Executive Director Application Package


START DATE:   Monday, May 3, 2010
COMPENSATION: Beginning annual compensation range: $60,000 - $75,000

TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates must respond by the deadline of Friday, February 26, 2010.
Candidates submit (by email only) the following:

1.    Your resume
2.   A cover letter that details your fit for the TRTA’s mission and organization explaining why you should be the Executive Director
3.   Complete Application Form and Supplemental Form 

Document Icon APPLICATION FORM     
Document Icon SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

4.   Submit all the above by Email to: markk@tahoerimtrail.org

Interviews of selected candidates are expected to begin in March, 2010.

THE ORGANIZATION


The Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) is a 28 year old nonprofit, 501 (c) 3, outdoor recreation organization comprised of dedicated volunteers, board members, and a small paid and volunteer staff.  The 165+ mile Tahoe Rim Trail System was built by the TRTA in partnership with the US Forest Service and Nevada State Parks with the help of thousands of volunteers giving many thousands of hours of time. The TRTA continues to build new trail, maintain the 165+ mile trail system, and provide a variety of educational and recreational programs.  

The Mission of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association
To maintain and enhance the Tahoe Rim Trail System and encourage stewardship through volunteer programs, educational outreach, and community partnerships; to provide healthy, environmentally responsible outdoor recreation and access to the beauty of the Lake Tahoe region, now and for the future.  

The multi-use Tahoe Rim Trail is used by over 100,000 residents and visitors each year and is widely viewed as a spectacular, valuable public resource in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  The entire trail is open to hikers and equestrians. Roughly two-thirds of the trail is open to Mountain Bikes except in the Wilderness areas and along the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail winds through the mountains above Lake Tahoe primarily on lands managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada State Parks and the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

The TRTA currently has an annual budget of $400,000+, with three fulltime staff, one part-time bookkeeper, a part-time Development Director, a part-time volunteer Membership and Database supervisor, a part-time volunteer Office Coordinator and two AmeriCorps staff. The three program areas are Trail Use, Trail Operations and Fundraising/Development. It is a volunteer- based organization with hundreds of volunteers and thousands of volunteer hours contributed annually in all three of these program areas.

The Association has the good fortune to be housed, along with eight other local nonprofit organizations, in the beautiful D.W. Reynolds Building in Incline Village. This affords the TRTA excellent office space at very modest cost, plus access to a wide range of support services and resources. It is also an active member of the Parasol Community Collaboration, which consists of over 50 area nonprofits covering health; social and children’s services; the environment; and arts/culture.

There are eight TRTA committees chaired by Board Members: Trail Operations, Trail Use, Fundraising, Membership, Board Development, Finance, Risk Management and Communications/Marketing.

The full-time Executive Director (ED) works directly with, and receives primary guidance from the President and Executive Committee of the Board, and collaborates closely with the Board of Directors. This position is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader to work with a committed Board and a growing organization that is highly respected locally, regionally, statewide, nationally and internationally. The ED will lead this organization forward in meeting its immediate and near-term goals, while continuing to build a foundation to assure its long-term capacity to meet the needs of the local communities, visitors, agencies and land managers.

Subject to the direction and oversight of the Board and consistent with the Articles, Bylaws and Policies of the TRTA, the ED is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, management and administration of all TRTA programs and activities, as well as all its financial, human, and other supporting resources, as described below.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities


Leadership: Provides strong leadership; keeps programming on task by organizing and deploying resources to effectively achieve the mission, organizational goals, strategies and objectives; has engaging interpersonal skills and abilities; understands and can implement team building skills; develops and maintains good relationships with the Board; serves as an Ex Officio member of each Committee; assures that meetings are effective and move the organizational mission forward; ensures, along with  the Board, the financial security of the organization and the funding necessary to support its mission; maintains and develops good relationships with government and other agencies; is the public face of the TRTA.

Strategic Planning and Policy Development: Thinks strategically; articulates and develops a vision for the future of the TRTA and its mission and programs, and motivates others toward its realization; opens innovative possibilities for aligning changing economic conditions with policy and programming; displays initiative in developing action plans and resolving problems as they occur; engages and assists the Board in the development and updating of the TRTA Strategic and Organizational Plans; assists Board in the development of TRTA policies; organizes, updates and disseminates the TRTA Policy Manuals; and ensures that all programs, projects and activities of the TRTA are carried out in accordance with established policies and the current Strategic and Organizational Plans.

Development and Fundraising: Works with Development staff and the Financial Development Committee: to establish a fundraising strategy, including implementing the ‘Benevon’ program, with the goal of generating a stable, sustainable funding source for the TRTA; to raise the annual budgeted amount for operations through membership, grants, legacy gifts, corporate, foundation and major donor contributions, annual giving and other giving programs; to oversee special events, donor relations, and donor software (ResultsPlus).

