Location: Montgomery, Alabama
Compensation: Commensurate with experience
Employment Status: Full-time, salaried position based on a 40-hour workweek, with flexibility required to meet organizational needs
Travel: Regular travel required for meetings, conferences, and organizational events
Position Summary
This position provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (AARCDC). Working closely with the Board Chair, Executive Board, associated Council Executive Directors, staff, and statewide partners, this leader is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission, ensuring sound governance and financial stewardship, strengthening organizational performance, and cultivating partnerships that support long-term impact and sustainability.
The successful candidate will be a collaborative and forward-thinking leader with experience navigating nonprofit, quasi-governmental, or public-sector environments. This individual must demonstrate sound judgment, executive presence, financial acumen, and the ability to build productive relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Benefits
- Paid sick and annual leave
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama health insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% employer match
- Employee-paid supplemental insurance options
Key Leadership Responsibilities
Strategic and Organizational Leadership
- Provide executive leadership, direction, and oversight for AARCDC operations, programs, and staff.
- Partner with the Board Chair and Executive Board to establish organizational priorities and advance the strategic direction of AARCDC.
- Keep the Board Chair appropriately informed of organizational performance, emerging issues, risks, and opportunities.
- Guide AARCDC and its member councils through complex operational, governance, and organizational matters.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen organizational effectiveness, statewide collaboration, and long-term sustainability.
- Perform other executive responsibilities as assigned by the Board Chair or Executive Board.
Governance, Compliance, and Policy
- Ensure organizational compliance with applicable IRS requirements and nonprofit governance standards.
- Advise the Board of Directors, executive directors, and staff on nonprofit governance, compliance, and operational best practices.
- Develop, recommend, and maintain board policies, administrative procedures, and office directives.
- Coordinate with staff and the Board Chair to develop board meeting agendas and supporting materials.
- Conduct annual operational reviews of all member councils and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Promote accountability, transparency, consistency, and ethical practices throughout the organization.
Financial Stewardship
- Lead the development and administration of the organization’s annual operating budget.
- Monitor financial performance and regularly review financial statements, reports, forecasts, and organizational expenditures.
- Provide the Board and organizational leadership with timely financial insight to support informed decision-making.
- Promote sound internal controls, responsible resource allocation, and long-term financial sustainability.
- Collaborate with appropriate staff, professional advisors, and board leadership on financial and compliance matters.
Council and Staff Leadership
- Provide ongoing leadership, supervision, coaching, and support to AARCDC staff.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with the executive directors of the nine RC&D councils.
- Support council boards and staff leaders in addressing complex operational and organizational issues.
- Attend meetings of the nine RC&D council boards as needed.
- Foster a collaborative organizational culture centered on service, accountability, professional excellence, and shared success.
External Relations and Partnerships
- Serve as a leadership representative and ambassador for AARCDC at council annual membership meetings, conferences, and other events.
- Represent AARCDC at meetings and functions of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts, the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, and other affiliated organizations, as appropriate.
- Cultivate strategic partnerships with governmental entities, community organizations, businesses, funders, and both traditional and nontraditional partners.
- Establish and maintain productive relationships with each AARCDC Board member and the professional advisors and service providers supporting the organization.
- Strengthen AARCDC’s statewide visibility, credibility, and influence through effective relationship management and external engagement.
Programs, Grants, and Events
- Collaborate with the AARCDC Program Developer to evaluate governmental matters, community development opportunities, and grant initiatives.
- Provide executive oversight for the planning and delivery of the annual conference, staff retreat, professional development programs, training sessions, and other organizational events.
- Ensure programs and events support AARCDC’s mission, strategic priorities, and stakeholder needs.
Executive Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, nonprofit management, finance, organizational leadership, or a related field preferred.
- 5-10 years of progressively responsible experience in operations, nonprofit management, public administration, organizational leadership, or a related field preferred.
- Leadership experience within a nonprofit, quasi-governmental, governmental, community development, conservation, or public-sector organization strongly preferred.
- Experience working effectively with a governing board, executive committee, or comparable leadership body preferred.
- Experience coordinating conferences, meetings, professional development programs, or organizational events preferred.
Leadership Competencies
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic and operational leadership in a complex, stakeholder-driven environment.
- Strong knowledge of nonprofit governance, regulatory compliance, organizational policy, and board relations.
- Financial acumen, including experience developing and administering budgets, reviewing financial statements, monitoring organizational performance, and interpreting financial reports.
- Proven ability to establish trust and maintain productive relationships with board members, staff, government representatives, community partners, and other stakeholders.
- Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong judgment, integrity, diplomacy, and discretion, with the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to establish priorities and lead multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- Strategic, analytical, and solutions-oriented approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
- Ability to lead independently while promoting collaboration, accountability, and teamwork.
- Adaptability and responsiveness in managing changing organizational priorities and deadlines.
- Professional presence, a service-oriented mindset, and a commitment to the mission and values of AARCDC.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel as required.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $101,560.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
