Executive Director

🌳 About the Organization

Adventure Scientists is a nonprofit organization on a mission to protect the planet by pairing scientists with individuals uniquely capable of gathering difficult-to-obtain data. Our team collaborates with scientists worldwide to solve pressing environmental challenges, from biodiversity to climate change.

We’ve partnered with organizations like National Geographic, the World Economic Forum, TED, the U.S. Forest Service, and Harvard Medical School, and our work has delivered outcomes such as:

• Preventing illegal timber harvest
• Restoring extirpated species to their native ranges
• Building the world’s largest dataset on microplastics
• Advancing identification of the genes responsible for antibiotic resistance

Every role here offers a chance to make an impact on a global scale!

🙋‍♀️ About the Role

Adventure Scientists is entering an exciting new chapter, and we are searching for a full-time Executive Director (based in Bozeman, Montana) to guide us forward.

This is a rare opportunity to take a pioneering, founder-led organization and shape it into a lasting, global force for conservation. Reporting to the Board of Directors and partnering closely with our visionary Founder/Executive Chairman, the Executive Director will:

• Amplify our impact and visibility
• Drive innovation and operational excellence
• Lead and grow a high-performing team
• Ensure long-term sustainability through strong fundraising and donor engagement

If you are a dynamic, mission-driven leader with the vision, creativity, and operational acumen to take Adventure Scientists to new heights, we would love to hear from you.

💼 Responsibilities

Strategy & Execution

• Partner with the Board and Founder/Executive Chairman to define and execute long-term strategy.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and inclusiveness.
• Prepare and present board reports, financial updates, and performance metrics.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Collaborate with the Founder on major gifts and institutional funding strategies.
• Generate at least 25% of annual philanthropic revenue through direct engagement with donors and grants (after a six-month onboarding period).
• Expand Adventure Scientists’ funding base to support growth and infrastructure.

Organizational Leadership

• Oversee and scale daily operations with efficiency and creativity.
• Build and retain an exceptional team, supporting professional growth and accountability.
• Serve as the organization’s cultural leader, ensuring alignment with values and mission.

🎯 Skills & Requirements

• Team Building & Development: Proven ability to hire, retain, and grow high-performing teams, ideally with some nonprofit as well as for-profit experience.
• Strategic & Operational Planning: Track record of growing or scaling a business, team, nonprofit, or movement. Ideally experience leading growth from ~10 to 50+ staff.
• Financial Leadership: Strong P&L and budget management experience, including forecasting, compliance, and audits.
• Fundraising & Business Development: Demonstrated success closing sales, development, or philanthropic deals; and the eagerness and willingness to grow these skills.
• Operational Excellence: A strong operator who takes ownership, drives accountability, and thrives in building systems that scale.
• Remote and Hybrid Leadership: Skilled at leading distributed teams while also engaging in in-person collaboration. Based in Bozeman (or nearby) and available in the office some times per week.
• Resilience & Agility: Ability to manage multiple projects at once, zoom in and out between detail and strategy, and turn feedback into actionable change.
• Creative, adaptive thinker who thrives in dynamic, evolving environments.
• Collaborative problem-solver who enjoys overcoming complex challenges.
• Mission Alignment: Passion for conservation, science, and the outdoors. Outdoor enthusiast who embodies the adventurous spirit of our mission.

🌟 Our Ideal Candidate

You are more than a strategist - you’re a builder. You see the big picture, set the course, and then roll up your sleeves to make it real. In a small team, you thrive on being hands-on when needed, knowing that every contribution matters.

You’ve scaled something before - maybe a team, an organization, or a business - and you know what it feels like to grow from small (±10 employees) into a thriving, resilient structure (50+). You bring operational strength, clarity, and systems that empower people to do their best work.

As a leader, you’re energized by others. You balance partnership and independence, bringing your own clear perspective while collaborating closely with the Founder as a trusted companion. You believe deeply in people and lead with authenticity, curiosity, and accountability.

At your core, you’re connected to the planet. Conservation and the outdoors are part of how you live, not just what you do at work. Whether it’s hiking, skiing, climbing, or simply being outside, you carry the spirit of adventure with you - and it infuses the way you lead.

🌎 Location

Hybrid from Bozeman, Montana

This role is based in Bozeman, with a hybrid schedule that balances in-person collaboration and work-from-home flexibility. As Executive Director, you’ll spend part of your week in the office alongside our Founder and partner in leadership, while also having the freedom to work remotely on other days. This rhythm allows for both the deep focus of remote work and the creative energy that comes from face-to-face collaboration.

💎 Compensation

$200,000/year plus benefits:

• Employer-subsidized health insurance
• Retirement plan with employer match
• Generous PTO and paid parental leave
• Professional development opportunities
• Sabbaticals for long-tenured staff
• Access to discounted outdoor gear

Adventure Scientists offers competitive compensation based on experience, with a commitment to supporting work-life balance, professional growth, and well-being.

We offer non-negotiable salaries to ensure fairness, transparency, and equity for everyone in the hiring process. This approach allows us to uphold our commitment to pay consistency, eliminate bias in the hiring process, and create a culture of trust and clarity for all team members.

🗓️ Hiring Process

At Adventure Scientists, we believe in a transparent, enjoyable, and thorough hiring experience that ensures mutual alignment.

1. Initial Conversation: Your first call will be with our Talent Partner to discuss your experience and fit with our mission.
2. Collaboration Project: Next, we’ll invite you to work on a short project that reflects the type of work you’ll do, offering insights into our team-oriented approach.
3. Meet the Manager: The next step includes a conversation with the Hiring Manager, allowing you to learn more about the role and the team you may join.
4. Interview with the Board: Individual conversation with 3 members of our Board of Directors to explore alignment with our strategy and governance.
5. Team Panel: A discussion with Adventure Scientists’ internal team, giving you a chance to connect with potential colleagues and experience our collaborative culture.
6. Founder Connection: An in-person meeting/hike/activity with our Founder, where you’ll experience the spirit that drives our mission.

Throughout the process, we’ll keep you updated so you’ll always know what to expect. Typically, the entire hiring process spans 4 to 8 weeks.

Adventure Scientists is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we’re committed to providing a fair and supportive hiring process for everyone. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, formal education, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other status. If you have any questions about the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know - we’re here to help!

🎓 How to Apply

If you’re excited to lead an adventurous, mission-driven team into our next chapter, we’d love to hear from you!

Please submit your application, including a link to your LinkedIn (and portfolio if you have one), showcasing any previous relevant work. We do not require a cover letter. Instead, please complete the application questions included in the form.

⚠️ Important Note:

We take application authenticity seriously. All responses to application questions are reviewed for originality. Submissions that are AI-generated or copied, even if partially, are automatically rejected, regardless of your qualifications.

Please take the time to craft thoughtful, personal answers that reflect your own voice and experiences.

We’re excited to learn more about you and appreciate the time you take to share your story with us!