Program Management: Works with Directors of Trail Use, Development and Trail Operations to develop TRTA programs and activities, including but not limited to annual program/work planning, allocating human and financial resources, monitoring progress, proactively identifying and dealing with opportunities and obstacles; and measuring and reporting accomplishments.

Financial Management: Oversees all accounting functions including those necessary for auditing, budgeting, tax reporting, financial analysis, donor database, capital asset and property management and payroll in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and all other applicable rules and guidelines; and manages the TRTA Budget, Reserves, and Endowment to maximize earnings.

Human Resources Management: Oversees all aspects of human resource management for employees, including but not limited to annual performance reviews, motivation, hiring, discipline and termination; communicates a positive attitude; serves as a catalyst for action and encourages employees to try new things and to take calculated risks; provides honest feedback; minimizes tension and defensiveness; creates an environment for success; mentors employees; builds group cohesiveness; fosters and practices good communication, recognizes and rewards individuals and team accomplishments and contributions; shares success and rewards; positively manages stress and conflict; and commits to ongoing education.

Government and Agency Relations: Directs TRTA government relations activities and other issues that affect the TRTA; maintains good relationships with Nevada State Parks, the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC), and the USFS (LTBMU, Tahoe, El Dorado and Toiyabe), as well as other state and local organizations with an interest in the Tahoe Rim Trail and other system trails. Also ensures that the requirements of membership in the Parasol Community Collaboration are met with enthusiasm and commitment.

Communications: Leads and manages the external communications efforts of the TRTA to increase the visibility of the TRTA with the public and broaden strategic media exposure; works with staff and volunteers to plan TRTA outings and workshops; recruits volunteers to help as needed for outings, events, committees and special projects; increases and strengthens partnerships with others to promote the trail system; actively seeks opportunities to participate in and speak at events and display TRTA materials; and works with and monitors affiliated groups in support of the mission of each organization so as to maintain good relationships to insure the highest level of cooperation.

Volunteer Management: Responsible for oversight and management of the volunteer program including: assessing organizational need for capacity for managing volunteers; review and approval of volunteer program materials (policies and procedures, applications, volunteer agreements, orientation handbooks); oversight of database management and tracking of volunteer statistics; reviewing and insuring risk management policies are in place; supervision of volunteer program evaluations to insure proper volunteer recognition; review of the TRTA Volunteer Manual annually.

Membership: Leads and manages TRTA membership development efforts; prepares and implements a plan for significantly increasing membership; oversees the maintenance of membership records; keeps members informed of issues affecting the TRTA; and builds and maintains good member relations; works closely with volunteer Board member responsible for membership development and retention.

Nonprofit Organizational Management and Knowledge: Understands and keeps current on the technical aspects of managing a nonprofit organization; the duties and responsibilities of the position; development, policy and outreach mission of the organization; Board relations; event planning and coordination; and committee support.

Qualifications of the ideal candidate:

Required professional and educational background
  • Bachelors Degree (minimum) in related field;  knowledge, skills and qualities described above as a result of formal education in nonprofit administration or related operational and financial management, business, government, environmental fields or related areas.
  • 5 years of successful senior management experience in nonprofit administration or related operational and financial management, business, government, environmental fields or related areas but preferably in the nonprofit sector, including supervision and management of staff and volunteers; revenue generation and fundraising; strategic and operational planning; budgeting and finances; and delivering high quality programs/services.
  • Masters degree will substitute for two years experience.
  • 5 years of demonstrated success raising money and other resources from a variety of sources including individual donors and grants from local and national foundations, corporations, governments, etc.
  • Demonstrated experience in designing and building an organization’s administrative infrastructure.
  • Demonstrated experience building and nurturing teams, creating coalitions and sustaining effective relationships with board, staff, donors, volunteers, community leaders, political leaders, policymakers, grassroots organizations, business leaders and other stakeholders
  • Successful experience developing and providing leadership for a Board of Directors
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, QuickBooks and donor database (ResultsPlus), or similar applications

Desired experience

  • Trail experience (paid or volunteer)
  • Experience with the fundraising model “Benevon”
  • Experience with environmental education or interpretive principles
  • Knowledge of/familiarity with the Tahoe Rim Trail
  • Familiar with the Tahoe environment and the unique requirements of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)
  • Experience working with government agencies.

Personal characteristics and leadership attributes:
  • Honesty, dependability
  • Discernment and sound decision‐making
  • Ability to effectively and enthusiastically ask others to donate money and other resources to support a cause for which s/he has great passion
  • Ability to articulate a vision and inspire others in the community to embrace, fund and achieve it
  • Ability to galvanize people from diverse backgrounds to work together toward common goals
  • Self-motivation, ability to work independently; demonstrates creativity and initiative in developing new programs/projects and alliances for the organization
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple demands without compromising quality
  • Ability to develop and maintain relationships with elected officials, policymakers and other people of influence at federal, state and local levels
  • Excellent communication and listening skills