About The Vermont Center for Ecostudies
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) advances biodiversity conservation across the Americas through research, monitoring, and community engagement. Biodiversity loss is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and VCE is confronting the issue by assessing the status of wildlife and plant populations and generating the science needed to reverse declines. Together with volunteer naturalists and partner organizations, we study birds, amphibians, insects, and other taxa in a variety of ecosystems, sharing results widely to help inform environmental decisions. VCE leads and participates in significant collaborations with state and federal wildlife agencies, non-governmental organizations, and universities throughout New England and as far away as the Caribbean Basin. Our scientists are nationally and internationally recognized for their expertise in participatory, applied, and quantitative ecology. And while our programs and influence reach far beyond Vermont, collaboration with community members remains a hallmark of our work. A deeply embedded culture of environmental stewardship in the state enables the uptake of VCE’s science in on-the-ground conservation and management decisions locally, with ripple effects across the globe.
We believe that kindness and curiosity are integral to effective conservation science. Our staff is committed to creating a cooperative work culture that celebrates diversity, values wellbeing, and inspires learning. To learn more, please visit Vermont Center for Ecostudies at https://vtecostudies.org/
The Opportunity
The Executive Director is responsible for the strategic leadership and compassionate management of VCE’s staff while reporting to and working closely with the Board of Directors. They provide leadership for all aspects of VCE, including strategy, fundraising, external relations, program development, financial management, and partnerships with other institutions and the broader community. The Executive Director also works to increase VCE's national and international visibility and impact, and to ensure that the organization's structure and systems keep pace as programs evolve. The organization’s renowned profile in a small state affords VCE’s leader the opportunity to be an influential voice for science-based conservation at a critical moment for biodiversity protection.
VCE approaches major donor engagement as a partnership among the Executive Director, Director of Development, and Board of Directors, working in concert with senior staff. Following the recent completion of a $5M campaign and an increase in organizational capacity, VCE is poised to welcome a new leader to help grow unrestricted revenue over the next five years at an average rate of 10-15%. These ambitious targets are attainable given VCE's strong reputation, deep community goodwill, and significant untapped donor capacity.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, mission-driven leader with demonstrated experience in nonprofit or scientific organizational leadership, fundraising, and strategic management. They will bring a strong understanding of conservation science, exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive organizational culture.
While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, strong candidates will display many of the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
- 5+ years of experience leading a nonprofit organization, academic enterprise, or public entity focused on science and/or conservation.
- Experience leading an organization through a period of growth and increasing complexity, including demonstrated success identifying and leveraging external partnerships to drive outsized impact.
- Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly to broad, non-scientific audiences.
- Ability to carry out external responsibilities while motivating a results-oriented team.
- Extensive fundraising experience with a knack for building authentic relationships with supporters.
- Demonstrated financial management skills, including budgeting, analysis, and reporting.
- Experience engaging volunteers, supporters, and collaborators in discussions of biodiversity research, monitoring, and conservation.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including an engaging and persuasive style.
- A strong commitment to furthering diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
- Excellent management skills, including the ability to foster collaboration among staff members and facilitate advances in efficiency and effectiveness.
- Experience recruiting, developing, and supervising a senior management team.
- A record of thoughtful, respectful leadership and a willingness to lead by example.
- Experience working with Board members and managing board development.
- An advanced degree in natural science with a corresponding record of professional achievement, or advanced degree in leadership, nonprofit management, or other related fields.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Liz Lombard and Ariella Pasackow. You may express interest in this role by submitted your resume and cover letter to our Talent Profile. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential. Application materials will be reviewed by a member of our team and an update on your candidacy will be shared to the email you provided. Please note that it may take several weeks to ensure thorough review.