STATUS: Full-time
SALARY: Dependent on experience and qualifications; $38,000 minimum
BENEFITS: To be discussed
APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 4, 1999
STARTING DATE: July 1, 1999 or as soon as possible
The Wisconsin Rural Development Center seeks a full-time Executive
Director with responsibility for the overall administration and
operation of the organization. The position will be located at the
Wisconsin Rural Development Center's office in Monona, Wisconsin, on the
eastern edge of Madison.
The person will have experience working with membership organizations
and techniques; knowledge of existing federal, state and local
agriculture, resource conservation and rural community development
programs and policies; and familiarity with the experiences of farm and
rural organizations. The person will work closely with other staff to
achieve organizational goals including broadening the rural support base
of the WRDC and meeting the needs of the WRDC's members.
Experiences and Abilities:
· Grassroots organizing, policy development and advocacy.
· Membership recruitment and development.
· Organizational development and strategic planning.
· Board training and development.
· Extensive fundraising experience.
· Administrative skills/staff supervision.
· Working collaboratively with farmers, rural activists, government,
environmentalists and church groups.
· Understanding rural, especially farming-dependent, communities.
· Enthusiasm for the mission and purposes of the Wisconsin Rural
Development Center.
Responsibilities and Duties:
· Manage the development, implementation, evaluation and updating of
programs and projects aimed at achieving the WRDC's goals and
objectives.
· In conjunction with the Board, develop an annual organizational work
plan, budget and financial plan; also provide periodic progress reports
on plan implementation to the WRDC Board.
· Recruit, train, hire, supervise, evaluate and terminate staff in
compliance with established organizational policies and procedures.
· Help plan and manage the WRDC's fundraising program, including
maintaining relationships with existing funding sources, developing new
sources and grant writing.
· Serve as one of the organization's primary spokespersons.
· Establish and maintain relationships with WRDC members, other rural
citizens, state and local institutions, and organizations that impact or
are impacted by WRDC programs and projects.
· Arrange for Board, staff and member training as necessary; also
provide support and assistance to WRDC chapters and members as
necessary.
· Assist in recruiting, orienting and training new Board members.
· Perform other related duties as assigned by the WRDC Board.
How to Apply:
Submit your resume, three references (including recent supervisors), a
writing sample (preferably persuasive writing), and a cover letter of no
more than two pages responding to the following questions:
· Why are you interested in this position and how does it relate to your
personal goals?
· What are the most important challenges facing farm and rural advocacy
organizations and how can they be addressed?
· What are your most significant accomplishments?
· What are your strengths? (provide examples that demonstrate your
strengths)
Address your application to: Executive Director Search Committee,
Wisconsin Rural Development Center, 4915 Monona Drive, Suite 304,
Monona, WI 53716. Faxed applications will be accepted at
608-226-0301. The deadline for these materials is Friday, June 4, 1999.
About the Wisconsin Rural Development Center:
The Wisconsin Rural Development Center is a membership-based, nonprofit
organization that was formed in 1983 to promote a sustainable vision for
Wisconsin agriculture and rural communities. The organization was
created by family farmers, conservationists, rural citizens and
religious leaders with the following purpose in mind: to encourage an
agricultural system based on small and medium-sized family operated
farms; to protect natural resources; to foster prosperous rural
communities; and to promote social and economic justice in rural
Wisconsin.
Since its inception, the WRDC has been a leader in on-farm sustainable
agriculture research, public education, grassroots organizing, and
public policy advocacy. A main focus has been promoting the adoption of
environmentally sound farming systems through the use of alternatives to
and reductions in pesticide use, intensive rotational grazing, and
development of whole farm, total resource management plans. Other
current areas of emphasis include: requiring banks to meet community
reinvestment act guidelines; working locally, statewide and nationally
to level the playing field for small- and mid-sized family farms;
expanding participation in community supported agriculture (CSA) and
providing access to CSAs by low-income persons; developing programs for
comprehensive land use planning and farmland protection; and assisting
in the creation of sustainable and "value added" rural businesses.
The WRDC is governed by a volunteer board of directors. 50% of the
board members are farmers; the rest are rural residents, educators and
business people. The board's current programs are implemented by five
full time and two part time staff working with an annual budget of
approximately $500,000. Financial support comes from private foundation
and federal/state agency grants, membership fees, individual
contributions and sales of publications.
-- Wisconsin Rural Development Center 4915 Monona Drive, Suite 304 Monona, WI 53716 608/226-0300 fax 608/226-0301 email wrdc@execpc.comTo Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command "unsubscribe sanet-mg". To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command "subscribe sanet-mg-digest".
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