Great Green Job of the Week: Executive Director, Friends of the Urban Forest

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Executive Director, Friends of the Urban Forest
Date of Hire: On or about June 15, 2009 or until the position is filled
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Location:
 San Francisco, California
Applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest to Search Committee EDSearch@fuf.net.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial, visionary leader to fill the position of Executive Director (ED). Since 1981, FUF has grown to become San Francisco’s leader in promoting and creating a larger, healthier urban forest as part of the City’s urban ecosystem, through community planting, maintenance, education and advocacy. Every month, FUF staff engages scores of resident volunteers throughout the City of San Francisco in expanding and maintaining the urban forest. Employing a community building approach to its work, FUF works to instill a sense of pride and “ownership” of the urban forest among the City’s diverse population. Additionally, FUF has been a consistent voice of support for strengthening the City’s tree-planting efforts and has actively collaborated with other community-based greening organizations. In recent years FUF has begun to focus on and promote its potential for playing a role in reducing global warming. For more information on FUF please visit the website at www.fuf.net.

The search for a new leader for FUF comes at a time when government resources for urban greening are dwindling, foundations and corporate donors are significantly reducing commitments to non-profit partners and individual donors are cutting back donations. After planting 43,000 trees over 28 years, FUF is grappling with the need to develop a new business model that more effectively protects and expands the City’s tree canopy. The FUF Board of Directors hopes to recruit an innovative change agent who will evaluate the efficacy of every aspect of the organization, challenge the status quo and effectively place the organization on a sound financial footing.
The Executive Director will be responsible for leading. developing and managing Friends of the Urban Forest. As the chief fundraiser and operating officer of FUF, he or she will be responsible for raising and allocating the necessary funds to meet programmatic and organizational goals, as set with the Board of Directors. In addition to representing the organization publicly and in business negotiations, the ED will effectively lead and motivate staff, and work to enhance FUF’s success within the community.

Candidates should have a distinguished record in leading organizations and working effectively with staff, boards and a broad cross section of stakeholders. Special consideration will be given to candidates with a demonstrated commitment to environmental protection, urban greening and/or forestry issues.

General Scope of Executive Director Position

The Executive Director will be responsible for the successful development, promotion and implementation of new or improved approaches, models, and strategies for advancing the growth and maintenance for San Francisco’s urban forest canopy.

The ED will also responsibly manage, maintain, allocate and grow FUF’s $1.2 million budget and financial reserves. This includes communicating with donors, recruiting new donors, and retaining existing donors, as well as developing grant proposals, maintaining foundation relations, developing the corporate donor program, coordinating events and identifying additional sources of revenue.

As spokesperson for FUF and as liaison with other public sector agencies, government representatives, foundations, community and partner organizations and businesses, the ED will promote and enhance FUF’s visibility and influence by proactively elevating its impact and presence in the community in the course of enhancing and expanding San Francisco’s urban forest.

Responsibilities

Leadership: In collaboration with the Board of Directors, refine and expand FUF’s vision, mission, budget, annual goals and objectives. Develop a strategic plan for programmatic and community outreach and development, seek community input and engage their support, and identify and respond to opportunities and challenges. Build and manage an effective executive team.
Fundraising: Develop government and foundation grant proposals and other fund raising activities, donor development and mailings, corporate donations and appropriate events. Identify potential new initiatives and partnerships to build on FUF’s base within the community and to generate revenue for specific programs and the organization as a whole.

The Executive Director will be responsible for the successful development, promotion and implementation of new or improved approaches, models, and strategies for advancing the growth and maintenance for San Francisco’s urban forest canopy.

The ED will also responsibly manage, maintain, allocate and grow FUF’s $1.2 million budget and financial reserves. This includes communicating with donors, recruiting new donors, and retaining existing donors, as well as developing grant proposals, maintaining foundation relations, developing the corporate donor program, coordinating events and identifying additional sources of revenue.

As spokesperson for FUF and as liaison with other public sector agencies, government representatives, foundations, community and partner organizations and businesses, the ED will promote and enhance FUF’s visibility and influence by proactively elevating its impact and presence in the community in the course of enhancing and expanding San Francisco’s urban forest.

Responsibilities

Leadership: In collaboration with the Board of Directors, refine and expand FUF’s vision, mission, budget, annual goals and objectives. Develop a strategic plan for programmatic and community outreach and development, seek community input and engage their support, and identify and respond to opportunities and challenges. Build and manage an effective executive team.
Fundraising: Develop government and foundation grant proposals and other fund raising activities, donor development and mailings, corporate donations and appropriate events. Identify potential new initiatives and partnerships to build on FUF’s base within the community and to generate revenue for specific programs and the organization as a whole.

•Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to analyze and resolve issues quickly and make good decisions in a collaborative culture. Demonstrated ability to consistently, effectively and tactfully communicate with people at many levels. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.

•Proven project management skills

•Extensive leadership experience (7 or more years) in not-for-profit or equivalent management. B.A./B.S. required; advanced degree highly desirable.

•Greening, leading volunteer based organization(s) and local policy experience a plus.

Friends of the Urban Forest is an equal opportunity employer committed to developing the leadership skills of people from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to identifying and recruiting a broad and diverse pool of qualified candidates for this position.

Link [Treehugger Jobs] + [Friends of the Urban Forest]

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