ED, New Haven Land Trust New Haven Land Trust-New Haven Farms
- Date Posted November 08, 2019
- Location New Haven, CT
- Category Nonprofit
- Job type Full-Time
Overview
New Haven Land Trust-New Haven Farms partners with people to care for our urban landscape so all people discover, access, and enjoy the lands and waters that provide food, health, and life.
The Opportunity
This newly merged organization unites two nonprofits that have been leaders and innovators of New Haven's urban environmental movement. The New Haven Land Trust (NHLT), Connecticut's first urban land trust, has served the community for nearly 40 years by acquiring and stewarding over 80 acres of nature preserves city-wide and by supporting 55 community gardens throughout New Haven's diverse neighborhoods. NHLT has grown significantly over the last five years to include programs for young environmental entrepreneurs and a marine and coastal exploration summer camp on Long Island Sound. New Haven Farms (NHF) burst onto the scene seven years ago with its innovative Farm-Based Wellness Program that partners with medical centers to engage people with diet-related chronic disease risk factors in planting, growing, and harvesting at their seven farms across New Haven.
About New Haven Land Trust-New Haven Farms
These two organizations have been working closely together over a number of years and co-located their offices in 2018. A merger was discussed for the last several years and the two organizations decided to formally initiate the process with the legal combination scheduled for January 1, 2020. In the midst of this, New Haven Land Trust's executive director, who had significantly grown the organization over the last six years, announced that he would step down from his post to pursue other interests. The Land Trust's board engaged an interim executive director to lead the organization until the merger was completed and a new executive hired. The merger process has been smooth and supported by all, including staff and board members, program participants, and community stakeholders.
Responsibilities
Challenges and Priorities of the New Executive Director
Resource development for the expanded organization will require a great deal of focus and work. Though the new funding opportunities mentioned above are real, long-term fiscal strength will require appealing to funders beyond the city of New Haven. The board has approved the creation of a development director staff position. A first priority of the new executive will be to hire an accomplished, seasoned person to that position and then work collaboratively with her/him/them to develop and implement a strategic fundraising plan.
While NHLT-NHF has a growing commitment to racial equity and community leadership, it is primarily a white-led organization serving communities that are primarily people of color, in a city whose population has a roughly equal ratio of white, black, and Latinx. The new executive is being asked to lead the organization through a process that shifts the culture, practices, staffing and board composition, and other structures to ensure racial and economic equity and to create a community-owned and -led organization. She/he/they will be supported in this by a board and staff team that is already committed to this shift.
Qualifications
Profile of the Ideal Candidate
The Executive Director of New Haven Land Trust-New Haven Farms will be able to build on the organization's many strengths to position it for growth and sustainability, lead it in innovative directions, and transform its culture and practices to be authentically living the values of racial equity and community leadership/ownership. She/he/they will be passionate about the organization's mission and will deeply understand the dynamic relationships among food, community, agriculture, health, and environmental education and stewardship. This position requires a leader with high emotional intelligence and excellent communication and public speaking skills; a relationship-builder who can genuinely connect with people and is astute at building strategic partnerships; and a person with the awareness, capacity, and humility to cultivate inter-racial and inter-cultural groups and settings.
Minimum Credentials
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, as well as at least five years of experience in a leadership role in a similar size organization in a field related to this organization's mission.
Candidate Guidelines and Additional Information
Transition Consultant Catherine Bradshaw with TSNE Mission Works has been exclusively retained for this search.
Electronic submissions are preferred.
New Haven Land Trust-New Haven Farms is an equal opportunity employer and complies with applicable state and federal fair employment practices laws. New Haven Land Trust-New Haven Farms does not discriminate against employees or applicants because of race, ethnicity, skin color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, disability (including present or past mental, learning, or physical disability), sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, genetic information, medical condition or illness, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Compensation this position is : salaried Application instructions