Description
If you love the outdoors - hiking, camping, biking, and enjoy towering coastal redwoods, oaks, pines, & manzanitas, as well as a rich history, you will want to take a serious look at this non-profit leadership opportunity! You'll be joining & collaborating with an energized and driven Board, and you'll be in Napa!
Organization Description
The Napa Valley State Parks Association(NVSPA) is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization that aims to raise funding and volunteers to support the three California State Parks in beautiful Napa Valley: Bothe State Park, the historic Bale Grist Mill, & Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. Funding raised by NVSPA is used for various improvement initiatives and projects, including replacing the great wheel on the Bale Grist Mill, refurbishing the Bothe Visitor Center, improving and maintaining campgrounds, monitoring and maintaining trail networks, sponsoring numerous outdoor education programs, and much more.
NVSPA, is a charitable 501c3 fundraising and volunteer organization and is a “Cooperating Association” with California State Parks and the Napa County Regional Park & Open Space District.
https://www.napavalleystateparks.org
Role Description
The Executive Director(ED) will work with the Board and Parks’ leadership to establish and evolve priorities, track progress, and influence discipline in the execution of identified priorities. The ED will lead the development and implementation of strategic and operational plans for NVSPA in collaboration with the Board and staff.
The ED is an on-site, full-time role located in St. Helena, California(Napa). In this role, the ED will lead organizational operations, including strategic planning, fundraising, program development, and marketing initiatives to support the preservation and promotion of Napa Valley State Parks. Responsibilities will include fostering partnerships with stakeholders, overseeing budgets and financial management, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. The ED will represent the Association’s mission within the community, guiding efforts to strengthen park accessibility, conservation, and educational outreach.
The Executive Director will manage 4 key areas for the organization:
1) FUND DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING
Organize and lead existing fundraising efforts – a good ED will more than pay for themselves in successful fundraising.
NVSPA serves primarily as a funding organization to assist the three Napa State Parks in deferred maintenance, capital campaign fundraising, grant writing, event fundraising, programmatic fundraising & large donor fundraising to support structures and programs in the Parks.
- Event management: Management of the fundraising event(s) of the organization, including the annual Bale Grist Mill Harvest Dinner and Auction (Online & Live Auctions). Event management includes coordination, contractor management, sponsorships & table sales, oversight & direct planning and management of Harvest Dinner and Auction. The ED is expected to drive increasing levels of attendance; identify and contract with auctioneer, caterer & musicians; organize collection of donations/lots/live lots; direct production of dinner program; & actively lead fulfillment (hands-on) following the Auction.
- Grant Writing – The position requires grant writing for specific projects, including for identified buildings, programs & operations.
- Large Donor Fundraising – The position requires experience and creativity to design materials, presentations, and creation/management of the donor database for large individual donor fundraising.
- Capital Campaign – The Board & staff will need to raise $8-10 Million for capital improvements to the parks over the next 5 years, mostly involving existing historic and non-historic buildings. The Executive Director will need to staff this effort for the Board.
- New activities/partnership development - Identify new ways to generate income and interest, ie. additional fundraising events, various target group events/activities (YPO group, Employer Teambuilding, Vintners & Growers, etc.); optimize the use of NVSPA meeting & activity spaces.
- Program Specific Fundraising/Sponsorships – for example, Arts in the Parks, Wellness Day, Pancake Breakfast, Old Mill Days, and Old Mill Holidays.
