About Friends of Ironwood Forest
Friends of Ironwood Forest is seeking an Executive Director:
The Friends of Ironwood Forest (FIF) is seeking a full time Executive Director. Annual salary is $32,000.00. Applications accepted until July 10, 2009.
FIF is a volunteer and membership non-profit organization located in Tucson, AZ. We work to protect the natural and cultural resources and values for which Ironwood Forest National Monument was established. We accomplish our mission through volunteer and professional projects and activities such as interpretation, education, fundraising, and advocacy.
Under the direction of the FIF Board, the Executive Director will have responsibility for many of the key organizing tasks for the group, such as: initiating and managing our membership program, establishing and maintaining good working relationships with stakeholders; creating and coordinating field work projects; organizational fundraising; grant reporting and other required organizational filings. The Executive Director would also manage the annual meeting, educational programs, newsletter and website, and FIF documents. The Executive Director will represent FIF to community groups and the Bureau of Land Management’s Tucson Field Office. The position will include frequent travel in the Monument and participation in meetings and FIF programs in Tucson and out-of-town. Travel expenses will be reimbursed, but candidates must have their own vehicle.
The Director is the sole staff member of Friends of Ironwood Forest (FIF). The Director reports to the FIF Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. The Director will define and carry-out an organizational strategy to advance FIF’s mission, as well as other duties including:
· Serve as the primary spokesperson and media contact for FIF.
· Conduct direct outreach to raise awareness of FIF, FIF activities, and FIF programs and goals—to include issue presentations, tabling events, printed materials, media articles, web site, and other opportunities.
· Develop and administer the membership program, including tracking membership information in a database, acquiring and renewing members using an established protocol, communicating regularly with members and supporters through a newsletter, emails, and website updates, and organizing other membership-related activities including tours, lectures, service projects, and other events.
· Recruit active volunteers and run volunteer events and communications to advance FIF program goals. Coordinate and work with project team leaders to organize and coordinate service projects and other programs of the project teams.
· Establish and maintain a good working relationship with relevant federal, state and local agencies and governments; community groups; and organizations—especially with the BLM Tucson Field Office staff and state staff.
· Maintain official FIF records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
· Inform the Board of important issues or developments; communicate with the Board and coordinate effective Board meetings. Alert and advise the Board of potential issues and upcoming program and organizational needs.
· Diversify funding with foundations and individual donors to ensure long term financial health. Seek and develop new funding sources for the organization, administer and report on grants, and assist in the implementation of the fundraising/revenue plan.
· Establish and maintain good relationships with major donors and grant funders.
· Work with Board or designated Officers to create and implement annual budgets.
· Participate in the training and networking opportunities of the National Conservation System Foundation, including attending the annual Rendezvous of Friends and actively participating in the Network of Friends.
· Complete other administrative and programmatic activities as needed.
· Generally undertake activities necessary to assist the board in the implementation of FIF Strategic Plan goals.
Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of relevant environmental conservation issues in the region and an ability and interest in public lands management policy. Candidates should demonstrate experience interacting appropriately with diverse stakeholders, including media, elected officials, agency personnel, and local neighbors. Candidates should demonstrate competency with computers (Macintosh) and software (productivity software such as word processing, spreadsheets, email), as well as a demonstrated ability to learn new software and computer skills; and demonstrated ability to create electronic presentations, track memberships and activities electronically, and communicate with members electronically (mailing lists, website editing, etc). Candidates should be self-motivated and self-disciplined and able to produce high-quality work on schedule with minimal or no supervision. Candidates should also have a vision for growing the position and organization; this is an excellent opportunity for a self-starter to shape and build an effective community conservation organization.
Please send a letter of interest, resume, and professional writing samples to:
Lori Andersen, FIF Board President
1132 East Glenn Street
Tucson AZ 85719
lori@ironwoodforest.org
520-623-9673
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About Friends of Ironwood Forest:
Mission Statement
Friends of Ironwood Forest works for the permanent protection of the biological, geological, archaeological, and historical resources and values for which the Ironwood Forest National Monument was established through education, community outreach and advocacy.
Why does the Ironwood Forest need protection?
The Ironwood Forest faces the same challenges confronting many of our beloved public lands. There are numerous threats that present significant challenges to our vision of a Monument whose resources are sufficiently protected for future generations. These include illegal and destructive visitor behavior, historical uses like grazing and mining that degrade the resources, cultural resource damage, continuing habitat loss and fragmentation, encroaching development, stressed wildlife populations, the rise of harmful invasive species, “wildcat” trash dumping, border-related smuggling and illegal immigration traffic and the resulting law enforcement activities, large increases in visitation, lack of community awareness and education, and severely under funded land managers.
What does the Friends of Ironwood Forest Do?
In these days of limited funding and resources we play an important role in assisting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with critical support for monument protection.
We organize outings and perform service projects on the monument such as:
· Monitoring roads and cultural resources
· Removing non-native invasive plants
· Performing trash cleanups
· Reclaiming unauthorized vehicle routes
History of the Friends
Representatives of the Arizona conservation community Lori Andersen (working for the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection) and Scott Jones (working for the Sierra Club) began the process of creating FIF in September 2006 creating a Board that met bi-monthly for the first year, and continues to meet monthly.
FIF played a leading role in organizing the conservation response to the draft resource management plan (DRMP) for Ironwood Forest National Monument. FIF organized a visible presence at each of the five BLM public open house for the plan, setting up displays and handing out talking points, a “how to comment” guide, and information about our positions and our budding organization. Working with The Wilderness Society, we sent postcards to approximately 10,000 households in surrounding counties to generate comments and advertise two additional open houses we sponsored. As the local experts on the Monument, FIF played a significant role drafting technical comments on the DRMP in coordination with many other conservation partners.
The Friends of Ironwood Forest (FIF) is a non-profit membership based organization working to protect the biological, geological, archaeological, and historical resources and values for which the Ironwood Forest National Monument was established. Our programs focus on accomplishing targeted conservation service projects, educating the public and Monument visitors about the natural and cultural resources, seeking out strategic partnerships with other organizations, and serving as a strong advocate for protecting the Monument.