Position: Executive Director/Campaign Coordinator on Contract

Location: Beautiful Tulare County – gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

About Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth and the Sierra Nevada Alliance

Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth (TCCRG) is a diverse group of local residents who came together early in 2006 due to concerns about the direction of growth in Tulare County.  Reflecting the expressed values and wishes of our county’s residents, we are working to ensure that future growth protects our local economy, communities and natural resources. TCCRG has more than 800 members and is actively engaged in campaigns around the Tulare County General Plan Update, the proposed Yokohl Ranch Development, and the adoption of an Oak Woodlands Management Plan for the County. The TCCRG Coordinating Committee is the decision making body of the group and comprised of 15 volunteer members. The Committee meets monthly. For more on TCCRG visit www.tccrg.org.

The Sierra Nevada Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has been protecting Sierra lands, water, wildlife and rural communities since 1993. The Alliance is the fiscal sponsor for TCCRG and as such handles fiscal administration and contracting for TCCRG. The TCCRG Executive Director will contract with the Sierra Nevada Alliance on behalf of TCCRG. For more on the Alliance visit www.sierranevadaalliance.org

Position Description:

TCCRG seeks an individual to implement the strategic goals and objectives of the organization, work closely to implement the plans developed with the TCCRG Coordinating Committee, and to provide leadership in achieving the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategy, annual goals and objectives. The position requires a highly organized and self-directed individual who shares TCCRG’s vision of responsible growth policies that provide a healthy, sustainable future for Tulare County.

Major responsibilities:

• Planning Assistance: Facilitates planning meetings of the Coordinating Committee and helps create strategic long-range plans, annual workplans and campaign plans to achieve TCCRG’s mission.
• Group Facilitation and Volunteer Support: Facilitate group meetings and also help train volunteers to facilitate meetings. Work with volunteers to match their skills and interests to achieve the group’s plans and campaign goals.  Recruit new volunteers and help retain volunteer support to achieve the organization’s mission.
• Campaign and Program Implementation: Designs, implements, and evaluates the group’s campaign work plan and activities. These activities include
  • Coalition building and support, including regular communication to coalition partners, facilitating coalition meetings, and coordinating shared actions for the campaign.
  • Media outreach, including developing strong relationships with local reporters, preparing news releases, organizing news conferences, writing opinion editorials and letters to the editor.
  • Public education, including outreach presentations to service clubs, government agencies, conservation groups, and other community forums.
  • Public mobilization, including mobilizing volunteers to write letters, sign petitions, attend hearings and meetings, put up posters or yard signs, phone banking, etc.
  • Campaign communication, including working with volunteers to produce a quarterly newsletter, update and improve the group’s website, produce campaign educational buttons, flyers and materials as needed.
• Administration: Directly and with volunteer support, maintain a supporter database, track and report income and expenses to the Sierra Nevada Alliance, oversee contracts with consultants, and provide other administration as needed.
• Fundraising: Work with volunteers to issue direct mail appeals, conduct phone banks, organize house parties, hold fundraising events, and cultivate and secure major donors. Also conduct foundation outreach and cultivate support, write foundation proposals, and manage grant reporting for grants received.
• Budget Development and Tracking: Develop with the Coordinating Committee, an annual budget and manage finances.  Report monthly on budget expenses and income to the Coordinating Committee.
• Public relations and community relations: Serve as a chief spokesperson for the organization and assure the organization’s mission and activities are properly presented.

Required Qualifications

• Experience managing/leading a campaign or program
• Experience recruiting, supporting and retaining volunteers
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize community support
• Strong event organizing skills
• Excellent meeting facilitation skills
• Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders, including local conservation leaders, statewide advocates, local government staff, and elected officials
• Personal commitment to conservation
• Strong interpersonal communication, public speaking, and telephone skills
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Professional, organized approach to work.  Ability to lay out work tasks, identify resources to complete projects, leverage human and financial resources, focus his/her own work, complete tasks on time, on budget and of a high quality.
• Independent, highly motivated, able to work under pressure and with limited supervision
• Ability to multi-task and juggle competing projects and priorities
• Positive attitude, personal integrity, and sense of humor
• Proficient computer skills, including the use of the Microsoft suite of programs (Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint) as well as with various email programs and the Internet.
• Ability to travel throughout the region via automobile up to 20% of time each month. Must have a valid State Driver’s license.
• Occasional lifting (office supplies, etc.) of 25 pounds
• Computer use and keyboard entry up to 8 hours per day

Desired Qualifications

• 1-2 years experience leading a grassroots organization, campaign or program.
• Knowledge of land use planning and/or resource planning
• Coalition leadership experience
• Experience developing media and campaign materials
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental policy, land use planning, or related fields
• Experience working with and supporting coalitions
• Familiar with lobbying or advocacy
• Demonstrated ability to raise funds through foundation and/or non-foundation fundraising tactics
• Working knowledge of Tulare County’s geography and politics
• Own reliable transportation

Compensation:

This is an independent contractor position and can be part- time (20 hours a week or more) or full-time (40 hours per week). Full-time contract will range from $35,000-45,000/year commensurate with experience. No health of insurance benefits provided.

This position reports to:

• The TCCRG Executive Committee. This committee of five TCCRG leaders meets monthly with the ED and provides support to the ED to meet the organization’s goals. The Executive Committee determines final campaign plans, makes all major organizational decisions related to policy and implementation, and evaluates the ED performance at least annually.
• The Sierra Nevada Alliance. The ED contracts with the Sierra Nevada Alliance and files financial reports to the Alliance monthly. The Alliance manages the contract under which the ED operates. The Alliance relies on the TCCRG Executive Committee to determine contract renewals, and ED performance. The Alliance provides ongoing consultation, training and support to help the ED achieve TCCRG goals.

How to Apply:

• The application process is open immediately. Interviews with qualified candidates will be arranged as soon as possible.
• Send a cover letter and resume to: TCCRG tccrg.info@gmail.com (email preferred) or P.O. Box 1058, Three Rivers, CA 93271.
• Applicants are encouraged to contact Patricia Hickson at the Sierra Nevada Alliance with any questions: 530-542-4546 X 313 or email patricia@sierranevadaalliance.org