Clean Water Program Director

~ The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America, founded in 1922, is to protect and conserve our shared heritage of wildlife, clean air and water, forest and soils. ~

Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels. As a strong responsible voice representing outdoor recreationists, we occupy a special niche in the conservation community.

Position Overview

For more than 45 years, the Izaak Walton League has been a leader in citizen-based stream monitoring, stewardship, and restoration. The Clean Water Program Director leads these efforts on behalf of the League. This position offers incredible opportunity to empower citizens to solve conservation challenges where they live and to expand the scope and impact of citizen water quality monitoring nationwide.

The League seeks an experienced and enthusiastic individual to direct the program, engage volunteers, deliver hands-on environmental education, and support policy advocacy on water-related issues. The successful candidate will be a skilled program manager, fundraiser, and supervisor and have extensive experience with all aspects of citizen-based stream monitoring. This position combines program leadership and development with work in the field training, engaging, and supporting volunteer stream monitors.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the League's Clean Water Program.
• Supervise Clean Water Program staff and interns, volunteers, and contractors.
• Working with relevant staff, develop and implement annual and multi-year fundraising strategies; write funding proposals/budgets/reports; identify potential funders; and develop and maintain relationships with funders.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the League and volunteer stream monitors nationwide and facilitate development of new volunteer monitoring networks at the local, state, and/or regional levels.
• In accordance with organizational goals and priorities and working cooperatively with other staff, develop short- and long-term program goals and initiate new programs related to clean water.
• Organize and conduct workshops, events, and training sessions on a variety of clean water issues, including stream monitoring and restoration and water-based environmental education.
• Working with contractors, interns, and League staff, produce books, websites, videos, mobile apps, and other educational materials related to clean water issues.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with League chapters; federal, state and local government agencies; conservation organizations; corporations; foundations; universities; local school systems; and watershed groups.
• Assist the Conservation Director with clean water policy advocacy.
• In consultation with the Director of Communications, serve as the League's media spokesperson on water-related issues and promote the Clean Water Program through social media, web content development, blog postings, and writing content for Outdoor America magazine and other League publications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural sciences, environmental education or related field required; Master's degree in one of these fields preferred.
• Demonstrated experience conducting and leading others in stream monitoring and restoration and providing water-based environmental education.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in non-profit program management, including supervising staff, fundraising, and developing and managing budgets.
• Experience developing and implementing water conservation programming, including developing and conducting volunteer training programs and educational workshops, and working with funders in the execution of supported projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience advocating on water-related policy issues.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and conduct community outreach.
• Well-developed written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to travel nationwide, including for consecutive days, and work weekends as needed.
• Must have a valid driver's license and use of a private motor vehicle.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple tasks and set priorities.
• Ability to work independently and to initiate project ideas as well as manage them through to completion by specified deadlines.
• Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with a diverse array of staff, volunteers, and colleague organizations.
• Computer proficiency in word processing and database programs.
• Experience with social media and producing website content.
• Ability to understand technical and complex information and translate that information into language and formats that are readily understandable to lay audiences.
• Strong personal commitment to conservation.

Physical Demands:

• In addition to conventional office-based work, the position involves physical exertion and requires significant time outside walking, standing, lifting, and carrying.
• This position includes exposure to the outdoors, including various biological and chemical elements, especially those that are water-based, and periods of standing and walking on rough terrain and in still and flowing water.

To Apply

• Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to email a cover letter, resume, two writing samples (including one funding proposal for which the applicant was the primary author), and salary history with "Clean Water Program Director" in the subject line.
• Please submit all materials by April 13, 2016. No phone calls please.