Executive Director, Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition

The Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition (FTC), www.foothillscoalition.org, is seeking to hire an Executive Director to lead and manage all aspects of the coalition’s activities and affairs.  The mission of the FTC is to assist Pierce County communities in the creation, maintenance, and usage of a connected system of non-motorized trails from Mt. Rainier to Puget Sound.  The Coalition has grown to a point where it is no longer feasible for an all-volunteer Board of Directors to perform its work.  The Executive Board of the FTC will supervise the Executive Director and provide overall workload expectations and priorities.  The incumbent will receive little day to day supervision and will have broad flexibility to establish and maintain their work schedule within the parameters provided by the Executive Board.

Public Relations:

The Executive Director is the public ‘face’ of the FTC.  Duties include the development and maintenance of quality relationships with local elected officials and staff from government agencies and other groups/organizations working to achieve similar objectives.  Attends meetings and officially represents the interests of the Coalition.

Grant Writing and Fundraising:

The Executive Director writes grants and raises funds in support of all the FTC activities and functions.  Fundraising can come from any combination of monies raised from grants, donations, memberships, investments, or Coalition sponsored events.  The expectation is that the Executive Director’s fundraising efforts will result in an annual budget that covers:

• the cost of the Executive Director’s salary and benefits; the cost of the Coalition’s regularly recurring annual expenses; and the ability to invest 5% or more of the Coalitions annual budget into a managed investment account.

Business Administration:

The Executive Director manages the business side of the Coalition.  This work includes:

• Budget and financial management; Annual work planning; Contract administration and supervision of contract employees; Property management; Files and record keeping; Insurance and legal requirements.

Trail Maintenance:

The FTC owns and manages approximately two miles of trail.  The Executive Director assures annual and on-going maintenance is safely performed.  He/she coordinates with a lead volunteer to arrange work parties as needed and assures all permits, tools, equipment and supplies needed to complete the work are provided.  Examples include work such as mowing, brushing, pruning and maintenance of signs, culverts and rock walls.

Meeting Facilitation:

The Executive Director plans and facilitates monthly Board meetings to efficiently make decisions and conduct Coalition business.  They also assure minutes are prepared and Board approved for all Coalition meetings.

Communications:

The Executive Director assures that the Coalition effectively utilizes social media (i.e., website, Facebook, etc.) to attract and maintain public stakeholder engagement.  He/she writes a wide variety of letters, emails, press releases, memos and other correspondence pertaining to the day-to-day business of the Coalition.  The Executive Director oversees the preparation and distribution of the quarterly newsletter.