Executive Director

Background and Organization Overview

The City of Ashland (pop. 21,000) approved a Climate & Energy Action Plan (CEAP) in 2017. The CEAP commits the City to reaching defined greenhouse gas emission reduction goals while also enhancing community resilience to the impacts of climate change. The CEAP lays out a wide array of programs and strategies to achieve these goals. For many of these strategies, City government plays an essential role — by reducing the climate impact of city operations, implementing programs aligned with our goals, and making solutions affordable for all.

To be successful, the community itself must sustain its engagement and organization focused on implementing solutions. The vast majority of Ashland’s direct emissions come from our household heating systems, fossil-fueled transportation, and food waste. We can reduce and even completely eliminate these emissions. Residents must also be highly engaged in the work of protecting our homes and neighborhoods against the impacts of climate change, including increased smoke, excessive heat, fire risk, and drought.

Ashland Climate Collaborative (ACC) was incorporated in January 2022 and achieved its 501c3 nonprofit status in September 2022. To achieve our climate goals, we believe that all communities must have the capability to engage and energize its residents to adopt meaningful and locally appropriate solutions. To date, ACC has focused on laying down an organizational foundation and piloting tactical approaches. ACC works primarily with volunteers plus a part-time Communications Assistant. In March 2024, ACC was awarded a sizable Oregon Health Authority grant to hire an Executive Director to ramp up our programs and increase our impact.

See Also:

·  ACC 2023 Annual Report

·   March 2024 Press Release: Climate Solutions in Ashland Get a Major Boost

·   Ashland Climate Collaborative website

Role, Goals, and Qualifications

The ACC Executive Director is primarily responsible for leading the organization, working with the Board of Directors, the volunteer structure, and other stakeholders. The Executive Director will work toward high-impact programs as well as building organizational capacity and long-term sustainability.

Community outreach and activation

·       Organize, facilitate, and selectively participate along with other ACC representatives in community forums.

·       Develop and implement a communications plan focused on promoting awareness, addressing barriers, and high-impact interventions.

·       Cultivate and support climate change leadership capacity in the community, including the City.

·       Catalyze and guide Action Teams and Networks to achieve measurable impact.

·       Guide the groups to implement effective community programs.

·       Promote collaboration amongst the Action Teams and Networks, as appropriate.

·       Expand volunteer participation, including supporting Action Team and Networks leads and members as necessary.

Catalyze and guide Action Teams and Networks to achieve measurable impact

·      Guide the groups to implement effective community programs.

·      Promote collaboration amongst the Action Teams and Networks, as appropriate.

·      Expand volunteer participation, including supporting Action Team and Networks leads and members as necessary.

Build organizational capacity

·       Work with the board and Resource Development Team to develop additional funding strategies beyond 2025 to ensure a durable organization.

·       Develop partnerships with complementary organizations.

Required Capabilities and Experience

·       Skilled in community outreach, organizing, and engagement.

·       Ability to inspire and organize diverse stakeholders around a common vision and goal.

·       Relationship builder who develops mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships based upon trust, respect, and achievement of common goals.

·       Designs and executes high-impact programs that promote awareness, candor, and commitment.

·       Demonstrated competence in leading, developing, empowering, and guiding teams.

·       Previous experience in community-based climate work, and/or commitment to community transformation to address climate change.

·       High achiever who sets challenging goals, takes initiative, and follows through on commitments with an appropriate sense of urgency.

·       Operational skills preferred or willingness to learn.

·       Development experience preferred or willingness to learn.

Suggested Goals

First 6 months

·       Build constructive relationships with key ACC volunteers, teams, key City staff, other environmental and climate NGOs, and community leaders.

·      Develop and initiate a community communication and outreach plan with specific targets and tactics for 2024-2025 to maximize ACC visibility and impact for accelerating implementation of climate solutions. Assume responsibility for managing Communications and Development Assistant.

·      In collaboration with the Board, mobilize and facilitate a high-functioning Resource Development Team to secure operational funding and assist in recruiting.

6 – 18 months

·      Transition some activities currently performed by ACC Board members to professional staff and other committed volunteers.

·       In collaboration with the current ACC board, expand board membership.

·       In collaboration with the ACC board, develop a path to sustainable funding.

·       Implement ongoing strategic community-based programs to reach climate goals by implementing key climate solutions complementary to City programs including catalyzing and guiding Action Teams and Networks to achieve measurable impact.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary range of $75,000 - $85,000 depending on experience plus a negotiable benefit package.

How to Apply

To apply, please send a letter of interest, resume, and a work sample (an article, blog post, report, or educational or other materials primarily developed by you) to Info@AshlandClimate.org (Subject line: Executive Director) by April 30, 2024.

ACC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, veteran status, age, disability, marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation.