Job Description

Vice President and Executive Director, Audubon Washington (NAS)

Posted on November 25, 2019

The National Audubon Society

The National Audubon Society is one of the oldest, largest, and most influential conservation organizations in the United States. Since 1905, a passion for birds and nature has been the driving force behind Audubons legacy. The organization has played a critical role in some of the most significant victories for birds and the environment, including: the establishment of the first National Wildlife Refuges; the banning of DDT in 1972; landmark legislation like the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts and the establishment of the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Audubon advocates broadly for conservation through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action.

Todays Audubon is tackling the most pressing

conservation challenges of our time.

Audubon is a powerful distributed network with an unparalleled reach that includes more than one million members, 463 chapters, 22 state and regional offices (or field offices?) and 34 nature centers. In addition, Audubon works with dozens of international partnerships throughout the Western Hemisphere that also support protection of migratory birds and the habitats they need to thrive today, and in the future.

The National Audubon Society is a $140M+, 800+ employee, 1.65M member organization. In 2010, David Yarnold was appointed by the Board of Trustees and assumed leadership as CEO, with a goal of creating the most effective conservation network in the U.S. David and his executive team are achieving this goal, tackling the most pressing conservation challenges of our time. When developing a case study for nonprofit excellence in the fall of 2017, Harvard Business School selected David Yarnolds leadership of Audubon and remarked, It was the most impressive turnaround of a legacy organization weve ever seen.

Audubon Washington

A field office of the National Audubon Society, Audubon Washington (AWA) works to protect the places and policies that birds need to thrive across the state of Washington. Within the network of connections that make up a healthy ecosystems, birds are uniquely positioned to act as an environmental indicator of the health of the landscape. We know that what is good for birds is good for entire ecosystems including people.

To this end, we build and engage a diverse network of volunteers, communities, and conservation professionals. Together we address the greatest threats to birds, such as climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species. Our strategies are driven by cutting-edge science that informs where and how we work to protect birds and guides our policy objectives. The outcome of this approach is a reinforcing strategy that addresses the biggest threats faced by birds and people in our region. Together we are saving birds and improving the quality of life for the people of Washington.

Position Summary :

The National Audubon Society (NAS) seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and strategic candidate to lead and grow our Audubon Washington office. The successful person will lead a talented team to advance overall conservation objectives, strengthen and mobilize our bipartisan network, and deliver durable policy solutions across Washington. They also serve as a Vice President of the National Audubon Society and , with their peers , are responsible for shaping and delivering national objectives, initiatives, and processes. Over time, they will explore opportunities to expand the National Audubon Societys reach and impact across the Pacific Northwest.

Audubon Washington builds practical and durable conservation and policy solutions that benefit the birds and people of the state. With chapters and members in every legislative district, Audubon brings an unparalleled grassroots network to take action on important issues for birds. In 2008, we expanded our reach by opening the Seward Park Audubon Center . With an emphasis on connecting Seattles diverse communities with nature, programming at the Center and in the park includes school, youth, community, arts in the environment, and special events. Guided by science and powered by a bipartisan grassroots network, our work spans from the coastal estuaries of Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor to the stagebrush steppe ecosystem of Eastern Washington to the legislative chambers of Olympia. Driven by science that demonstrates that climate is the greatest threat to North Americas birds, Audubon was a leader in the passage of the Washingtons 100% Clean Energy bill, SB 5116.

As we look to the future, we see opportunities to expand our impact across the Pacific Northwest in partnership with our conservation partners and more than 61,000 members and 39 chapters in the region to address the most important issues facing birds.

The incoming Executive Director and Vice President must have demonstrated success in crafting and driving innovative conservation, policy, engagement, and development strategies that inspire the regions decision makers, conservation partners, and philanthropic community to invest in Audubons conservation vision and strategic plan. Building on the success of the Audubon Washingtons well-respected conservation program, they will inspire collaboration among our conservation, legislative, and philanthropic partners to deepen our impact and influence across the Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

This is a high-profile position with the potential to grow National Audubon Societys reach and affect change at the local, regional, and national levels. The Executive Director and Vice President will report to Audubons Vice President for the Central/Pacific Flyway. They will be jointly reviewed by the Flyway VP with input from the chair of the Audubon Washington Board of Advisors.

Audubon offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. This position will be located in Seattle, Washington.

Essential Functions :

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• Deliver operational and strategic excellence through the leadership, management, and mentoring of a mature and diverse staff while preserving open communication and recognizing the value of the management team.
• Define a clear vision for Audubon across the Pacific Northwest that distinguishes Audubon Washington from our conservation partners and that builds on current strengths, a strong business case for investment, and engagement of a bipartisan network.
• Focus resources on the most critical, high-leverage projects and strategies, including policy development and public engagement, focused on population centers.
• Leverage the impact of the Seward Park Audubon Center to achieve state, regional, and national goals.
• Build upon the strong foundation of building a representative team and developing programs and initiatives that are resonant and relevant for the diverse population of the Pacific Northwest
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the office, including setting financial and programmatic goals, analyzing results and taking corrective action in close collaboration with local and national staff.
• Ensure that all Audubon financial standards, operating policies, programmatic commitment and legal/statutory requirements are met.

CONSERVATION STRATEGIC EXECUTION

• Craft and achieve strategic goals and initiatives that are integrated fully with the National Audubon Societys conservation, network, and philanthropic goals.
• Increase our region-wide capacity to achieve the conservation of priority birds and their habitats. Priorities include:
  • Advancing a healthy Puget Sound and Coastal Northwest conservation strategy
  • Inspiring our bipartisan network and decision makers throughout Washington and the region to take action to limit carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change
  • Create durable policy solutions that address the most critical threats to birds at the local, state, and federal levels
  • Establishing a Columbia Plateau healthy lands initiative that protects the sagebrush-steppe ecosystemthrough influencing public lands management, renewable energy siting, and wildfire management.
  • Engaging the diversity of communities that represent the population of the region to build durable conservation and policy strategies and resonant education programs
  • Integrate Seward Park Audubon Center into our conservation, policy, and engagement strategies

FUNDRAISING AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Partner with Audubons development team to cultivate existing and to solicit new major donors, foundations, corporations and government agencies to significantly increase contributions.
• Represent Audubon Washington throughout the region to raise profile and visibility of our priorities and impact with funders, partners, policy makers, and the public, resulting in deeper donor satisfaction and investment.
• Strengthen the financially sustainable business and development plans for the state with a focus on expanding new funding sources, inspiring new donors, and cultivating strategic partnerships with agencies and other NGOs.
• Support fundraising for national priority projects with Audubons leadership and development teams.
• Collaborate meaningfully and significantly with other Audubon state programs and national development staff on donor strategies under the One Audubon approach to members and donors

STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS

• Deepen the engagement of the Audubon Washington Board of Ad]]>

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