Green America/Washington, DC
Green America, the nation's frontrunner green economy organization, seeks a dynamic, experienced collaborative leader to join our senior executive team.
Green America, a national nonprofit organization, works to accelerate the green economy. Our unique approach involves working with consumers, investors and businesses – harnessing economic power to solve social and environmental problems. We seek to shift the failing conventional economy to one that works for people and the planet.
Our programs focus on growing the green economy, stopping corporate abuse, advancing fair trade, tackling climate change and fostering sustainable, local economies. Green America's major events and publications include Green Festivals®, the Green Business Conference, National Green Pages®, and the Green American. Green America operates the nation's largest green living and green business networks, helping millions of families and businesses go green.
Having played a major role in creating the language, framework, organizations and standards fueling the current wave of sustainability, Green America has just launched a whole set of new programs designed to scale the number of businesses and families choosing to deepen their commitment to sustainability, with the intent of moving the dial on the green economy from 5% today to 20% by 2020. This audacious goal would set the stage for reaching, by 2050, a sustainable, carbon-free economy that provides health and prosperity for all people and all the generations to come.
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About the Executive Director Position
To celebrate our 30th anniversary and raise the bar for the next 30 years, we're expanding our senior team with a new executive director position. This new person will join our visionary senior executive team, including Alisa Gravitz, President/CEO; Denise Hamler, Green Business Director, and Russ Gaskin, Strategic Programs Director.
We are looking for an accomplished social entrepreneur, visionary leader and scale-builder, ready to take on her/his next big project, bringing these skills to the table:
* Passion for building the green economy
* Strategic thinking for building scale, and a proven track record for taking an organization to the next level
* Revenue builder with demonstrated ability to energize donors and foundations, garner new funders and develop new business models and sources of revenue
* Technology and social media leadership
* Experience with creating deep partnerships and building broad alliances
* Strong collaborative management skills for leading a participatory staff and movement building
Our ideal candidate is a recognized thought-leader in sustainability issues, with a deep set of strategies, relationships and connections that can help grow Green America to the next level to meet its next set of audacious goals. S/he would have already doubled or quintupled the size of a for-profit or non-profit organization. S/he may have already launched, grown and sold a major business, and be ready to give back to society by steering a major social-change organization and movement to achieve system-changing green economy goals.
Duties and Responsibilities
* Secure Resources, Raise Funds
* Expand funding from donor and foundation resource bases.
* Grow Green America's sources of earned income.
* Develop new sources of revenue (i.e. partnerships, government funding).
Strategic Organizational Leadership
Provide leadership, direction and oversight in creating Green America's future, including:
* Strategic impact analysis–evaluating how GA programs can maximize resources for the greatest impact possible
* Communications strategy – ensure that GA has clear and consistent branding, positioning and communications
* Business model evolution
* Long-term sustainability plan
* Contingency planning
* Provide strategic leadership for Green America to develop its growing online resources into a powerful online/social media presence.
* Ensure that adequate new program/product development is in process for future growth.
* Analyze impacts—financial, organizational and strategic—of product development proposals.
* Provide leadership and support to teams on program and product development, as needed to ensure development of projects that substantially advance our mission and deliver on financial objectives.
Organizational Planning & Management
* Lead the organization's strategic and operating plan processes to clarify GA's long- and mid-term programmatic and financial goals.
* Lead the staff and board to develop and effectively execute strategies, goals and work plans to deliver on GA's goals.
* Ensure the programs offered by GA contribute to and are in alignment with the mission and vision, and reflect the priorities of the Board.
*Oversee the internal management of the organization, insuring that participatory principles and practices are an integral aspect of GA's ongoing functioning, and setting ethical standards and standards of fairness on staff.
* Oversee and approve the strategic and operational decisions of Green America entities, including Green Festivals, Inc. and sponsored programs.
* Oversee and support the CBO in ensuring that:
A positive, healthy work environment is maintained that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people.
Staffing requirements for delivery of programs and services are met.
Human resource functions are managed effectively, appropriately and fairly.
The organization complies with all legal requirements of a non-profit organization.
Serve as a back up resource person and sounding board for staff (if staff need support from someone other than the Director of their department or the CBO).
* Balance and coordinate people, work and resources across department and team lines.
* Evaluate working of internal structure and identify structural problems and potential solutions.
* Oversee internal operations for quality control.
Provide input, as appropriate, to Senior Management around career and professional skill development of the staff.
* Assist in recruiting new staff, consultants and other resource people.
Financial Responsibilities
* Work with Senior Management to deliver a breakeven or better budget, ensuring our cash flow and the ability to meet salary targets over time.
* Oversee GA's fiscal management, including budget development and presentation to the Board of Directors, and monitoring of adopted budget.
* Works with the CBO and Finance Director to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial accounting and reporting.
* Works with the CBO and Finance Director to secure loans and major contributions as needed to ensure adequate funding of Green America programs.
