Executive Director (part-time, contracted management position)

Preserve Our Parks, Inc. Job Opportunity

Executive Director (A part-time, contracted management position)

About Preserve Our Parks

Preserve Our Parks, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Milwaukee County parks and green spaces.  Our mission: To advocate for and promote Milwaukee area parks and open spaces and to strive to protect the tenets of Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine.

For more than 25 years, we have been a leader in advocating for the protection of Milwaukee County park lands, halting many proposals to develop, privatize, or sell local parkland and lakefront spaces.  Preserve Our Parks (POP), in particular, has been a staunch advocate for protecting public lands protected by Lake Michigan ‘lakebed grants,’ preserving natural areas along Lake Michigan and along area riverways.  More POP info, including past accomplishments, is available at www.preserveourparks.org

Position Overview

Preserve Our Parks seeks a dynamic and visionary Executive Director to work closely with our seasoned, dedicated Board of Directors to grow the organization and to ensure that its advocacy work continues effectively into future decades. The Executive Director position is new and will support the Board of Directors in governance and strategic planning. The selected candidate will also sustain the continuity of existing POP programs such as A Wealth of Nature.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for the preservation of public green spaces and have excellent community engagement skills. While the position will initially be a limited term appointment, it is expected and hoped that the position will morph into a permanent status if the selected candidate shows promise.

Key Responsibilities

Board – Executive Director Partnership

• Focus on the development and implementation of a long-range strategy with the Board, to further POP’s mission.
• Develop annual goals for POP, subject to Board review and approval.
• Keep the board informed of the condition of the organization to ensure success.
• Oversee administration of board meetings and actions, including the preparation of Board meeting agendas with the President and assembling and distributing materials to the Board to facilitate its work and to ensure timely decision-making.
• Track and recommend Board actions and maintain a reporting process to the Board.

POP Program Management

• Support and grow existing efforts such as A Wealth of Nature.

• Work with the Board of Directors to establish and implement innovative programs and procedures to ensure that Preserve Our Parks continues to be effective in future years. Working with designated Board partners, develop an annual plan of work for POP to be approved by the entire board.
  • The plan will describe how POP will achieve its mission during the set time period.
  • The plan will include goals, implementation activities, and performance measures.
  • At each regularly scheduled board, the Executive Director will offer concise reports to the board on any accomplishments towards the plan.
• Work with the Board Treasurer to ensure careful tracking of POP program finances.

External Relations and Advocacy

• In coordination with the Board, serve as the public face of Preserve Our Parks, representing the organization before public bodies, park management agencies, community groups, donors, and the public
• Create and sustain a system of periodic meeting with key park management staff and County elected officials with oversight and influence over the Parks.
• With the support and participation of Board members as needed, serve as a spokesperson for the protection of parks and green spaces at public meetings and hearings at the Milwaukee County, regional, and state levels.
• Develop and grow on-line and print communications efforts with existing supporters and affected or impactful community representatives.

Fund Development

• Due to generous community partners and careful stewardship, POP has a solid financial footing at this juncture. The Board is seeking a staff partner to expand on existing POP fundraising efforts. The work would include:
• Create and oversee an annual fundraising plan, working with the POP Board leadership to implement the work.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals.
• Sustain and grow the annual appeal solicitation.
• Maintain donor, corporate, and foundation relationships, including grant research, grant application and reporting and cultivating relationships with major donors.
• Assure that funds are disbursed in accordance with contract and donor requirements.

Candidate Qualifications

• Proven record of achievement in the fields related to this opportunity.
• Exceptional communications, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
• Passion for preserving parks and public green spaces.
• Deep understanding of the community and environmental benefits of natural areas.

Compensation Package

The Board of Directors will offer an attractive compensation contract to the selected candidate.  In addition to attractive hourly or part-time salaried payments, the organization will also offer monthly stipends to compensate for the Executive Director’s telecom/IT expenses, as well as offering a stipend towards health care coverage.