Executive Director

About Wilderness Louisville

Wilderness Louisville, Inc. (WL) is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that champions the 6,800-acre Jefferson Memorial Forest (JMF) and other natural areas that are managed by the Natural Areas Division of Louisville Parks and Recreation (Parks). WL was established in 2013 and is led by a volunteer board of 16 individuals. WL believes that Louisville’s natural spaces belong to everyone. And so it seeks to improve equitable access to nature so that all may enjoy and experience natural spaces that are safe and convenient and ecologically healthy and vibrant.   

WL’s work has primarily focused on fundraising and advocacy to support the following areas:

1. work to ensure natural spaces are accessible to everyone, especially those in underserved communities;
2. sustain and grow Parks’ Louisville is Engaging Children Outdoors initiative (Louisville ECHO) which is the programmatic component of the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative (WLORI) via grant requests;
3. support ecological restoration activities, Parks staff, and volunteers within the natural areas system by securing contracts;
4. support Parks’ applications for land acquisition to expand Jefferson Memorial Forest through matching funds; and
5. support capital project improvements associated with further implementation of existing park master plans (such as the JMF and the WLORI master plans) via fundraising.

The Opportunity

Traditionally, the Executive Director role has been filled in an ex-officio capacity by the Parks Administrator of Jefferson Memorial Forest. Going forward, the WL board seeks to hire the organization’s first full-time, salaried Executive Director. The successful candidate will demonstrate a desire to embrace both the challenges and opportunities of this transition—as well as an understanding of what it takes to make an organization financially sustainable, and a passion for WL’s equity and inclusion work. WL seeks a self-starting, resourceful, and passionate individual that has the skills and temperament to lead this dynamic organization.

Job Summary

The executive director is responsible for the overall administration and management of Wilderness Louisville, including strategic communications, fundraising, and general administration. Areas of responsibility include advocacy and related communication, grant writing and grant management, internal policy development and administration, personnel and fiscal management, strategic planning and evaluation, maintaining an efficient and productive relationship with Metro Parks and other key partners and stakeholders, and advancement of WL’s equity work. 

Central to this role is a thorough understanding of Metro Louisville’s natural spaces and the master plans for their preservation, enhancement, and expansion. The Executive Director must possess and leverage a passion for these natural assets that manifests as tireless advocacy, diligence, persistence, and patience in the execution of the Master Plan amid a myriad of challenges.  

This is a full-time position and is hired by and directly accountable to the board of directors through its elected board chair.

Roles and Responsibilities

Management and Administration Develop and implement strategic and operational plans; develop, maintain, and evaluate programming; develop and implement general policies and procedures; ensure compliance with funding and regulatory requirements; and manage contracts with the Kentucky Office of State Nature Preserves, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and other entities.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work with staff, volunteers, board, partners, and all other stakeholders to ensure natural spaces are accessible to and provide benefit for everyone, particularly those in underserved communities, and foster a welcoming workplace environment rooted in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Financial Management Manage all aspects of WL’s finances, including budgeting, bookkeeping and financial controls, purchasing and receipts, and reporting.

Development Manage all aspects of WL’s fundraising efforts, including planning that incorporates diverse revenue streams, provides for operational sustainability, and funds current and future projects; managing grants; and maintaining relationships with all funders.

Personnel Manage all aspects of assembling and maintaining an effective staff and volunteer team, including the development and implementation of legal and ethical human resource policies and procedures that align with WL’s values.

Board Relations Assist the board of directors with meeting planning, policy development, director recruitment and orientation, and board fundraising responsibilities.

Engagement with Metro Parks and Other Agencies Advocate for the support and promotion of WL as an organization as well as for the execution of the master plan with government departments, legislative bodies, and other groups.

Community Engagement, Communication, and Marketing Promote Wilderness Louisville and its programming through events, Web presence, and social media; serve as chief liaison with various government agencies, community groups and stakeholders; ensure appropriate representation of Wilderness Louisville by all employees and volunteers; and develop and maintain relationships with BIPOC communities and BIPOC-led organizations.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of and a passion for natural spaces and their preservation, enhancement, and expansion; a strong commitment to connecting people with nature.
• Ability to navigate, function, and produce results while working with Metro Louisville Government Agencies and other cross-sector partners.
• Experience with / demonstrated commitment creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
• Track record of effectively leading and scaling an organization and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and implemented strategies that have built organizational capacity and taken an organization to the next stage of growth.
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to lead and develop high-performance teams, coach staff, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget.
• Past success working with a board of directors with the ability to cultivate board member relationships.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to planning.
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing a nonprofit organization or major department/function within a nonprofit is preferred. Post-secondary degree in a nonprofit and/or business-related field a plus but is not a requirement.

Deadline to Apply Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, early application is encouraged. Wilderness Louisville’s selection committee will begin review of applications and the scheduling of interviews starting the week of July 25, 2022.

Additional Information View the complete job description here. View more information about Wilderness Louisville and what it supports at www.wildernesslouisville.org.

Wilderness Louisville is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, color, marital status, veteran status, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical size or weight, status as parent or caregiver, pregnancy status, ancestry, or physical or mental disability that can be reasonably accommodated without undue hardship. People of color, people from working class backgrounds, women and LGBTQ people are encouraged to apply.