THE ORGANIZATION

 

Bay Nature Institute (BNI) is an independent nonprofit media organization whose mission is to inspire people “to explore and protect the natural world of the San Francisco Bay Area.” Bay Nature is uniquely positioned to share news and tell stories about Bay Area nature, conservation, and natural history as one of the only regional environmental media producers in the nation. Its role is especially important at this critical time for nature and environmental journalism.

Bay Nature magazine began twenty-one years ago as a concept “to create a luminous and intelligent publication that would reflect the natural beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area, honor the region’s legacy of environmental advocacy, and nurture its wealth of creative talent.” The magazine was launched in January 2001 by Heyday Books founder and publisher Malcolm Margolin and David Loeb with initial funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Regina Ridley has been the Publisher and Executive Director of Bay Nature since 2017.

Bay Nature covers the 10-county region of the greater Bay Area with a staff of twelve (full and part-time), a budget of approximately $1M, and the following programs:

 

Bay Nature magazine: the award-winning magazine, with a distribution of 8,000, led by an Editor-in Chief, who oversees its content and production.

BayNature.org: website, which offers original digital-only stories and multimedia, magazine content, guides to local trails and events, and access to expert naturalists.

Bay Nature in the Field: a series of hikes and outdoor experiences to places featured in the magazine and to community events.

Bay Nature e-newsletter/social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok) online platforms/sites sharing and promoting Bay Nature stories and activities; e-newsletter has over 17,000 subscribers.

Local Hero Awards Dinner: the organization’s signature annual event honoring the work of a conservation activist, environmental educator, community champion and a young conservationist.

For more information on Bay Nature Institute please visit www.baynature.org

THE POSITION

 

Bay Nature Institute seeks a dynamic and innovative Executive Director/Publisher to lead the nonprofit organization through its next phase of growth. The E.D. will promote Bay Nature as an indispensable source of information about the Bay Area’s natural environment, raising the visibility of its award-winning environmental journalism and identifying opportunities to increase the organization’s impact throughout the region. They will advance Bay Nature as a leading advocate for the Bay Area's extraordinary natural resources and an important community resource for its passionate and diverse constituencies. The E.D. will lead efforts to expand the magazine’s subscriber base, build its online presence, and engage a broad cross section of the community in its goal of connecting people to the natural world of the Bay Area.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director/Publisher will be responsible for Bay Nature’s operations, including staff management, fundraising and revenue generation, financial oversight, and building and maintaining external relationships. While the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief will be directly responsible for managing the content and production of the magazine, the Executive Director/Publisher will collaborate with staff to grow the reach of the organization, its impact and its mission-driven content.

RESPONSIBILITIES

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Leadership/ Management

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• Lead the development of a multi-year vision and strategic plan for BNI in the light of a rapidly changing world; execute on the new vision and plan and align stakeholders with Bay Nature Institute’s plans for growth and increased impact; prepare BNI’s annual operating plan.

• Increase BNI’s presence and partnerships in the Bay Area to heighten visibility and reach.

• Collaborate with Board and Staff to update business model and revenue generation strategies for an independent nonprofit media organization in an era of digital media.

• Foster a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive organization that has at its core a culture of collaboration, respect, transparency, inclusiveness and professional excellence, while nurturing and supporting all members of the team.

• Provide timely and meaningful information to the Board of Directors to support the decisions made on behalf of the organization.

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Development/Revenue Generation

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• Develop a financial sustainability plan that includes generating revenue, managing program costs, and diversifying funding.

• Assess BNI’s current fundraising program. With the Development Manager, lead the design and implementation of a diversified development program to expand revenue opportunities and deepen BNI’s philanthropic capabilities.

• Identify and cultivate relationships with foundation, government, corporate and individual donors to develop a strong prospect pipeline and donor base.

• Working with the Development Manager and Advertising Director, set funding and revenue goals; prepare the annual resource development plan, working with staff and board to achieve its goals.

• Work with the Advertising Director to develop and implement a strategy to increase magazine advertisers and advertising revenues.

