Mendocino County Resource Conservation District

Executive Director

The Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD) is seeking a dynamic, professional Executive Director (ED) to join our natural resources team. The MCRCD service district (District) includes all of Mendocino County, an area of approximately 2 million acres, including the cities of Ukiah, Point Arena, Fort Bragg, and Willits. MCRCD maintains three offices and employs 13 full-time staff engaged in sustainable agriculture, water resources conservation, forest health, and land stewardship. The ED leads the delivery of services as outlined by the District's Strategic Plan. This position requires the ability to effectively communicate the MCRCD's goals, activities, roles, and responsibilities to other agencies, organizations, and individuals as well as oversee administrative and budgetary functions. MCRCD works in collaboration with state and federal partners, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as well as nonprofits and stakeholder groups. Reporting to MCRCD's Board of Directors the ED oversees District staff and consultants, project planning and implementation including securing funding sources which are primarily, but not exclusively, grant based. The ED works collaboratively and serves as a role model for staff by supporting the mission, vision, and values of the MCRCD. Interested applicants please visit MCRCD’s website at www.MCRCD.org for more information on the application process.

Job Description

The Executive Director leads and manages the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD or District) team in the delivery of services as outlined by the Board of Directors (the Board) and the District's Strategic Plan. This position requires the ability to effectively communicate the MCRCD's goals, activities, roles, and responsibilities to other agencies, organizations, and individuals. MCRCD also works in collaboration with its federal partner, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Executive Director (ED) reports to MCRCD's Board of Directors and oversees District staff. The Executive Director collaborates on many aspects of project planning and implementation, including seeking appropriate funding sources. The Executive Director is required to work collaboratively and to serve as a positive role model for other employees by supporting the mission, vision, and values of the MCRCD.

Primary Responsibilities

Organizational Development and Planning

• Leads staff in annual work plan and strategic planning processes and development.

• Ensures that MCRCD has a long-range strategy consistent with its mission.
• Ensures consistent and timely progress towards achieving the long-range strategy.
• Provides leadership in developing programs, organizational and financial plans with the Board of Directors and staff, and carries out these plans and policies authorized by the Board.
• Keeps informed of local, state, and federal, ordinances, general plans and policies that affect conservation work within the District’s service area.
  
  

Program Management and Development

• Oversees program development and specific projects.
• Works with Board, staff and partners to develop new initiatives to support the strategic goals of the organization, the needs of its constituents, and leadership in local conservation issues.
• Identifies obstacles and barriers to conservation programs and projects, and works with the Board and partners to mitigate those issues.
• Model overall cultural leadership to create an organization with strong staff, retention, and board satisfaction.

Fiscal and Administrative

• Oversees fiscal operations to ensure that they conform to accounting policies and grantor requirements.
• Coordinates efforts of fiscal and program staff to ensure compliance with grantor reporting requirements and deadlines.
• Reviews and approves financial statements prior to their distribution to the Board of Directors.

• Develops, manages, and monitors the District’s budget as approved by the Board of Directors and oversees accounting procedures throughout the fiscal year.
• Reviews monthly bills for Board approval and monitors cash flow.
• Works with each Project Manager to review project status, fiscal and program responsibilities, and assist with fiscal forecasting.
• Supervises annual audit. Approves all District contracts, subcontracts, and landowner access agreements.
• Assumes responsibility for proper administration of District grants in conjunction with Board.

• Develops, maintains, and documents an effective internal control system, including written accounting policies and procedures.

Personnel and Board

• Supervises staff including developing job descriptions, recruiting, hiring, training, determining compensation, promotion, discipline and termination.
• Provides general support to staff, including daily briefings (as needed), staff meetings, and annual performance reviews.
• Maintains transparent and effective communications with staff and serves as liaison between staff and Board.
• Articulates a clear management philosophy aligned with HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Works with the Board to develop policies and procedures as required.
• Proposes personnel policy revisions and updates to Board to comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

Fund Development

• Identifies, supervises, supports and coordinates all fund development efforts including grant proposals, fee for service work, and base funding to maintain the work of the District.
• Coordinates with staff to determine the scope and budget for any grant proposal to ensure  it fits with the mission, goals and expertise of the District.Compliance

• Ensures responsible management of mitigation and grant funded projects.
• Ensures statutes and government rules and regulations pertaining to or affecting MCRCD operations are followed.
• Coordinates with legal counsel and auditors as required.
• Interprets and makes decisions in accordance with the Brown Act, Division 9 of the Public Resources Code, Conflict of Interest requirements, and other laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal requirements, such as: Ethics training, harassment prevention training, Form 700s, submission of annual audit to State Controller’s Office, SCO annual report, compliance with Division 9 of the Public Resources Code, etc.

Community Relations & Partnerships

• Serves as the primary spokesperson and public representative for the District.
• Provides a visible presence or “face” for the District through public interactions with the community and partners.
• Maintains, enhances, and fosters a strong working relationship with the NRCS, the County, the State Association of RCDs, the Department of Conservation, other RCDs, and numerous other partners including community groups and organizations.
• Ensures effective communication to all stakeholders, including Board of Supervisors, members of the public, landowners, and partners.
• Supervises and implements promotional and media activities for District programs with partners, to the community, and to the media.

Physical Requirements

Work is performed in a normal office environment and outside in all types of weather. The work requires the ability to talk, listen, observe, stoop, reach, sit, stand, move, climb and descend stairs, use repetitive motions and traverse uneven terrain. The position requires the ability to operate a telephone, computer keyboard, copier, typical office equipment and motor vehicle, vision to read materials and a computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Work requires lifting or moving up to 40 pounds. When necessary, position requires the ability to work unusual shifts, including weekends, and will include other duties as required.

Experience and qualifications

Required

• Leadership experience including demonstrated strength in leading, managing, and motivating staff in a positive, supportive, and inclusive team-based atmosphere.
• Experience leading grant and contract funded organization(s) or programs, preferably of comparable size / budget to the MCRCD.
• Demonstrated strengths in strategic partnership development including initiating, cultivating, and maintaining durable and effective partnerships, and negotiating and upholding agreements.
• Demonstrated skill in developing financial strategy, and ability to work closely with finance professionals to develop and oversee a business plan and annual / multi-year organizational budgets.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and maintaining a positive external image and relationships with key stakeholders and influencers.
• Ability to synthesize and communicate key information to help others make good decisions.
• Excellent oral and written communications abilities including communicating 1:1, with internal teams, and with external partners.

Preferred

• Experience in and understanding of today’s natural resource conservation issues, programs, and funding structures and trends.
• Interest in and commitment to the communities and natural environment of Mendocino County or California’s North Coast region.
• Experience coordinating and motivating a governance board and/or other leadership volunteers.

We are looking for an exemplary leader who:

• Is a team builder,
• Demonstrates managerial courage and stability,
• Is an inclusive and creative leader that fosters shared vision and purpose,
• Is a strategist and a systems and process thinker,
• Is a consummate professional,
• Is an interpersonal relationship-builder, and
• A person of great integrity and trust.

The Executive Director is a full-time, exempt status, regular position of the MCRCD.  Travel to attend meetings outside regular work hours is required.   The successful candidate must possess a valid and active California Class C driver’s license.  This position is subject to a 180-day probationary period.  Salary is commensurate with experience.  MCRCD’s compensation package includes fully paid employee health benefits, paid time off (in lieu of vacation/sick leave), 12 paid holidays, and a 3% contribution to a Simple IRA. Salary range $90,000 to $105,000.

When applying please submit resume, letter of interest, and at least three (3) current references