nature Center (SNC) is a growing nonprofit nature education program located in the Cache National Forest in northern Utah. SNC offers on-site programs as well as field programs within the forest and throughout Cache Valley. The SNC mission is to provide opportunities for students of all ages to explore, learn about, and develop appreciation and stewardship for our natural world.

Logan, Utah, home to Utah State University, is the Cache County seat, and has a population of 45,000. It is a safe and affordable place to live, with rich cultural and educational opportunities, community parks, and incredible scenery. The surrounding mountains offer year round recreational adventures, including hiking, backpacking, skiing, boating, mountain biking, and fishing. Salt Lake City, home to the 2002 Winter Olympics and Salt Lake International Airport, is located 90 miles south of Logan.

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership and management of SNC.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Secure the resources necessary to fulfill SNC's mission and expand the vision.
• Maintain and enhance SNC's positive reputation in the community.
• Cultivate financial and political support from individuals, corporations, organizations, foundations, and governmental entities.
• Build and nurture a strong, professional, and enthusiastic staff.
• Manage all operations, including staff activities, program development and implementation, facility development and maintenance.
• Oversee finances and comply with all IRS regulations.
• Work with the board to assure quality governance and strategic planning.
• Lead the process of SNC's move/expansion to the 2nd Dam location in Logan Canyon, developing a capital campaign and community involvement to support the move.
• Seek entrepreneurial opportunities to enhance SNC program offerings and community collaborations.

Specific Duties:

Staff

• Supervise the paid staff of SNC. This includes annual employee reviews, hiring and dismissal of staff, and administering of personnel policies.
• Maintain and update SNC personnel policy manual.
• Maintain up-to-date employee files on all past and present staff.
• Act as the staff liaison and spokesperson to the board, bringing staff concerns and needs as well as accomplishments to the board's attention.
• Build and maintain staff morale and team spirit in creative ways.
• Provide ample on- and off-site staff development opportunities.

Office and Facilities

• The ED will assure that all phases of the office operate as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
• The ED will be familiar with SNC's computer equipment and make decisions regarding purchase, maintenance, and replacement of computer equipment and systems. The ED is also responsible for the selection of software.
• The ED oversees maintenance of and improvements to SNC's facilities.

Board of Directors
The ED reports to and is supervised directly by the board of trustees and assists the board chair with board governance as needed. The ED also:

• Prepares agendas for and helps the board chair run executive committee meetings.
• Prepares and distributes board mailings prior to each meeting that include a cover letter describing actions to be taken and items of importance, an agenda prepared with the board chair, and minutes from the last meeting.
• Prepares director's report to keep board informed of relevant activities and development at SNC for each board meeting or as needed.
• Attends as a non-voting member and helps board chair run board meetings.
• Attends all committee meetings.
• Plays a key role in board development and the cultivation, recruitment, and training of new board members.

Finance
The ED oversees the accounting practices and procedures for SNC and maintains compliance with all IRS regulations. The ED is also responsible for presenting quarterly reports to the board of trustees on financial activities and for adhering to the approved budget. The ED also:

• Prepares annual operating and capital improvement budget for review by treasurer and finance committee and for final approval by board of trustees.
• Prepares quarterly financial statement for review by treasurer, finance committee and board members.
• Works with bookkeeper to deposit all monies, transfer funds and make investments as per SNC's financial policies.
• Coordinates with a certified public accountant for ongoing accounting procedures and annual year-end audit.

Program
The ED works with the SNC naturalist educator to assure that high quality, hands on nature education programming is provided in all areas of SNC's education program. The ED is especially critical in developing new programs, partnerships, and opportunities for expansion.

Risk Management
The ED actively manages SNC operations, policies, programs, and facilities to minimize risk to staff, board, participants, and the public and to avoid the possibility of litigation. The ED also:

• Will formalize a safety protocol manual.
• Maintains adequate insurance coverage policies for general liability and directors and officers coverage.
• Works with program staff to manage all program accidents via reporting, record-keeping, and follow-up (including policy changes as necessary to avoid future accidents).

Permits and Licenses
The ED makes sure appropriate permits and licenses are in place and adhered to, including charitable solicitation permit, various animal permits for education display, U.S.D.A. Forest Service lease agreement, special use permit, outfitter's permit, and others as required by law.

Planning

• The ED works with the board of trustees to develop plans for SNC facilities, most importantly the ongoing plan to move operations to the 2nd Dam site in Logan Canyon.
• The ED works with area governmental planning agencies to promote SNC's interests and advance the SNC mission.
• The ED works with the board, staff, and membership to produce strategic and long range plans to ensure the continued success of SNC.
• The ED will work with the staff to track program participation and prepare annual reports for evaluation and planning purposes.

Public Relations

• In conjunction with the community relations coordinator, project a positive image of SNC to the community and seek community support through marketing materials, publication, special events, and public speaking engagements.
• The ED, in consultation with the marketing committee, determines what special events SNC will offer. The ED establishes budgets for activities operated by the staff, and works with volunteers on special events operated by the staff and the marketing committee.

Development

• Work with the board to design and conduct ongoing fundraising activities, including cultivating major individual, foundation, and corporate donors.
• Prepare grant proposals. The ED works with the board to plan for and implement major fundraising campaigns.
• Work with the board, staff, and volunteers to build membership base and oversee record keeping of donations, maintenance of donor database, and donor recognition.
• Develop and implement planned giving campaign in coordination with the development of the SNC 2nd Dam site.
• Keep donors informed of the center's progress and significant accomplishments.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders and constituencies, including other non-profits, program students, Chambers of Commerce, the State Office of Education, K-12, Utah State University and other higher education institutions, and other environmental education organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in business or nonprofit administration, education, or natural resources. Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience will be considered.
• Five to seven years experience managing or directing a nonprofit or environmental organization.
• Proven leadership, management, and fund development skills.
• Excellent public relations, oral and written communications skills.
• Strong ability to work with and communicate with others in a close-knit office environment.
• Knowledge of environmental education practices and trends preferred.
• Ability to relate to people of all ages.
• Energy, enthusiasm, creativity and desire to meet the challenges of a growing nonprofit.

Compensation:

Salary range:	Commensurate with education and experience and competitive with area non-profits ($35,000 - $45,000). Fundraising bonuses may be negotiated.
Benefits:	Medical insurance and retirement pending, paid vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays.

Application Process:
Candidates should send to the address below: (1) a resume or vitae; (2) a letter of application describing how their education, experience and talents qualify them for our executive director position as outlined in the qualifications; and (3) the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three current professional references.

Stokes Nature Center Search Committee
P.O. Box 4204
Logan, UT 84323
Review of applications will begin on July 1, 2010 and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is hired. SNC is an equal opportunity employer. Application materials can also be submitted electronically to .