• Build reserves to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability, in part by implementing a planned giving program.

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Business Operations/Finance

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• Codify and build internal systems and infrastructure for scalable growth.

• Provide effective administration of Bay Nature’s operations, including finance, human resources, advertising, marketing, communications, and programs. Manage all staff and set annual goals, conduct performance evaluations annually, and set compensation.

• Oversee the fiscal integrity of Bay Nature, including submitting to the Board a proposed annual budget and quarterly financial statements, which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization.

• Provide strong fiscal management that anticipates operating within the approved budget, ensures maximum resource utilization, maintains a positive financial position and strengthens reserves over time.

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Program Development/Marketing

 

• Represent Bay Nature among the Bay Area’s network of environmental organizations, community leaders, educators, policy makers, and funders to increase visibility and engagement.

• Lead a strategy to expand the Institute’s programs to reach and engage more diverse communities in the Bay Area.

• Initiate, cultivate and maintain partnerships critical to Bay Nature’s programmatic work and mission.
   

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

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Bay Nature Institute encourages interest from a diverse candidate pool and seeks applicants who have an appropriate combination of education, training, skills, lived experiences and voice to execute the necessary job functions of the role. The requirements listed below are guidelines. BNI realizes that candidates may not satisfy every requirement or meet every qualification listed.

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Education:

A Bachelor’s degree is required.

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Experience:

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• Nonprofit/small organization or program leadership experience, including overseeing program operations and hiring and managing a proficient and diverse staff.

• Experience setting the operational vision and strategy for an organization or program to produce effective changes and improvements to administrative functions and services.

• Experience in overseeing the financial health and scaling of an organization or program, exhibiting fiscal responsibility and commitment to financial sustainability (developing and managing budgets).

• Experience in nonprofit fundraising, including individual and institutional giving and revenue-generating planning and implementation.

• A record of thinking strategically, working with a team to define a vision, and establish and execute plans to achieve goals of the organization.

• Experience serving as the representative or public voice of an organization or significant program and engaging diverse perspectives.

• Proven project management skills and the ability to translate strategies from plans to action.

• Experience working with a board.

 

COMPETENCIES/ATTRIBUTES

 

The successful candidate will have or be:

 

• A Love of nature, natural history, conservation, and open space in the Bay Area.

• Vision and the ability to lead collaboratively, influence board and staff, exhibit transparency and openness, and make difficult decisions when there isn’t agreement.

• Strong strategic planning skills and a capacity to develop and implement clear goals, systems and priorities

• Able to pivot and adapt successfully alongside board, staff, and stakeholders.

• Dedication and passion for the mission of Bay Nature and for exploring and stewarding the natural world of the Bay Area.

• Deep appreciation for the value of independent journalism and the importance of trustworthiness in media.

• Enthusiasm and curiosity around the success of nonprofit local media as it grows in momentum across the US, as exemplified by the Institute of Nonprofit News, and affinity for print and digital media.

• A deep belief and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Culturally sensitive and adept at connecting with diverse communities.

• Dynamic and inspiring communication skills. Excellent external communicator with ability to show passion for mission to staff, funders, partners, and stakeholders.

• Emotional intelligence and demonstrated self-awareness, self-regulation, social rapport, passion, and motivation.

• Strong financial skills, including the ability to develop budgets and management reports that present a clear financial picture of the organization and revenue-generating activities.

• Proven ability to serve in the role of resource/coach/mentor to board members and colleagues; and, in close partnership with the board chair, build the board’s capabilities in fundraising, consultation, and advocacy

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

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A competitive compensation package, including a comprehensive benefits package, will be offered. To be considered for this position or for additional information, please contact and/or send resume and cover letter to:

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David N. Randall

Principal

Randall Search Associates

415 769 4210

david@randallsearchassociates.com

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Bay Nature Institute is an equal opportunity employer that embraces a diverse, multicultural work environment. People of all races and ethnicities, people with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities are
encouraged to apply.

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