Vice President of Operations

Northeast Wilderness Trust’s (NEWT)  mission is to conserve forever-wild landscapes for nature and people. We safeguard over 82,000 wild acres across New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Northeast Wilderness Trust is the only regional land trust focused exclusively on rewilding through forever-wild conservation. We believe in the immense value of wilderness, both for its intrinsic value and for its unique role to reverse the biodiversity crisis, mitigate climate change, and provide solace to the human spirit. 

A new position, the Vice President of Operations has overall responsibility for leading Northeast Wilderness Trust’s Operations, Human Resources, and Finance programs.  The Vice President of Operations will work as a collaborative leader that ties these critical programs together and ensures system and program cohesiveness across a growing organization.   

• Reports to: President/CEO
• Position Type: Full-time, salaried
• Location: Montpelier, VT strongly preferred–an office/work-from-home hybrid system.  Remote from other locations in the Northeast, with required quarterly travel to Montpelier, will be considered. 
• Starting Salary: $105-000-$115,000 D.O.E.

The Opportunity:

The Vice President of Operations will arrive at a time of remarkable growth and opportunity at Northeast Wilderness Trust.  The Wilderness Trust has grown from a small grassroots effort to a regionally recognized and respected organization with staff across four states working to dramatically increase the pace of wilderness conservation and champion the wilderness idea.  The organization is currently working towards a goal of protecting an additional 100,000 forever-wild acres by 2030. 

The VP of Operations collaborates with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other senior staff to develop and implement the organization’s strategic plan as it relates to finance, accounting, HR, and cross-organizational systems.  A new position, the VP of Operations will initially develop deep knowledge of program operations and systems and will focus on the following three areas: Leadership and Management, Finance, and Operations/HR. 

The ideal candidate is someone who understands the importance of wilderness and the value of such places in the modern context, as well as management experience to lead a dynamic and growing team.

What You Will Do:

Program Leadership & Management:

• Provide direction and oversee the Operations, HR, and Finance program;
• Attract, develop, coach, and retain high-performance team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance;
• Provide leadership in development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational growth;
• Work with staff to develop cross-organizational systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management;
• Serve as a member of the leadership team;
• Support the CEO in board management and relations;
• With a focus on Staff Values, strive to maintain continuity throughout growth phase.

Finance:

• Working with the Finance Director, oversee:
  • General financial operations and cash management;
  • Preparation of timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports;
  • Preparation of annual organization budget;
  • Execution of the annual audit;
• Stay informed of changes to accounting standards;
• Ensure compliance with Land Trust Alliance finance related standards and practices across the organization.

Operations and HR:

• Oversee talent and facilities strategy and the smooth functioning of our Vermont headquarters and the working environment of a rapidly-evolving regional workforce;
• Manage complex HR matters and personnel issues, including but not limited to employee relations, conflict resolution, performance management, and policy enforcement;
• Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge that is generated by the teams and across programs;
• Work collaboratively with the senior management team to integrate cross-program activities and functions;
• Ensure compliance with policies and manage policy update process.

What You Will Bring:

• At least 10 years combined experience of successful non-profit finance, management, and/or operations experience;
• A passionate commitment to nature and an understanding of wilderness values;
• A commitment to candid and transparent communications;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and team-oriented work environment;
• Willingness to work outside of your job description and work collaboratively with the team on changing priorities and a variety of projects simultaneously;
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with a variety of staff and partners.

Benefits:

Northeast Wilderness Trust offers competitive and progressive benefits including:

Comprehensive Health Coverage:

• 100% health insurance coverage to employees plus 80% of two-person/75% of family coverage
• Shared cost dental and vision insurance

Generous Vacation Time:

• 31 days of combined time off, plus sick leave
• 1-week annual holiday closure between Christmas and New Year’s

Other Benefits:

• 35-hour Work Week
• Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule
• 401k retirement plan with 4% employer match
• Employer-paid Life Insurance of $50,000
• Parental Leave - 12 weeks paid; option for additional 8 weeks part-time work; all with full benefits
• Sabbatical leave – Every seven years of employment, earn up to a two-month paid sabbatical with opportunity to extend to three months.
• Moving stipend to relocate to Montpelier, Vermont.

Anticipated Start Date: Spring/Summer 024

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should click "Apply" below to submit a cover letter and resume with three professional references as a single combined PDF with the subject “Vice President of Operations.”  Application deadline is April 15, 2024, with review and interviews happening on a rolling basis.

Please limit responses to no more than 250 words per question:

1. Why are you interested in working for Northeast Wilderness Trust?
2. Please describe your experience relevant to the position’s three core responsibilities.

Northeast Wilderness Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer is committed to a just and equitable world and workplace.  We recognize that diverse teams make the strongest teams and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.