Northwest Straits Foundation - Executive Director
About The Position
The Northwest Straits Foundation (NWSF) is a regional marine conservation nonprofit that has spent over two decades restoring and protecting the Salish Sea through alliances with tribal nations, agencies, organizations, and donors to sustain one of the most ecologically vital and beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest. Through collaborative conservation, science-based restoration, derelict gear removal, and scholarships for emerging environmental advocates, the Foundation works every day to ensure these waters remain healthy for the communities, species, and future generations that depend on the Salish Sea. NWSF's mission is to restore and preserve the long-term health of the Salish Sea by fostering collaboration, encouraging stewardship and conservation, and implementing science-based restoration. NWSF works on critical transboundary nearshore, habitat, and climate resilience projects to sustain the Salish Sea for marine life and people. This is a unique opportunity to lead a well-known and nationally recognized marine conservation organization. The incoming Executive Director will build visibility, grow and diversify funding, and deepen the community partnerships that sustain its mission and work, all while supporting the talented staff and partners who define us. This is a meaningful opportunity for a visionary, collaborative, grassroots leader who shares our vision and commitment for a vibrant and healthy Salish Sea. The Executive Director will achieve success by building on an already high-functioning organization to expand the scope and scale of our programs. The ED holds responsibility for organizational strategy, fundraising, board engagement, operational excellence, and cultural health, serving as NWSF’s strategic voice, and external and internal champion. Day-to-day program management rests with a capable and trusted team. The preferred candidate will bring a broad perspective, vision, and the ability to translate strategic goals into actionable plans. Building upon our legacy requires someone adept at fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, driving community engagement, and understanding the intricacies of nonprofit management, particularly within the marine conservation sector.
Requirements
- Demonstrated experience in nonprofit leadership and management, particularly within environmental or marine conservation organizations.
- Skilled at cultivating donor relationships, securing funding, and managing organizational development initiatives.
- Proven ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders and build strong connections within the Salish Sea community.
- A strategic thinker who can envision and define long-term goals, translating them into effective annual plans.
- Excellent communication and public relations skills, with the capacity to be an authentic and engaging representative of NWSF.
- A collaborative leadership style that empowers staff, fosters teamwork, and encourages professional growth.
- Familiarity with the unique challenges and opportunities in the marine conservation landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
- Strong understanding of public and private funding environments, including grant writing and stewardship of donor contributions.
- Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
Nice To Haves
- Visionary, collaborative, grassroots leader who shares our vision and commitment for a vibrant and healthy Salish Sea.
Responsibilities
- Organizational strategy
- Fundraising
- Board engagement
- Operational excellence
- Cultural health
- Serving as NWSF’s strategic voice, and external and internal champion
- Building visibility
- Growing and diversifying funding
- Deepening community partnerships
- Supporting talented staff and partners
- Expanding the scope and scale of programs
- Translating strategic goals into actionable plans
- Fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders
- Driving community engagement
- Understanding the intricacies of nonprofit management, particularly within the marine conservation sector
- Cultivating donor relationships
- Securing funding
- Managing organizational development initiatives
- Engaging and inspiring diverse stakeholders
- Building strong connections within the Salish Sea community
- Envisioning and defining long-term goals
- Translating them into effective annual plans
- Communicating and public relations
- Representing NWSF authentically and engagingly
- Empowering staff
- Fostering teamwork
- Encouraging professional growth
Benefits
- 100% Employer paid premium for employee medical, dental, group life & LTD insurance
- 3 weeks’ vacation per year
- 96 hours of sick leave per year
- 11 paid holidays
- 3% Simple IRA match
- Up to $60 a month cell phone reimbursement
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Education Level
No Education Listed
