POSITION DESCRIPTION: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THE MISSION
Earth Law Center (ELC) works to transform the law to recognize and protect nature’s inherent rights to exist, thrive and evolve. We do this by building a force of advocates for nature’s rights at the local, state, national, and international levels. ELC:
• directly advocates for needed change,
• builds partnerships with advocates worldwide for change, and
• provides the tools that advocates need to create change themselves.

THE OPPORTUNITY
ELC seeks an Executive Director to guide the organization toward new levels of sustainability and growth in service of its mission. The Executive Director will lead the organization during a critical time in its history. Now more than ever, we need rights-based laws for nature.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director holds overall responsibility for implementing ELC’s mission and serving as its
principle spokesperson. Under the general supervision of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director
creates and implements strategic plans and workplans, directs all aspects of day-to-day operations and
budget oversight, manages the organization’s staff and volunteers, identifies and successfully pursues
funding opportunities that ensure the organization’s strong financial health, and conducts program
initiatives that advance the rights of all Earth’s inhabitants and ecosystems to flourish, thrive and evolve.

Specific responsibilities include:

Fund Development and Marketing
• Ensures ELC has the financial resources to advance its mission and goals through foundation grant
applications and reports, individual donor development, and other fundraising activities.
• Assists the Board in its fundraising efforts; provides fund development training as needed.
• Leads marketing efforts to increase the public visibility of ELC and grow its programs.

Program Development and Implementation
• Develops, oversees, and implements programs and work plans to advance ELC priorities.
• Drafts and presents oral and written testimony, comments, presentations, research, and reports, and
implements other strategies, to advance ELC positions.
• Develops and implements communication strategies to inform government officials, organizations,
the media, and the public about ELC initiatives.
• Builds partnerships to leverage resources and expertise in support of ELC’s mission and work.

Leadership and Staff Development
• Hires and manages staff in pursuit of strategic planning targets; maintains clear personnel policies;
assures compliance with legal requirements.
• Fosters a positive work environment that encourages staff to excel.
• With the Chair, provides direction and motivation for the Board of Directors and Committees.

Strategic Planning and Visioning
• Cultivates and implements a shared organizational vision among the Board and staff; works with the
Board to develop, review and update as needed ELC’s Strategic Plan.
• Collaborates with the Board to set work plan priorities in keeping with the Strategic Plan.

Movement Building
• Actively partners and seeks collaborative coalitions with organizations and alliances with similar or
complementary strategic goals, in service of ELC’s mission. Provides diplomatic and strategic
leadership to help collaborative efforts succeed in advancing nature’s rights.
• Strategically reaches out to new communities and organizations to build a coordinated, grassroots
movement for nature’s rights.

Operations and Finance
• Ensure effective administration of all programs and finances. Establishes and tracks key metrics to
monitor progress against goals and achievement of results.
• Oversees the preparation, implementation and monitoring of annual fundraising, marketing and
financial plans, including preparation and tracking of annual budget. Monitors all financial
management systems and provides regular, accurate reporting to the Board and Board Committees.
• Ensures high quality execution of the organization’s programs and services.
• Monitors the performance of an annual certified audit or formal review of ELC’s financial position.
• Ensures the organization complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Proven nonprofit leadership and effective staff and program management skills including: experience
managing organizational change; strong financial planning skills; ability to retain, motivate and attract
strong and creative staff; experience in strategy as well as execution of programs to meet goals;
demonstrated ability to work effectively with a Board of Directors.
• Nonprofit fundraising success and demonstrated ability to establish and manage relationships with
major individual and institutional donors, nonprofit organizations and alliances, government agencies,
the media, and volunteers for the benefit and support of ELC’s mission.
• Commitment to ELC’s mission of securing and implementing rights-based laws for nature.
• Graduate degree in law (strongly preferred), public policy, environmental studies, or related field, with
10+ years in a conservation setting. Experience as a nonprofit Executive Director strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently, excellent organizational skills, and exceptional written and verbal
communication skills, including proven ability to implement communication strategies
• High energy level, self-motivated, and results-oriented. Willing to travel.

COMPENSATION
A competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with qualifications and experience, is offered.
Please send cover letter and resume to Diana Weynand, Board Chair at: position@earthlaw.org.

You can find Earth Law’s Website Here: http://www.earthlawcenter.org/