Executive Director

The American Littoral Society (the “Society”), founded in 1961 and headquartered in Highlands (Sandy Hook), NJ at the mouth of the Hudson River’s confluence with the ocean, is seeking a full-time Executive Director. This membership based coastal conservation organization promotes the study and conservation of marine life and its habitats, defends the coast from harm and empowers others to do the same through education, and undertakes restoration and advocacy. 
 
Want to know when the striped bass are running, and where? Want to help a 450-million-year-old sea creature live its best days? Want to introduce kids of all ages to the secrets of life where rivers meet the ocean? Want to save coastal wildlife? Want to build nature-based responses to climate change impacts? If yes (as if there’s another choice), then this is the opportunity of a lifetime! 
 
Executive Director - Position Summary 
The successful candidate will oversee a staff of 14 across 3 regional offices, with an annual budget of $5.5M in 2025, overseen by a volunteer Board of Trustees.  The Executive Director oversees all aspects of the society and formulates organizational priorities and strategy, while assessing risks.  
 
This includes directing the Society’s operations and programs; leading all budget processes and providing periodic forecasts to staff and board; retaining and promoting development of a diverse and highly qualified staff; and maintaining an active fundraising portfolio, cultivating new donors and maintaining and advancing existing ones.    
 
Key responsibilities and Duties 

• Implements the organization’s mission and programs, sets annual goals, identifies major opportunities and challenges, specifies activities to be supported by the Society’s financial resources, and plans their costs and source(s) of funding. 
• Represents the organization in all forums by maintaining and advancing relationships with individuals, organizations, donors, policy makers, media,  and legislators to uphold the society’s reputation as an expert in its field and to gain and maintain support from the public, Society members, and government agencies. 
• Oversees all aspects of the Society’s finances, including fundraising, budgeting, contracts, capital expenditures and cash flow to ensure a balanced and sustainable operation. 
• Directs organizational structure and staff development and ensures proper coordination among the Society’s program and project staff. Attracts, hires, manages, develops, retains and motivates capable staff, and ensures clear work objectives, formal annual reviews and equitable compensation. 
• Engages the Board of Trustees and ensures they receive timely information, and when required, the Board’s or the Executive Committee’s approval for major financial, legal, program and policy decisions. 
• Oversees the growth of the Society’s membership through a national membership program, community-based outreach, a national field trip program, and communications and publications that advance the issues and interests of the organization. 
• Manages the legal program by identifying issues, creating strategies and overseeing implementation. Initiates and pursues litigation with the approval of the Board or proper committee. 
• Oversees the security of physical assets and ensures the maintenance of the physical facilities. 

 
Preferred qualifications and skills: 

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills 

• Ability to multi-task 

• Takes initiative 

• Works independently 

• Creative problem-solving skills 

• Enthusiastic 

• Dynamic 

• Flexible 

• Organized 

• Collaborative 

 
The ability to: 

• Manage staff distributed across multiple locations and  programs 

• Coordinate and integrate interrelated programs in support of strategic goals 

• Manage complex funding and development needs 

• Be a strong fundraiser able to build relationships with individual donors, foundations and supporters within a very competitive non-profit environment 

• Have strong relationships in the community – both locally around office/program locations and regionally (NY-NJ-PA-DE); roots in the region that understand (and love) the culture & coast 

• Be flexible, entrepreneurial and adaptive  

• Lead efforts to refine programs around mission: focus the issues and program portfolios in balance and support of the Society’s three Strategic pillars and core programs. 

• Strong background in coastal policy, law and science, communications, political organizing 
  
• Be at ease connecting and communicating/working with a broad range of communities, people – including the media, elected officials, neighborhood groups, civil service government officials, other interest groups. Be willing to speak truth to power and to defend the coast; be comfortable with conflict in the service of conservation and at the same time hold the capacity to collaborate, find common ground, and partner (often with the same folks) 

 
Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s Degree 
• Graduate degree in related field preferred 
•  7 or more years of management experience in an operational environment 
• Experience in natural resource management, conservation and coastal policy 
• Familiarity with related federal and state regulatory programs and legislative processes  

 
Benefits 

• Flexible schedule 
• Generous Personal Time Off policy plus federal holidays 
• Generous Health Benefits  

 
To apply, please respond with resume and cover letter to [email protected]
No phone calls please