Position Announcement: Executive Director, Downeast Lakes Land Trust

May 21, 2014

Position Opening: Executive Director

Downeast Lakes Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 by local residents in Grand Lake Stream, Maine that owns and manages a 34,000-acre Community Forest for wildlife habitat, public recreation, and a sustainable forest economy. The Trust is in the final stages of a capital campaign to acquire an adjacent 22,000-acre forest and developing its management plan.

Profile:

DLLT’s Executive Director leads a dynamic community based organization with support from a small internal team and an engaged Board of Directors, as well as community volunteers. The ED exemplifies the Trust’s principles of low overhead, innovative approaches and active local community connection while pursuing our mission of contributing to the environmental and economic well-being of the Downeast Lakes area.  While DLLT’s fund-raising, strategy and inspiration require strong personal leadership and network management, the ED is very much a hands-on position, knowing the property intimately and using this knowledge to improve it for the purposes of traditional forestry harvesting and enjoyment by local and visiting outdoors people. In leading a young organization with a strong platform, the ED leverages the existing governance, mission and assets while using enthusiasm, experience and hard work to develop DLLT’s next level.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to natural resource conservation, forest stewardship, wildlife habitat, education, outdoor recreation, and supporting long term economic growth of a natural resource based rural economy.
• Strong organizational leadership, program oversight and personnel management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and enhance cooperative partnerships.
• Excellent communication skills across all media and comfort with public speaking to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience with and commitment to sound financial management including budget and report preparation.
• Demonstrated fundraising ability in the full range of sources available to conservation organizations, including grant writing.  Capital campaign experience desirable.
• Experience working with an engaged and committed Board of Directors, Board Committees, and facilitating community or committee meetings.
• Ability to oversee Community Forest management and ensure compliance with DLLT plans, policies, carbon offset projects, conservation easements, other legal requirements, and forest management certifications.
• Ability to administer contracts and bidding processes.
• Executive Director will reside in the local area.
• Undergraduate or graduate degree in a natural resource or environmental science field preferred.

To Apply: Submit a letter, resume, and list of references as a single document in an email attachment to DLLTsearch@downeastlakes.org.