Elachee President and CEO

Elachee Nature Science Center seeks an individual uniquely qualified to serve as the Organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. The application review will begin December 1, 2020 and the process will continue until the position is filled.

In this role, the Elachee CEO’s key responsibilities are to:

• Maintain a current and active strategic plan and implementation goals,
• Lead Elachee Nature Science Center toward its education and conservation mission, and 
• Oversee the fiscal management, program, site facility and staff goals.

Background

Elachee Nature Science Center, a 501(c)3, promotes environmental understanding through education and conservation. Elachee is located in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. With a county population of 204,000, Gainesville is at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains and borders Lake Sidney Lanier. 

Founded in 1978, Elachee is nestled in one of Georgia’s largest protected green spaces, the 1,440-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. Elachee is an urban woodland refuge, outdoor classroom and exhibit center designed to involve, engage and educate. As the only SACS/ Cognia-accredited nature center in the southeastern U.S., Elachee leads the way in teaching school children and nature lovers.

Elachee Nature Science Center: 

• Welcomes 70,000 annual visitors to hike the trails in the Chicopee Woods,
• Provides school field trips or outreach programs for students in PreK through grade 12,
• Hosts over 700 children at Camp Elachee summer day camps,
• Provides family-friendly seasonal public nature encounters and lifelong learning programs,
• Houses interpretive natural history, ecology, and live animal exhibits,
• Manages a robust volunteer corps assisting in conservation and preservation initiatives,
• Maintains the 8-mile hiking trail system in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve,
• Engages over 40 children in Elachee Nature Academy, an accredited and licensed school with nature-based Preschool and Kindergarten-1st Grade programs,
• Raises 70-percent of its operations revenue from earned income sources,
• Assists the Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission in Park management, and
• Works to improve the health and sustainability of the Chicopee Woods Conservation Area with a stream mitigation bank, conservation easements and restrictive covenants.

To learn more about Elachee Nature Science Center, visit www.elachee.org.

Key Skills and Attributes Required 

• Demonstrates leadership in the advancement of an environmental education/ conservation organization.
• Demonstrates commitment to conservation of natural resources and the role of education, land conservation and community involvement.  
• Demonstrates success in fundraising, partnering, public relations and staff development.  
• Demonstrates ability to implement a vision based on the mission and strategic plan. 
• Proven sound management skills.  
• Demonstrates high energy, the ability to prioritize, excellent communication skills and a sense of humor.

Preferred Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree (Required), Master’s degree (Preferred).  
• Seven (7) years of successful advancement as a professional in the field of environmental education and/or conservation.  
• Five (5) years of administrative/supervisory experience as a director or administrator of a similar organization.

Salary/Benefit Information 

• Salary range $85,000 to $95,000 (depending on Preferred Qualifications/Experience)  
• Insurance, Vacation, Sick Leave and Professional Development  

Application Procedure

Submit electronically a cover letter, resume and a list of three (3) references to:

Chair, Search and Screen Committee
Elachee Nature Science Center
CEOsearch@elachee.org

The application review period will begin December 1, 2020 and the process will continue until the position is filled.

Elachee Nature Science Center is an equal opportunity employer.