Job Description

 

The Opportunity

This is an incredible opportunity for a visionary, collaborative leader with a passion for the outdoors to join a historic nonprofit organization with a talented staff, incredible community, and experienced board. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will join a team that provides all people with educational, recreational, and interpretive opportunities about natural resources and cultural history.

The CEO will bring visionary leadership to all areas of FIND Outdoors, providing oversight of the organization’s operations, culture, values, talent, and financial performance.

Reporting to and working closely with the Board, the CEO will provide transparent leadership to enhance FIND Outdoors’ operations and strategies in ways that both build upon its history and expertise and sustain the organization for generations to come. This includes driving an innovative strategic plan that envisions growth and expanded impact, new initiatives, and an even stronger infrastructure. The CEO is responsible for achieving financial objectives and managing the overall performance of FIND Outdoors staff.

The CEO will be a deeply engaged member of the community representing FIND Outdoors throughout the region and beyond. The CEO will work collaboratively in a highly visible role with a broad range of constituents, both within FIND Outdoors and externally.

The CEO will continue to build the reputation of FIND Outdoors, clearly demonstrating a unique value proposition and ensuring all FIND Outdoors’ programs and work reflect the organization’s mission and values. In partnership with the staff, the CEO will build meaningful partnerships, implement new ideas, support innovation, and foster creativity throughout the organization.

The CEO will have the privilege of working alongside a committed FIND Outdoors team:

• In addition to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, there are three other Board Committees including Finance, Governance, and Development that guide and support the enterprise functions of the organization.
• FIND Outdoors’ Executive Leadership Team includes the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Mission Officer and the Chief Operating Officer.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have a combination of these qualities, skills, and experiences. We welcome people of all backgrounds to apply.

Passion for the mission – Do you love the outdoors?
The CEO will have a true passion or and demonstrated connection with the great outdoors. The CEO will be an authentic partner and community connector. They will have the skills to share the mission and vision of FIND Outdoors with its supporting community while attracting new and diverse supporters. This leader will demonstrate an ability to cultivate relationships with leaders in the private and corporate sectors as well as build effective teams. The ideal candidate can balance collaboration and efficiency, understanding where input is needed while getting things done. The leader will have a high level of emotional intelligence with a demonstrated ability to quickly build trust and credibility with others.

Effective communicator and trusted partner
The CEO will will and nurture meaningful relationships and promote FIND Outdoors with its many constituents and partners. They will have the ability to clearly communicate and collaborate with a wide range of people. They will possess strong listening skills and be solutions oriented.

The CEO will embody the values and mission of the organization by embracing inclusivity and caring, and continuing to lead the staff and inspire the Board and volunteers so all can belong, contribute, and succeed. As the lead external voice of the organization, the CEO will have the skills to share FIND Outdoors’ work with the community.

The CEO will have a collaborative spirit and will be a caring leader who treats all with respect. The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation.

Strong Organizational Skills
The CEO will have experience and understanding of both operations, human resources, and managing organizational teams and budgets. They will be familiar with management of multiple funding streams, including individual giving, government programs, contracts for service, and grant support. They will be highly strategic, setting priorities decisively but collaboratively, delegating responsibilities, and ensuring accountability. They will approach development from a relational versus transactional perspective. Knowledge of or experience with the US Forest Service and/or National Park Service is a plus.

A team-focused visionary
The CEO will have an inner drive to ensure that FIND Outdoors creates meaningful opportunities to connect people to nature. The ideal candidate will have a vision for the conservation and recreational landscape and will have an eye consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the organization to potential changes. The CEO will have an engaging, creative, and humble character that enables them to be an effective storyteller and represent FIND Outdoors with a range of partners and community members.

They will be skilled at listening to and learning from others with a deep belief in fostering a transparent, empowered, and productive organizational culture. The CEO will recognize the importance of the commitment of staff and will foster an atmosphere of collaboration and partnership across the organization. They will also be able to effectively use technology including Microsoft Office applications, online grant applications, and other software.

Why FIND Outdoors?

FIND Outdoors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, just outside of the beautiful mountain town of Brevard. We're the Southeast’s leader in providing access to public lands through exceptional recreational experiences.

Our story is rooted in education about the forest. Our passion is to help people become inspired. Our goal is to help people connect with nature. Our drive is to help people learn through discovery. Through Forest-Inspired Nature Discovery, we help people FIND Outdoors.

We inspire people to connect with nature through well-managed outdoor recreation sites, campgrounds, visitor centers, guided tours, and educational and outdoor opportunities for all ages and abilities. We also manage retail outlets that offer forest-related gifts and souvenirs, nature-based activities for children, local crafts, and trail guides.

Want to know more? Visit FIND Outdoors’ website at https://gofindoutdoors.org/

Key lived experiences, attributes, and skillsets sought in the Chief Executive Officer

• Ability to grow and lead a collaborative team with confidence, humility, and proven team leadership capabilities
• Problem-solving approach to daily work and oversight of expenditures, including recommendations for changes to improve stewardship of resources.
• Success working with a non-profit board of directors and government partners
• Experience with operations, finance, and project management
• Experience managing customer service and human resource management
• Outstanding written, verbal, public speaking, and interpersonal skills
• Full computer proficiency with standard Microsoft Office programs including PowerPoint and Excel
• Experience with outdoors and non-profit sectors preferred
• Experience with resource development and fundraising preferred
• Understanding of the economic challenges, government, and philanthropic landscapes related to nature and conservation work, including an appreciation of the differences between communities

Think you are the new FIND Outdoors Chief Executive Officer?

To apply, click on the link to the Chief Executive Officer position profile at https://bit.ly/464eyVg. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and professional references. Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.

Review of candidates will begin in October and continue until the position is filled.

Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and starts at $115K+. This position includes 12 paid holidays and a generous vacation allowance. Additionally, FIND Outdoors provides significant employee benefits: including medical, dental, vision, and Health Savings Account match benefits. FIND Outdoors will also contribute to a 401K retirement plan (currently 5% match of annual salary).

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination: FIND Outdoors is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. FIND does not discriminate with regards to hiring, assignment, promotion, or other conditions of staff employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal law.

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