Executive Director

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is seeking an Executive Director. NAAEE is the premier not-for-profit membership organization for environmental educators. A nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, NAAEE is an integrated network of education professionals with members in 55 countries throughout the world.

There are many faces to NAAEE, reflecting a core commitment to diversity of culture, geography and viewpoints. Our programs and services support members working in a variety of venues - including, but not limited to, local environmental education centers, schools, government agencies, research and higher education institutions.

NAAEE is a unifying voice for environmental educators with a non-partisan commitment to environmental literacy as a powerful force for positive change in the world. Backed by research, our programs support achievement of excellence in environmental education. Our members look to NAAEE to provide a dynamic forum for effective and innovative ways to achieve quality education, sustainable development, and social equality.

We are seeking a motivated professional interested in leading the organization as it moves forward with a five-year Strategic Plan crafted through input from over 300 members and stakeholders. The Strategic Plan can be found at http://naaee.org/pages/stratplan/index.html

The Executive Director will work in NAAEE's office in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

The salary for this full-time position will be commensurate with experience, in the range of $80-100K, depending on qualifications. The Executive Director is hired by the Board and reports to the President of the Board.

NAAEE Description

NAAEE focuses on promoting environmental education and on supporting and enhancing the work of environmental educators through the efforts of a 15-member Board of Directors, seven staff, and a strong volunteer structure that includes Committees and Commissions. Committees do the work of the Association, while Commissions enable members to form interest groups and serve their own needs in the context of the practice of environmental education.

NAAEE also works closely with a strong partnership network of state and provincial EE Affiliates.

Job Responsibilities:

Development

• Work with the Board to implement the vision of the organization as articulated in the Strategic Plan and successfully develop an understanding of the organization's mission that compels the support of members, stakeholders and funders.
•  Develop and implement appropriate fund-raising and financial strategies to support the organization's priorities.
• Serve as a spokesperson for NAAEE in fundraising negotiations with government, corporate and foundation funding sources.
• Build NAAEE's existing professional programs and services.
• Identify new audiences to target and strategies for membership recruitment.
• Develop new products and services to meet member needs.
• Work with the Chief Operations Officer to ensure that grant and contract activities are well documented and completed on time.

Leadership

• Provide dynamic organizational management to insure the association's smooth and efficient operation, growth, and achievement of goals.
• Hire, supervise, and review the performance of all staff, and oversee all programs and operations. See NAAEE Web site for a current staff list.
• Establish operational objectives that support the organization's Five-Year Strategic Plan.
• Lead staff and Board in the implementation and ongoing evaluation of the Strategic Plan, annual work plans, programs and services, and generate enthusiasm and involvement (e.g., by recognizing accomplishments).
• Work with the Chief Operations Officer and the Board to ensure that professional planning and budgeting systems are used and that the organization goals and Strategic Plan serve as a basis for sound financial planning and management.

Communication and Coordination

• Make sure that all components and initiatives of the association are cohesive and function as a whole to strengthen the field of environmental education.
• Stimulate participation among members and partners to engage in the work of NAAEE.
• Maintain a strong working relationship with and among the Board and staff through appropriate dialogue and communication.
• Establish positive relationships with the Committees, Commissions, the Affiliate partnership and other NAAEE partners.
• Foster collaboration between NAAEE and organizations with similar goals.
• Serve as lead spokesperson for the Association, advancing its efforts to a broad array of audiences within the EE field and the public.

Minimum Qualifications

Professional skills:

1. Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, with a minimum of ten years of job experience, including five years in a management position. Demonstrated success in innovative organizational management. NAAEE will consider crediting a master's degree or beyond for part of the job experience requirement.
2. Proven ability to raise funds from diverse sources to support NAAEE professional programs and services.
3. Demonstrated versatility and creativity in adapting an organizational vision to changing realities and galvanizing people to act.
4. Advanced proficiency in administration, strategic planning, fiscal management, and experience in working with organizations the size of NAAEE with a large volunteer base and small staff.
5. Demonstrated ability to respect, support, encourage and promote the diversity of ideas, values, assumptions, aspirations, approaches and ideologies inherent in environmental education.

Interpersonal Skills:

1. An open and mature communication style.
2. A keen ability to listen and encourage people to voice multiple perspectives.
3. Strong synthesizing, analyzing, and problem-solving abilities.
4. A track record of promoting and enacting inclusiveness, respect, equity and sensitivity with individuals and organizations of multiple cultures and backgrounds.
5. Strong ethical standards.

Other qualificiations:

1. Display values that are compatible with NAAEE's vision, values and direction.
2. Broad based connections and experiences with business, industry, government, NGOs, and academia in the development and delivery of programs and services, and preferably a strong association with and an understanding of the field of environmental education.
3. Experience in or demonstrated sensitivity to international programs and member needs.

To Apply:

Please provide a resume, names and contact information for three references and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and summarizing how your experience can ensure professional leadership and efficient management for NAAEE. The review of applications will begin March 2, 2006, and continue until the position is filled.

Electronic submission is required. Only Word attachments are acceptable. Please put "Exec Dir Application" and your name in the subject line, and send your information via email.