* Play a key role in major donor fundraising, in collaboration with the Development team and CEO/President.
* Ensure that short, medium, and long-term cash flow financing is in place and adequate to fund growth.
* Oversee the development of 1-3 year financial projections by the Finance Director, with input from departments.
* Serve as a resource person, as needed, for strategy and program analysis for Marketing and Development Teams.
* Plan for and implement surplus distribution.
* Ensure that sound financial practices are followed and that the organization complies with all regulations.
* Ensure that GA funds are invested following our social and environmental screening criteria.
* Work with CBO and Finance Director to maintain positive relationships with lenders.
* Ensure proper management of remaining fiscally-sponsored programs.
Coordinating Team
* Participate in CT meetings, ensuring that key organizational priorities are being addressed as needed.
* Cultivate and lead consensual decision-making on CT.
Board of Directors
* Participate in Board meetings to report on the overall operation of Green America, including ensuring the implementation of board policies and directives, and fulfilling all responsibilities as delineated in the organization's by-laws (as assigned to the position of “General Directorâ€).
* Support the President/CEO in developing our board of directors to provide greater resources for our work.
Movement/Stakeholder Leadership
* Serve as a Thought Leader in the movement for a green economy – enrolling members, the public, and allies for our vision and programs to build a green economy through speaking and writing.
* Serve as one of Green America's top-level spokespersons to media on topics of strategic importance to Green America, in coordination with Programs Director and President/CEO.
* Support Green America's movement leadership through active participation on the boards of strategically aligned organizations, such as Ceres, Social Investment Forum, Positive Futures Network, Solar Circle, Network for Good; and other allies and coalitions as needed.
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
The Ideal Candidate for Executive Director will be able to:
Be Passionate about Sustainability
* Have a passion for sustainability and social justice/equity.
* Preferably have experience in the green movement or other progressive social movement.
* Have knowledge of current challenges and opportunities relating to the mission of Green America. Be a strong advocate for Green America's vision and mission.
Raise Funds
* Have experience with managing and growing a membership base; especially with online strategies.
* Have effective fundraising skills, with a track record of bringing in large gifts from major donors and successful grant proposal writing, as well as a proven ability to raise substantial unrestricted funds.
* Have a proven track record of expanding an organization's donor and foundation base.
* Have a proven track record of nurturing earned income programs to scale.
* Capable of working effectively with other organizations and building coalitions to further mutual interests and seek solutions to scaling up efforts in the green movement.
Manage Successfully
* Have at least 5-10 years of professional experience managing a small to medium size progressive non-profit organization.
* Operate with a high level of integrity and transparency. Have strong managerial skills within a non-profit context, including planning and program development, staff management, recruiting supporters and working effectively with a board of directors.
* Have at least a Masters Degree in a related field (MBA, economics, sustainability, environment, social justice).
Provide Visionary Leadership
* Have strong, collaborative leadership skills and an ability to create collaborative partnerships for developing programs in cross-functional teams.
* Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization. Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
* Be able to be a Thought Leader in the green movement (ideal but not required).
Think Strategically
* Capable of developing and implementing an effective strategy to scale up the organization's programs and build capacity.
* Be able to assess options and actions based on trends and conditions in the environment, and the vision and values of the organization.
* Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
Maintain the Financial Health of the Organization
* Possess a strong acumen for financial strategy
* Have strong financial analysis skills
* Experience with creating, managing and balancing multimillion dollar operating plans and budgets.
* Have experience with financial reporting and non-profit accounting principles.
Provide Digital Strategic Direction
* Understand the Online Space enough to provide strategic direction for growing capacity through compelling digital engagement strategies.
* Have knowledge of the tools and channels of the day and an understanding of where digital technology is headed and how we can keep our programs up-to-date and ahead of the curve.
* Be able to work with the Technical Director to develop creative strategy and planning for long- and short-term digital program recommendations. Provide creative strategy insights and support the production of compelling content online spanning a range of digital media formats.
Communicate Effectively
* Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
* Have the ability to function effectively as the principal spokesperson for the organization.
Build Relationships and Foster Teamwork
* Establish, manage and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
* Must be able to effectively interface with a variety of internal and external stakeholders via phone, email and in person, and have a strong commitment to pro-active problem resolution.
* Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness. Empower staff to be accountable.
Be Adaptable, Creative and Innovative
* Capable of being flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
* Have an ability and enthusiasm for bringing a steady stream of proactive, fresh thinking to the organization and its members and partners.
* Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
* Able to solve problems while utilizing limited resources effectively and prioritize among many challenges and opportunities.
* Be able to travel.
Be Organized
* Have time management skills; able to set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
* Have a track record of consistently meeting deadlines and managing competing priorities, both independently and as part of a highly collaborative team/organization.
* Be proficient in Microsoft Excel and other MS Office software.
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