We’re hiring our next Executive Director

Are you a collaborative leader who cares deeply about Hood River’s wild places, farmland and the quality of life in its communities? We’re looking for our next Executive Director to lead our organization to the next level. 

You’ll be joining a small but mighty organization that’s racked up an impressive track record over our 45-year history. We live in this community, love it, and use Oregon’s unique land use system as a tool to make it better place for our diverse communities, now and for future generations.  If you have a passion for shaping the future of Hood River and surrounding wild lands, we encourage you to apply to be part of our team. 

POSITION SUMMARY  

The Executive Director will provide the overall strategic and operational management to advance Thrive’s mission. You will be responsible for implementing projects, overseeing fundraising and public communications, and providing leadership to board and staff.  This is an opportunity to grow with an organization. Your work will have lasting impact as the land use choices a community makes are long term.    

You will be building from a strong foundation. There is a strong and loyal network of individuals and organizations supporting Thrive’s work. The internal systems and procedures for day-to-day operations are well established. You will be joining a small staff and dedicated 13-member Board with a wide range of expertise.   

The work is both independent and collaborative. Our new ED will have the opportunity to shape Thrive’s work for years into the future as part of the update of our strategic plan early in 2022. 

PRIMARY DUTIES

1. Policy and Programs

• Shepherds multiple land use and livability projects from identification to implementation.  
• Proactively monitors public entity agendas and legislation to identify issues and opportunities  
• Establishes productive relationships with community members, other organizations and government agencies 
• Monitors land use permits, and challenges projects through litigation if necessary 

2. Development 

• Spearheads fundraising with the Development Committee, including cultivating donors, and foundations, submitting grants, orchestrating fundraising events and online and donor solicitation appeals. 
• Works with the committee to create and implement an annual fundraising plan 

3. Board relations

• Collaborates with the Board on projects and facilitates board member engagement in activities that utilize their skills and interests 
• Works with Board leadership to create monthly meeting agendas 
• Provides reports at board meetings 

4. Staff coordination

• Helps create a high performing team by collaborating and prioritizing tasks with the Director of Operations and Outreach 
• Creates opportunities for learning and growth for staff. Provides feedback to improve effectiveness and job satisfaction. 

5. Communications

• Acts as spokesperson for Thrive in person, print, and digitally.  

IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS 

• Diplomatic but has a backbone, and able to collaborate with other community stakeholders with different opinions. We address controversial issues with evidence, research, and facts, and are looking for a creative-problem solver. Our positions are not always popular, and we need our messenger to be on point and reach people where they are at and bring them along with our vision.   
• Experienced working collaboratively with a board and committees, and in supervising and leading staff.  
• A true believer in our mission of protecting Hood River’s farmland, urban livability, and surrounding wild areas.  
• Strategic, big picture thinker on how we can make progress on achieving our mission. 
• Stellar storyteller. A strong public speaker and writer who can dissect complex policy and break it down into digestible bits for the general public.  
• Digital fluency with common computer programs with the ability to learn new applications. 
  

You can view the complete Job Description HERE

VALUES STATEMENT

We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job, value lived experience, and will support the development of your knowledge and expertise. We encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every one of the preferred qualifications.  

We believe our mission is best advanced by contributions of people of various backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. We encourage applicants who bring a diversity of identity, culture, experience, perspective, and thought.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

At Thrive, we honor flexibility. You will have the ability to set your own hours, with the exception of required meetings. Thrive Hood River does not have an office, and meetings are held over zoom, in coffee shops and the public library. You will be working from home or a personal office, and Thrive can offer assistance with acquiring necessary office supplies. While residence in Hood River County is not required, it is preferred as this position does require developing relationships with community stakeholders, partners, and local policy makers.  

COMPENSATION 

This is a full-time salaried position with total compensation of $50,000 to $65,000 annually. An FTE of .8 with proportionate compensation is negotiable if you prefer.   

With this hire, Thrive will begin offering health care and retirement benefits to employees. The specified total compensation is inclusive of salary and benefits. The selected candidate will work with existing staff and the Board to create the optimal benefit structure, and to define the portion of total compensation that is salary, and the portion that is employer-paid contributions for health care and retirement. The full-time position includes three weeks of paid time off annually. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Send your resume with a cover letter telling us what makes you an ideal candidate and what you find interesting or challenging about this position in a single pdf to info@thrivehoodriver.org.  Applications without cover letters will not be reviewed. Please include “Executive Director” in the email subject line. 

Open until filled, with the first round of interviews anticipated in early January. Early applications are encouraged for priority consideration.  

 If you have any questions, please reach out to Heather at info@thrivehoodriver.org or 541-490-5225.