Executive Director, Nebraska Environmental Trust
State of Nebraska

Job Info

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Description
The Nebraska Environmental Trust was established in 1992 to conserve, enhance and restore the natural environments of Nebraska. It was founded on the conviction that a prosperous future is dependent upon a sound natural environment and that Nebraskans could collectively achieve real progress on environmental issues if seed money was provided. More information on the Trust can be found at https://environmentaltrust.nebraska.gov/index.html

The Trust is led by a fourteen-member Board of Trustees, five State agency directors and nine citizens appointed by the Governor. The Trust has five full-time staff including the executive director. Trust funding is derived from a Constitutionally prescribed 44.5 percent of State lottery proceeds.

More information on the Trust can be found at https://environmentaltrust.nebraska.gov/index.html

The Vision of the State of Nebraska is to Grow Nebraska. The Mission of Nebraska is to create opportunity through more effective, more efficient and more customer focused state government.

Current Circumstances

Since its founding in 1992, the Nebraska Environmental Trust's small staff and succeeding generations of boards have worked diligently to bring critical resources to individuals, businesses, and public-spirited organizations to help conserve Nebraska's precious resources. We view this change in leadership as an opportunity to build on their contributions, and to empower a new leader to bring fresh eyes to the task. Greater transparency, an improved grant process, and strategies that will encourage greater diversity in the grantmaking initiatives that are funded by the Trust are key goals for the Board and the next Executive Director.

An important feature of this transition is the opportunity to strengthen and align the respective roles of the Board and Executive Director and staff. The Board is focused on setting overall strategic direction and policy, serving as the final reviewer of grant awards, maintaining fiduciary oversight, and empowering and supporting the Executive Director as the chief executive officer leading and managing the organization. We are seeking an Executive Director with strong leadership and managerial acumen, a shared commitment to conserve, enhance, improve and restore the natural environments of Nebraska, and the capacity to improve processes and to convene and encourage thought leadership in the many disciplines important to our mission.
Examples of Work
The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors, and will have overall responsibility for the planning, implementation, administration and management of all agency staff, programs, services, and systems. S/he will serve as an advisor to the Board on all agency matters and can expect the active involvement and support of its members.

The Executive Director will be the spokesperson for Trust in a wide and highly visible range of situations where s/he will be expected to provide confidence-inspiring leadership, mobilize broad based support, and identify and act on opportunities for the growth and funding of the agency's mission.

The Executive Director is accountable to the Board for assuring that the Trust's activities fulfil its statutory and constitutional mandates while achieving the agency's grant making, performance and outcome goals. The Executive Director is accountable for the fiscal health of the organization.

The core mission of the Trust is conserve, enhance and restore the natural environments of Nebraska. The Executive Director must be diligent in sustaining this mission, and its commitment to transparency, excellent processes and performance and maximizing the opportunities for Nebraska's citizens to participate and contribute.
Qualifications / Requirements
The Trust is seeking an innovative, strategic and entrepreneurial Executive Director who has an unswerving commitment to our mission. Strong leadership, management, communication, and decision-making skills are critical to success in this position. The successful candidate should have a proven ability to encourage teamwork, innovation and collaboration among many individuals and organizations.

A minimum of five years' experience in executive level management and a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to lead and inspire others on behalf of the Trust's mission

• Vision, creativity, and concise focus on the priorities set by the governing board of directors

• A proven track record of managing staff, budget, finances, processes, committees, services and a complex organization in a manner that is progressive, consistent, effective and efficient

• Demonstrated experience and skills as a consensus builder and in identifying, building and sustaining complex and successful alliances with a range of organizations and institutions to accomplish a common goal

• Embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and has a demonstrated track record of developing and reinforcing diversity in the workplace

• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills

• Demonstrated ability to effectively navigate evolving and related programmatic, funding, and regulatory systems at the local, state, and national level

• Knowledge and understanding of public policy and government leadership

• Articulate and persuasive oral and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver the Trust's message and compel a variety of audiences including media, Board, government officials, legislators and the public

• Able to work effectively with a diverse group of individuals and organizations

• Interest in and knowledge of current research in the field, and ability to translate knowledge into best practices

• Initiative and sound judgment in decision-making, in interpreting and applying policies and governmental regulations, in delegating responsibilities and in planning and analyzing programs and policies

• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a board of directors

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Accomplished in the use of modern technology and media to strengthen performance and communication

Compensation

Salary is negotiable based on relevant experience and education. The range is expected to be between $92,000 and $130,000 per year, with benefits that include a strong state retirement plan, a 403(b) plan and paid time off.

Equal Opportunity for Employment

The Trust is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be evaluated based on merit regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, national origin, or any other category protected by law.

Submission of Resumes

Resumes and a cover letter may be submitted no later than the close of business on October 22, 2021 to:

Nebraska Environmental Trust Search Committee
C/O Ford Webb Associates
60 Thoreau Street
Concord, MA 01742
Or
NETrust@fordwebb.com

This job has expired.