Jobs & Internships

We currently have two positions open: Executive Director and Director of Operations and Projects.
Please see the following for more information.

 

Executive Director

Position Summary
The Executive Director is the senior management leader of New River Conservancy. The position is responsible for the financial sustainability of the organization and oversees the administration, programs, staff, and strategic plan of the organization.

The Executive Director will have overall responsibility and accountability for all organizational operations including fundraising, marketing, budgeting, real estate/land trust operations, government relations, and community outreach. The position reports directly to the Board of Directors.

The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that the projects and events that staff undertake align with the NRC’s mission. The successful candidate will be one who is forward-looking, realistic, inspirational and is mindful of the Conservancy’s almost 50 year legacy in protecting the New River Watershed.

The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that NRC has sufficient resources to carry out its initiatives and activities, ensuring that they are manageable within the available resources, and for increasing those resources as necessary to match the plans and activities deemed essential and vital to NRC’s mission and goals.

The Executive Director needs to be a skilled administrator who is inspiring, compassionate and authentic with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships within the New River Watershed across all demographics and communities.

To ensure the organization’s long-term financial health the Executive Director must have demonstrated competence as an experienced fundraiser with recognized accomplishments in cultivating grant management and building strong donor relationships.

As the face of the organization, the Executive Director must be comfortable with public speaking, media relations, one-on-one donor engagement, as well as cultivating and maintaining NRC relationships with our public and private partners throughout the watershed.  Our new leader is one who has a deep knowledge and appreciation of the New River Watershed.

Organization Summary
New River Conservancy (NRC) is an environmental non-profit organization, seeking to protect and improve the health of North America’s oldest river through stream bank restoration projects, water quality assessment, land acquisition, river clean-ups, and public policy advocacy.

The watershed encompasses three states and 20-counties.  NRC has offices in West Jefferson, NC and in Draper, VA.  NRC has staff residing in all three states in full-time and part-time capacities. Our organizational culture is to provide a working environment that is rewarding, enjoyable and values team accomplishment, respect and support for each other.

NRC is an organization that is constantly evolving and embracing new solutions to protect the New River.  We are seeking an individual with an entrepreneurial and non-traditional mindset and leadership style.  This position requires the ability to create and implement new ideas using a skilled level of critical thinking.  The organization embraces new technology and values knowledge of industry standards.

Physical and other requirements
The job responsibilities include significant time spent throughout the three-state, 20-county watershed. Monthly events are held on the New River and its tributaries, including paddle trips for fundraising and donor cultivation, and river clean-ups. We are seeking a team member who embraces a passion for the outdoors and would be eager to jump in a raft, kayak, or canoe. NRC owns two vehicles which are available for work travel. NRC produces many events and programs which require some evening and weekend work. With this position, NRC also offers flex time in addition to a generous amount of paid time off (PTO).

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with five or more years senior nonprofit leadership and management experience.
  • A high level of fiscal acumen, including ability to work with multiple budget streams and multi-year grants.
  • Demonstrated success in working with multi-state or community organizations and with diverse groups.
  • A history of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving fiscal results.
  • Demonstrated fundraising experience. Must have excellent donor relations skills.
  • Demonstrated success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funders, partner agencies and localities, and volunteers.
  • Understanding of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Salesforce software.
  • Must have genuine love for the outdoors and commitment to protecting our streams, river and wetland resources.
  • Able to spend time out of doors on the river and around the watershed.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s degree and 10 or more years of nonprofit management experience.
  • Executive level experience with natural resource protection, conservation, or environmental action organization.
  • Familiarity with ARC/GIS, and other mapping applications.

Benefits and compensation 

  • Salary is commensurate with experience.
  • Benefits include a generous PTO (personal time off) package beginning at 20 PTO days and 12 paid holidays per year, increasing to 25 PTO days after the first year, and increasing by 1 additional PTO day each year, not to exceed 35 PTO days.
  • A 3% Simple IRA Match is also included.

General Responsibilities of the Executive Director:

  1.     Serves as the external face of the organization. 
  • Enhances NRC’s reputation by being active and visible in the watershed community and by fostering and cultivating relationships with government officials (elected and administrative), grant funders and government entities, higher education institutions, national and state park administration and staff, and other non-profit organizations
  • Makes frequent public presentations to community groups
  • Participates in stakeholder coalitions.
  • Participates in legislative advocacy, through individual visits with state and federal elected officials, as well as participation in formal Lobby Days with watershed partners.
  1.     Works with the Board to fulfill the organization mission.
  • Leads NRC in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission as defined by the Board of Directors.
  • Communicates effectively with the Board and provides, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to function properly and to make informed decisions.
  • Facilitates four quarterly Board meetings.
  • Works with Board committees as determined and as needed for the organization.
  1.     Financial Performance and Vitality. 
  • Manages the fiscal sustainability and integrity of the organization, including preparing an annual budget, annual audit, overall financial supervision and quarterly financial reports. Additionally, works with our financial firm to ensure annual submission of our 990  and charitable solicitation licenses for all three states.
  • Reviews and approves all contracts for services, as well as approval of accounts payables and tracking of accounts receivables
  • Ensure that all insurance policies are adequate and maintained
  1. Develops resources sufficient to ensure the financial health of the organization.
  • Responsible for major donor fundraising, corporate sponsorships and private foundation grants.
  1. Organization Operations – ensures the goals of the organization are met and in alignment with the mission of New River Conservancy. 
  • Works with the Board and staff to ensure that the mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning and community outreach.
  • Hires, supervises, retains and collaborates with a diverse and qualified staff.
  • Provides oversight of the staff to ensure that the mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning and community outreach.
  • Supervises, collaborates, and supports the NRC’s staff.
  • Effectively implements NRC’s programs, projects and events to accomplish the organization’s mission.
  • Effectively administers NRC’s programs and operations, including execution of all contracts, agreements, financial documents, and other legal instruments on behalf of the organization.
  • Manages the real estate and land trust operations of the organization
  • Participates in essential outdoor river activities including river cleanups, riverbank restoration, project identification, fundraising events, and public and community outreach

Apply for Executive Director HERE

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