Executive Director
(Part-time position)

Milpitas, California


The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory is seeking a visionary leader with a successful track record to lead our growing organization.

The Bird Observatory is a small non-profit organization with 5 permanent full-time staff members and an annual budget of $400,000. SFBBO has 26 years of experience conducting avian research in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our research contributes to land management decisions that address local conservation challenges of concern to resource agencies, policymakers, and California citizens. In addition to riparian research and breeding population studies of colonial water birds and California Gulls, we participate in the South Bay Salt Pond Science Team and the San Francisco Bay Area Upland Habitat Goals Focus Teams. Through our Outreach program, we actively provide opportunities for people to be directly involved in the natural history and science of the San Francisco Bay Area, expanding their appreciation for the local environment. The Bird Observatory has a team of 100 long-standing, dedicated volunteers who greatly enhance the reach of our science.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising and Development
• Develop and implement a sustainable, diversified fundraising plan
• Maintain and build upon current funding sources including grants, contracts, and donations
• Identify and develop new revenue sources including a major donor campaign
• Develop, support, and coordinate a capital campaign program
• Develop and support grant and contract applications

Organizational Development
• Manage the development and implementation of strategic plans
• Communicate organizational vision to partners and the community
• Oversee and implement a plan for ongoing evaluation of the organization’s effectiveness
• Develop and implement program structures and policies to support the organizational mission
• Provide leadership for fostering collaborative relationships throughout the organization and the Bird Observatory’s partners


Program Development, Administration, and Evaluation
• Provide leadership, direction, and support for the staff/organization
• Promote an organizational culture/structure that fosters cooperation, communication, teamwork, and trust
• Ensure compliance with all organizational and legal requirements for hiring and employment practices
• Provide for development activities that upgrade staff skills, motivate performance, and promote staff retention
• Hire, train, and supervise staff and independent contractors
• Conduct annual staff performance reviews

Fiscal Management
• Prepare monthly finance reports for the Board of Directors (Board) and supervise audits, expenditure reports, and other requested fiscal reports for the Board
• Supervise finance staff and coordinate the management of financial and administrative procedures to maintain fiscally sound programs and accounting systems
• Prepare an annual budget and development plans to meet the financial needs of programs and administrative operations
• Regularly track the performance against the budget to ensure that the financial goals are achieved, cash flow is maintained, and the financial reserve is increased
• Adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Principals and Checks and Balances as outlined in the Financial Policy

Community Relations
• Proactively market and promote the Bird Observatory’s mission and supporting services to the media and community
• Serve as the primary representative of the organization at fundraising events, technical meetings, and public outreach events as directed by the Board
• Communicate organizational vision to a variety of stakeholders including partner organizations, foundations, resource agencies, and members of the community
• Cultivate and sustain collaborative partnerships with partner organizations and resource agencies in the conservation field

Board Support
• Provide advice, and help facilitate policy development and change, to assist the Board with organizational support and development
• Maintain standards and structure for appropriate and effective communication between the Board and staff
• Provide the Board with pertinent and timely information for decision making and organizational evaluation
• Assist Board leadership to recruit, orient, train and mobilize new board members to support the mission
• Facilitate operations and provide staffing as appropriate for Board committees





QUALIFICATIONS

Successful applicants will have the following qualifications:
• Two to five years of experience with non-profit management
• A Bachelors Degree is required; an advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D) is desired
• Passion for conservation science; familiarity or experience with avian ecology preferred
• Successful grant writing and fundraising experience
• Demonstrated organizational leadership and team development skills
• Successful experience networking and building collaborative partnerships
• Effective communication and facilitation skills
• Energy, enthusiasm, patience, and a sense of humor

Ideal candidates will have experience in these additional areas:
• Financial management experience, including budgeting and contract monitoring
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills as applicable to the overall organization strategy and the fine detail of everyday management

Salary range: $52,000 - $55,000 for 75% time (expect to spend a minimum of 3 days/week in the office) depending on qualifications and experience, plus a competitive benefits package.

To apply, please submit both a cover letter and resume to ExecutiveSearch@sfbbo.org no later than June 19, 2008. Qualified candidates may be asked to complete a phone interview and successful candidates will be invited for an in-person interview.

For additional organizational information, please see our website at: www.sfbbo.org.