Executive Director
Oxbow Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment
Oxbow Center’s Mission:
Oxbow’s mission is to educate people on the importance of environmental stewardship and healthy
food, to reconnect us to the land and our local sustainable food supply, and to inspire us to take action
in our daily lives and in our communities.
History:
Oxbow Center operates on a portion of a 230‐acre family‐owned property in the Snoqualmie Valley
which includes 120‐acres along the Snoqualmie River and 110‐acres of wooded uplands. The property
has been held in the Alberg family since the 1950’s. For the first few decades, the property operated as
a dairy farm and then as a cattle ranch.
In 1997, Tom Alberg leased the property from his father with the purpose of restoring and preserving
the property. In 1999, Luke and Sarah came to the valley to help develop Oxbow Farm. And, in 2006,
Adam and Shira joined Oxbow to continue its growth as an organic farm and education center to
promote healthy food and the environment.
To more fully realize their goals, in 2008 Tom and his wife Judi Beck, working with their foundation, the
Raven Foundation, launched the non‐profit Oxbow Organic Farm and Education Center. In 2013, Oxbow
Center created a native plant nursery in partnership with the University of Idaho’s Department of
Natural Resources, Center of Forest Nursery, and Seedling Research.
Oxbow Center’s impact on the Seattle community has grown dramatically in its first five years as 6,000
individuals visited the farm this year for various camps, festivals, and events.
Executive Director:
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and has overall responsibility for the successful
management, administration, and operation of Oxbow Center, including the development of new
programs, managing financial resources and stewardship, and leading community outreach efforts. In
conjunction with the Board, the Director will develop the Center’s long‐term strategic plan and work to
ensure its successful implementation.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
The Board seeks an experienced professional who is comfortable leading and delegating day‐to‐day
operations to capable managers while remaining attentive to, and appropriately active in, the daily life
of the organization. The ideal candidate will share a passion for Oxbow’s mission and possess the
energy, talents, and experience required to further our growth. The successful candidate will be a
charismatic leader with a minimum five years of executive management experience. Internally, he/she
will be a motivational leader and effective manager. Externally, the Executive Director will serve as a
key liaison between the Center and the community as a principal ambassador in building and
maintaining community relationships and partnerships. While Oxbow Center anticipates increasing its
applications for grant funding for its various programs, Oxbow does not currently raise funding from the
general public.
Primary Responsibilities:
 Work with the Board to develop and implement a strategic plan
 Create and carry out the Center’s annual operating and financial plan
 Oversee all Oxbow Center employees, directly supervising the senior leadership team
 Build a cohesive team with a positive organizational culture
 Clearly communicate roles and expectations for the team
 Identify, train, supervise, and reward team members
 Build and maintain strong community relationships and partnerships
 Coordinate outreach efforts for the Snoqualmie Valley with other local leaders
 Identify, evaluate, write, and oversee grant opportunities
 Coordinate volunteer activities at Oxbow and in the Valley
Minimum Qualifications:
 Master’s degree or equivalent and experience in relevant field (education, environmental, and
agricultural practices)
 Minimum of five years of executive experience
 Demonstrated experience in financial planning/reporting and budgetary oversight
 Demonstrated leadership in strategic planning
 Demonstrated experience as a self‐starter
 Demonstrated ability to secure grants
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
 Excellent speaking and writing skills
 Effective at fostering collaboration
 High level of personal and ethical standards
Compensation and Benefits:
 Compensation consistent with experience
 Employer‐paid health insurance plan for employee
 Annual dental stipend for employee
Process:
 Please submit your application to executivedirector@oxbow.org by January 15, 2014
 Along with your resume/CV, please include a cover letter not longer than two pages that
introduces yourself and answers the following question based on what you know about Oxbow
Center: “What unique opportunities do you see for Oxbow Center in the future?”
 Initial interviews will be scheduled for early February