Executive Director, Save The Bay

Save The Bay, a nationally recognized leader in environmental advocacy and education located in Providence, Rhode Island, is seeking a dynamic Executive Director.

 The Organization:Founded in 1970, Save The Bay has grown from a small, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to cleaning up Narragansett Bay into a strong organization with a committed constituency and a record of accomplishment. Save The Bay has monitored the activities of government and industry that has degraded the environmental quality of the Bay, basin, and watershed and acted on that information to create positive change. By providing the opportunity to explore the Bay to more than 20,000 students and their families, providing information and leading public campaigns, it has fostered an understanding and sense of personal responsibility and enlisted the help of thousands of members in its work.  As a tireless advocate, it has built a demand for public investment in open space protection and pollution control infrastructure and has created the understanding that the health of the Bay is the cornerstone for growing the prosperity of the State and region. Once plagued by raw sewage and impacted by industrial toxins, the health of the Bay is better than it has been in decades. There is still room for improvement, but ever increasing numbers of people are able to swim, fish, and sail and use the waters of Narragansett Bay.

 

Save The Bay’s departing Executive Director, Curt Spalding, has ably led the organization for 17 years. There are currently 35 professional staff and a 22-member Board of Directors.  With an operating budget of $3.7 million, Save The Bay recently completed a capital campaign and construction of a state-of-the-art green building to serve as its educational and operational Center.

 The Position:The Executive Director is the senior staff member of Save The Bay.  Reporting to the President and the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for continuing and extending the outstanding advocacy, restoration and education work of Save the Bay while ensuring that the organization is on solid financial footing.

 

Major Objectives

§            Provide leadership and direction for all of Save The Bay’s current programs and new initiatives.  Maintain the organizational flexibility to respond quickly and powerfully to unanticipated crises (such as an oil spill or poorly planned projects).  Make careful decisions about which issues to address.

§            Cultivate, solicit and steward major gifts.  Oversee all other fund raising activities managed by the Senior Director of Development and Marketing.

§            Serve as the principal spokesperson.  Promote the organization’s visibility through frequent, consistent interactions with constituents, state and local officials, and the media.  Sustain and heighten its reputation as a tough, credible and strategic environmental advocate.

§            In conjunction with the Board’s Development committee, ensure that the structure is in place to raise the necessary resources to support Save The Bay’s activities.

§            Take responsibility for shaping the Strategic Plan and work with Board and staff to articulate a continuing vision.

§            Lead in assessing and communicating the programmatic, organizational, and financial implications of the Strategic Plan.  After a careful review of all current activities and objectives and in consultation with the Board, examine the infrastructure and staffing to ensure achievement of organizational goals.

§            Provide overall internal management, setting priorities and providing staff leadership to assure functional operations.  Delegate day-to-day management as necessary.

 

Qualifications and Attributes Desired:

The ideal candidate must be a true leader who embodies the integrity, dedication, and pluck that has characterized Save the Bay over four decades.  S/he must have intelligence and judgment to prioritize the complex environmental challenges in achieving habitat restoration and protection of Narragansett Bay, identify key rallying points, and continue to educate civil society about their involvement.  The Executive Director must be a skilled manager, capable of directing, motivating, developing, and inspiring staff while powerfully representing the organization externally and should have most of the following professional experience and personal characteristics:

 

Professional Experience

§            Experience as a successful policy advocate, preferably in the environmental arena.  A track record of effective interaction with citizenry, community groups, public officials, and government agencies.  Expertise in formulating strategies which tie together issue analysis, public education, and advocacy.

§            Track record of successfully raising funds through individual donations and corporate, foundation and government grants.

§            Extensive experience in public speaking and media relations with sophisticated knowledge of public relations.

§            Organizational management experience, preferably with a not-for-profit, with significant involvement in strategic planning, financial management, staff development and management, and communications.

§            Professional environmental experience strongly preferred.  At a minimum, some knowledge and ability to gain further expertise.  Experience in environmental education desirable.

§            Professional or volunteer experience working with a community-based organization committed to citizen participation.

 

Personal Characteristics

§            Public presence.  A dynamic speaker who can galvanize people into action and enlist others to share a vision.

§            Excellent advocacy skills. Tenacity and resilience in the face of political pressure, media scrutiny, and bureaucratic resistance. Comfort with confrontation and controversy as well as ability to negotiate among stakeholders. Political savvy and courage.

§            Outstanding interpersonal skills to work effectively with a wide variety of people at all levels.

§            A keen sense of organizational structure and strategy, excellent judgment and strong decision-making skills.

§            Goal-oriented but flexible management style which respects the capabilities and independence of staff but provides a clear sense of direction.  Ability to inspire trust and organize and motivate teams.

§            Fundamental belief in public education and citizen action as agents of change.  Passionate commitment to environmental protection.

§            Intelligence, integrity, good humor, and a high level of energy.  Willingness to work nights and weekends as necessary.

 Please visit www.savebay.org   To apply, please send cover letter, resume and salary history. Word attachments only please.  E-mail preferred; no need to send copies by more than one method. segmont@egmontassociates.com , Egmont Associates, 85 East India Row #24F, Boston, MA 02110.