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Executive Director Search Announcement

Urban Ecology is seeking a passionate, creative and talented leader to serve as Executive Director for our entrepreneurial nonprofit.

Founded in 1975, Urban Ecology believes vibrant neighborhoods are the building blocks of healthy cities and sustainable regions. We specialize in community outreach and participatory land use planning that help low-income urban neighborhoods envision and advocate for change. We are hands-on in neighborhoods, offering technical assistance and design focused on parks, schoolyards, greenways, streetscapes and other aspects of the public realm. We are also active at the city and regional policymaking levels, working to channel essential resources to create safe, healthy urban communities. Finally, we offer key educational tools, such as community plans, tours and publications.

Urban Ecology has a staff of four and an annual budget of $500,000. For more information on our projects and programs, see HYPERLINK “http://www.urbanecology.org” http://www.urbanecology.org.

Responsibilities: The ideal candidate will continue implementation of current projects and work with the Board of Directors and staff to create new partnerships, program opportunities and revenue sources. The Executive Director’s responsibilities include:

Fundraising & Business Development:
Fee-for-Service Contracts – maintain existing and procure additional fee-for-service contracts that complement other funding sources.
Grants – Develop a foundation funding strategy that strengthens the organization’s fee-for-service work portfolio. Serve as primary contact with Urban Ecology’s supporting foundations, including managing all relationships with existing funders and seeking grants from new sources.
Donors – Build and oversee Urban Ecology’s donor program to increase total funding from individuals.  Work with the Board to design a successful individual donor strategy, including an evaluation of our membership program and of annual fundraising events.
Local and state government contracts and grants– Continue and enhance Urban Ecology’s partnerships with local, state and federal government agencies via contracting and grant programs.

Strategic planning:
Organizational positioning – Facilitate a strategic planning process with the Board of Directors, staff, and colleagues to identify a program and funding vision for the organization in the near to mid-term and maintain Urban Ecology’s niche and position at the leading edge of planning for urban change in the Bay Area and California. Guide the Board of Directors through decision-making about targeted and strategic expansions of activities, and pursue new opportunities for growth and revenue. Structure organizational activities to flow from strategic decisions.
New partnerships – Explore and build relationships with public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders to realize new partnerships, with the goal of bringing Urban Ecology’s planning and design expertise into new arenas of urban change, and enabling the organization to work with new constituencies and communities.

Board of Directors:
Board liaison – Serve as the direct, primary liaison with the Board of Directors and its committees, and facilitate the Board’s involvement in fundraising, policy setting, program work, strategic planning, and financial management of the organization.

Financial Management:
Fiscal health – Manage all aspects of organizational finances to ensure short- and long-term fiscal health, including preparation of annual budget and monthly reports to the Board, oversight of bookkeeping activities, monitoring of cash flow and liabilities and tracking of staff resources.

Staff and Program Management:
Staff – Manage and mentor staff to generate a creative, energized, purposeful and team-oriented work environment. Establish a culture of delegation that empowers key staff to manage large projects under the supervision of the Executive Director.
Programs – Work with staff to implement programmatic activities that match Urban Ecology’s vision, principles, and strategic decisions.

Public Relations and Communication:
Public relations – Serve as Urban Ecology’s primary public representative, including making public presentations, working with the press, and related activities.
Communication – Build and manage Urban Ecology’s communications activities.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
Minimum five years work experience in either City Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Public Policy, Community Development or related fields; alternately, a Masters degree plus three years work experience in the fields listed above will be considered.
Minimum two years experience in administrative, financial and/or human resources management, preferably in a nonprofit setting; management experience in for-profit or government settings also considered.
Minimum two years work experience with fundraising, including grant writing and/or major donor solicitation. Demonstrated creativity in seeking nontraditional sources of revenue to support projects.
Desirable to have experience doing fee-for-service or consulting work in addition to foundation-funded work.
Excellent writing, public speaking and facilitation skills.
Demonstrated ability to find creative, entrepreneurial solutions to complex problems.
Knowledge and/or an understanding of community processes, and issues pertinent to low-income, ethnically diverse neighborhoods, are highly preferred.
Demonstrated leadership skills and experience. Knowledge of/experience with agencies and organization involved planning processes in the Bay Area.
Basic fluency in Spanish or Cantonese a plus.
Commitment to Urban Ecology’s organizational philosophy and practices.

Compensation:
Competitive salary, plus health, vacation, transportation, and retirement plan benefits.

How to apply:
Materials should be sent by email to HYPERLINK “mailto:jobs@urbanecology.org” jobs@urbanecology.org. To apply send, cover letter, resume and three references.

Urban Ecology is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.

582 Market Street, Suite 1020, San Francisco, CA 94104 tel 415.617.0161 fax 415.617.0016 http://www.urbanecology.org