Pacific Biodiversity Institute, headquartered in Washington State, seeks a visionary and creative Executive Director with a passion for informing and inspiring high priority conservation actions through carefully targeted research and education. The position provides an outstanding opportunity to exert a positive impact in key areas of local and global conservation concern. This leadership role requires an individual who is a an effective manager and communicator, has a deep background in conservation biology and ecology, is knowledgeable in key conservation issues, is experienced and highly capable with fundraising, and has the ability to travel in the western USA.

Organization
Pacific Biodiversity Institute combines innovative scientific research, education, and technical
support to inform, enhance and inspire conservation. Our goal is a rich and enduring biological heritage. PBI is a 501-c-3 charitable non-profit organization, founded in 1993. PBI makes significant contributions to conservation science in the United States and parts of South America. We currently have small and lightly staffed offices located in Winthrop and Anacortes, Washington and in Cordoba, Argentina. We leverage volunteers, citizen scientists and significant partnerships to help us accomplish our goals.

We envision a future rich in biological diversity at all scales, allowing for the continued unfolding of natural ecological and evolutionary processes over time. We work at the forefront of biodiversity conservation, exploring new terrain using both professional and citizen scientists. Focusing our efforts in high conservation opportunity areas, PBI leads the way in developing new information and understanding to help realize this future.

Our current programs focus on:

The health of the Salish Sea ecosystem and impacts of climate change, ocean acidification and other stressors on marine mammals and seabirds.
The impact of climate change and related wildfires on ponderosa pine forests and shrub-steppe ecosystems and their key wildlife species in eastern Washington.
Wildlands and their role in maintaining biodiversity in the western USA and South America.
Conservation science education and training of young scientists and conservationists with the goal of developing a new pool of conservation leaders for the 21st century.

THE POSITION:
We are looking for an Executive Director capable of building on our current strengths and moving the organization to new levels of effectiveness and achievement.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for Pacific Biodiversity Institute’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. S/he will provide leadership, fiscal management, strategic resourcemanagement, performance measurement, operational oversight, project-specific expertise, as well as collaborative integration of research and educational activities.

The Executive Director must be passionately committed to:

The mission, objectives, and work of the organization
Maintaining an organizational culture that attracts, keeps, and motivates top quality staff, volunteers, Board members, and Advisory Council members
Strengthening and expanding our network of collaborating colleagues and organizations
Strategic planning, communications, management, and fundraising
Maintaining and supporting diverse conservation efforts in multiple locations

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Executive Director provides leadership to the organization in:

Strategy and Policy
Science and Conservation
Communications and Media
Collaborative and Partnership Development
Fundraising and Development
Board Relations and Development
Administration and Operational Management
Staff Management and Development

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential qualities and experience include:

Outstanding interpersonal skills, temperament, and judgment, and a demonstrated ability to collaborate and build partnerships with a wide range of individuals and organizations at local to international levels.
Demonstrated success overseeing multiple, complex projects through to successful completion, including coordinating the work of key staff and partners, meeting financial goals, meeting project timelines, and ensuring the quality and scientific credibility of work products.
Excellent and persuasive communication skills, both written and verbal, including substantial public speaking experience, and the ability to effectively represent PBI in diverse venues
Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation with attention to detail
Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage budgets
Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary skills
Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning
Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed

Desirable qualifications include:

Advanced degree, ideally a PhD in conservation biology or ecology, with at least 5 years of senior management experience. An exceptional candidate with an MBA or masters in nonprofit management, or natural sciences will also be considered
Strong, existing connections with major donors, foundations and other funders of conservation science
Track record of effectively leading and regionally and/or nationally scaling a performance-and outcomes-based organization and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth
Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships
Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
Ability to contribute substantively to one or more existing PBI projects and initiatives.
Knowledge of GIS use
Spanish language proficiency

OTHER INFORMATION
Compensation and benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience. We offer a full benefits package.
Location: Pacific Biodiversity Institute has offices in Winthrop and Anacortes Washington. The new Executive Director would initially be based at one of these locations. Alternative locations, such as Seattle, or Olympia, WA may be considered for well-qualified candidates, with justification for why those locations might be more advantageous to the candidate and the organization.
Application Process: Qualified applicants should send a cover letter and résumé to: edsearch@pacificbio.org
Pre-application inquiries: Please contact edsearch@pacificbio.org
Closing Date: Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Applicants are encouraged to apply before July 1, 2016. Job will remain open until filled.”
Inclusion: Pacific Biodiversity Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, or marital status.