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This job expired on February 09, 2020

Executive Director Vermont Cheese Council

  • Date Posted December 11, 2019
  • Location Waitsfield, VT
  • Category Nonprofit
  • Job type Full-Time
Company description The Vermont Cheese Council is a Vermont nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting Vermont cheesemakers and promoting the Vermont Cheese brand. The Vermont cheesemaking community is comprised of enterprises of every scale, each of which embraces a culture of mutual support in service of the common good. The Vermont Cheese Council is an equal opportunity employer. Job description

About the role

The Executive Director (ED) of the Vermont Cheese Council (VCC) is the chief administrator and key management leader of the organization. The ED will report to the Board of Directors and is responsible for overseeing the financial, operational, and strategic success of the organization. The principal sources of revenue to the Council are the annual Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival, and federal and state grant money. These funds are used to support Vermont cheesemakers with educational and marketing initiatives that advance the Vermont cheese brand, as well as the success of individual Vermont cheesemakers. Other primary duties include management of programs, grants, and projects; communication with membership, strategic partners, and public, and promoting and educating about Vermont cheese. 

 

Why work for us

The successful candidate will have wide authority to dream big and the platform to bring these dreams to fruition. You will be a key partner for every cheesemaker in the state and a vital link in keeping Vermont’s working landscape vibrant and viable. You will be the chief champion for Vermont Cheese and the public face of the VCC, representing it within the industry, with the media, and to the public. You will have the opportunity to wear many hats and fulfill numerous roles; no two days as Executive Director are the same! This is a full time salaried position based at the Vermont Cheese Council office in Waitsfield, Vermont.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Festival Management

  • Manage the Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival to ensure a successful event for the public, sponsors, cheesemakers, vendors, and partners, while also meeting or exceeding its budgeted financial goals
  • Work closely with the Festival Committee and venue partners  to meet the timeline and goals of the festival throughout the year-long planning process outlined in the festival manual
  • Sustain sponsor relationships, providing leadership in identifying and soliciting new sponsors
 

Administrative and Membership Duties

  • Conduct the day-to-day operations of the VCC, including (but certainly not limited to): respond to all VCC inquiries (phone, email, social media); member outreach; and managing marketing and communications, including social media and website management
  • Regularly update members with news and upcoming opportunities, ensure member information and mailing lists are current, and solicit membership dues
  • Present an annual report to the membership at the Annual Meeting
 

Brand Management and Marketing

  • Be the face and voice of the Vermont cheesemaking community at events and meetings, both throughout the state and around the country
  • Develop relationships within the food industry, media, and with regulators and legislators at state and federal levels to herald Vermont’s role as a leader in artisanal cheesemaking and to advance the interests of the state’s cheesemaking industry     
  • Work with partners to host buyers, brokers, distributors, and influencers to educate and promote the Vermont cheese brand
 

Fiscal Management

  • With the Finance Committee (to be comprised of two Executive Committee members, a Board member, and an independent financial professional) prepare the VCC annual budget and ensure its implementation and adherence throughout the year
  • Manage ongoing grants and actively search for new opportunities to increase grant revenue 
  • Keep close track of council finances, identifying contingency measures as needed to achieve financial objectives
  • Work with the Finance Committee to effect robust fiscal controls including an annual audit

 

Education and Training

  • Work with Education Committee to develop training and educational opportunities for the membership
  • Manage the VCC online education platform. Work closely with course instructors to communicate with participants and continuously improve course offerings
 

Strategic Visioning and Governance

  • Responsible for development and implementation of annual and long-range planning in collaboration with the Board of Directors
  • Serve in an ex-officio capacity on all committees and attend all Board of Directors meetings
  • Work with the President, Vice President and other members to develop meeting agendas to ensure all needed topics are discussed
  • Work with chair of the Governance Committee and President to ensure that all key positions are filled, including committee chairs and positions on the Executive Committee
  • Report to the Board on VCC accomplishments and challenges. Recommend and advise on all relevant issues
  • Sustainably grow the scope of the organization, pursuing new avenues for revenue growth and augmenting staffing as appropriate
  • Identify weak points and opportunities for future development of the organization and propose structural changes 
 

About you: 

  • Self-motivated, independent, and able to thrive without direct supervision
  • Passionate about supporting sustainable food systems and working landscapes, especially as relating to cheese and dairy
  • Excellent communicator in every facet: competent writer, dynamic speaker, and strong interpersonal skills
  • Proven leader who inspires and motivates
  • Track record of prudent fiscal management
  • Strong organizational skills and able to juggle multiple projects at once...we have a lot of irons in the fire!
  • Fastidious and detail-oriented
  • Able to travel to attend meetings throughout the state as well as to attend industry events which necessitate overnight travel
  • Legally authorized to work in the U.S.
 

Nice to have:

  • Advanced degree and/or senior non-profit management experience
  • Experience grant writing and/or fundraising
  • Experience working with and growing online education programs
  • Knowledge of cheese and the cheese industry
Compensation this position is : salaried Application instructions
This job expired on February 09, 2020
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