2) P & L MANAGEMENT/ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT
With the Treasurer and Executive Committee, lead development of the long-term fiscal plan; establish and manage annual budget as proposed at Board Annual Strategic Planning Retreat;
- Along with the Treasurer, supervise and direct the bookkeeper;
- Oversee the preparation and timely submission of required financial reports and other compliance activities and reporting;
- Oversee preparation and publish updated budget on a monthly basis;
- Establish and maintain a comprehensive NVSPA calendar and project plans;
- Participate in and coordinate with Board committees on each of their areas of focus;
- The ED should assist the President/Chair in preparing the meeting agenda; attend all board meetings and assist the President/Chair in preparing Board Meeting materials and follow up;
- Provide updates to the Board on all relevant matters, including financial, grant & other revenue sources, “industry” developments, membership support, etc.;
- Build and create strong relationships with, and liaison with various other relevant organizations, including Visit Napa Valley, St. Helena Chamber of Commerce, Calistoga Chamber of Commerce, Yountville Chamber of Commerce, Napa Chamber of Commerce, other Napa Heritage Tourism organizations (Historical Societies, Museums, Universities and primary & secondary education organizations, etc.) and Napa Valley Vine Trail, etc.;
- In coordination with the President, act as a visible and credible voice, represent the NVSPA in public and professional settings, in interactions with elected officials and representatives;
- Leverage good public relations and social media skills to strengthen public awareness of the Parks through outreach, media and community presence; manage and grow social media, Marketing and PR; and lead overall communications;
- Serve as the primary point of contact and facilitator to surface options for future initiatives/projects to improve parks and parks utilization;
- Responsible for managing current contractors and future staff - build, develop & make changes to the team as needed, in consultation with the Board President
3) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY
- Drive efforts to recruit talent and expand volunteer base, as well as manage volunteers and volunteer activities – develop and implement an enthusiastic program to sustain and grow volunteerism;
- Open and staff the Visitor Center 3 days a week – over time ensure that Visitor Center and Bale Grist Mill are staffed 5 days a week utilizing a combination of the ED and volunteers;
- Work with other State Parks in the area on efforts to support volunteerism and cross-programming (ie. Sugarloaf State Park and Wappo Tribe – joint programming);
- Create a positive, transparent & collaborative culture to support Parks’ staff and volunteers – creating a brand of community collaboration.
4) RISK ASSESSMENT
-Drive data collection in the parks for demographic, geographic & recreation interests to better manage programming for the parks;
- Assess fundraising to track progress – advise on what is working, what is not working; and lead adjustments needed to improve;
- Assess NVSPA’s programs to track progress – advise on what is working, what is not, and lead adjustments that lead to timely improvement;
- Assess staffing of the organization – make recommendations based on progress.
Requirements
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE
- High degree of integrity, initiative, and diligence;
- Ability to command and lead a diverse team of volunteer professionals;
- Successful experience partnering with and advising non-profit boards and other leaders;
- Well-connected and respected within their community (nonprofits, business community, & volunteers);
- Broad, demonstrated networking ability; history of making and nurturing connections;
- Strong overall leadership and organization skills;
- Solid knowledge and experience in nonprofits’ finance and accounting; experience with financial reports and planning;
- Has a history of fundraising experience, including at high levels(a MUST);
- Strong volunteer and community involvement experience;
- Has successful experience serving as “the face and the voice” and representative for non-profits and their boards to the public and relevant partner organizations;
- History of action following appropriate consultation, discussion, and analysis;
- Solid knowledge and experience in non-profit governance requirements, processes & procedures, and fiduciary responsibilities;
- Has had solid experience in event planning & execution;
- Experience in putting in place or improving governance mechanisms and/or policies;
- Demonstrated experience and bias for data-driven decision making;
- Clear communicator across multiple modes;
- Experience as a talent recruiter for staff, volunteers, & fundraising;
- Understands issues facing nonprofits;
- Has a track record of being a hands-on, active leader and executer who delivers on commitments;
- Positive overall mentality with the ability to question and take a critical view on issues, proposals & solutions to grow the organization’s resources – both people & financial;
- Strong facilitation skills;
- Experience bringing groups together and gaining consensus;
- Strong mastery of business software.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Ideally, previous experience as ED of a non-profit, and has worked with multiple partners & supporting entities;
- 5 years’ experience working with non-profits as a board member or in administrative support;
- 5 years' hands-on experience in event planning and execution;
3 years' successful experience in fundraising at all levels, with major, medium, and small donors, has established and fostered relationships to grow donations;
- Has demonstrated growth in previous roles at other organizations with people, revenues/funding, volunteers, etc.
