Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Position Location: Salt Lake Metropolitan Area

Application due: December 20th

Hiring Date: Winter 2025

Compensation floor: $70 -75k, with performance based renegotiation in 6 months

Work Schedule: Full time; Flexible work schedule; Some evenings and weekends

Travel & Schedule:

• Travel around Utah is expected 2-3 days a month

• Applicants must provide self-transportation to and from commitments spanning the state of Utah

• Monday to Thursday schedule recommended

• Weekends will be required as needed

Duties & Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the interim executive director is responsible for defining, fundraising for, leading, and implementing activities that advance the mission of the Utah Wildlife Federation (UWF) and sustain the organization’s operations and power.

Conservation Programs/Advocacy

• Oversee the work of program staff and any volunteers to ensure delivery of programmatic/advocacy goals.

• Collaborate with UWF board and staff to set strategic direction and oversee facilitation of programmatic goals and ensure accountability.

• Collaborate with the National Wildlife Federation’s communications staff, policy leaders, and regional leaders on issues in the West and involvement, namely the Utah lawsuit to force the federal government to relinquish federal public lands to the state of Utah.    

• Build and maintain relationships with partner organizations, agencies, and elected officials.

• Serve as the public face of UWF on key conservation campaigns and programs.

• Maintain a fluency in the breadth of issues is working on and serve as the subject matter lead on some program areas/policy issues (develop positions, draft policy statements, work with coalition partners, etc.).

Finances

• In consultation with the board of directors, prepare the annual budget and set and meet revenue and expense targets.

• Lead development of annual revenue goals and implementation of fundraising activities.

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit funds from institutional donors (foundations and corporations).

• Maintain relations with institutional donors and communicate with them about program activities, formal grant reports, and other IWF updates.

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit funds from major donors and grassroots donors.

Outreach/Communications

• Serve as the organization’s primary public spokesperson to the press, public, and elected officials.

• Collaborate with staff and executive committee to set strategic messaging and oversee the development of press statements, opinion pieces, and other communications materials on issues and program priorities.

• Supervise and collaborate with staff on outreach activities, including events, specifically Utah Wildlife Walls and the Utah Wildlife Summit. 

•  Build out UWF’s outreach components including: 

  • Supporting the Wildlife Walls Partnership 

    • Attend and promote up to one WWP event per month 

    • Provide opportunities for attendees to become more engaged in UWF’swork at these events

  •  Conducting the 2025 Celebrate Utah Wildlife Art Contest 

    • Begin organizing the contest in February 2025 

    • Launch contest in April 2025 

    • Contest concluded by July 2025 

  • Backyard Habitat Partnership 

    • Promote at all Wildlife Walls Partnership and other tabling events

    • Update UWF’s Habitat Partnership webpage 

    • Pursue connections already made with the Salt Lake Community College for classroom education opportunities 

  • Classroom education opportunities 

    • Conduct at least 3 classroom educational presentations 

  •  Tabling 

    • Table at up to one Wildlife Walls Partnership Event per month

    • Table at one key event at least once a month 

    • Oversee data entry and donor database maintenance 

  • Online and Social Media presence 

    • Keep UWF’s website up to date 

    • Create a social media plan and conduct posting according to that plan

    • Write and disseminate UWF’s quarterly newsletter

  • Wild & Scenic Film Series Sponsorship 

    • Table at this event 

● Support UWF’s collaborative conservation program components as reasonable: 

• Camo at the Capitol 

• Utah Wildlife Summit 

• State and National Policy 

• Wildlife Connectivity Working Group

Board of Directors

• Work in partnership with the Board Chair to manage the operations of the Board of Directors.

• Coordinate board meetings, including scheduling, agenda development, and follow-up.

• Aid in recruitment and development of directors and officers.

• Facilitate development and monitoring of organization’s strategic plan.

Operations

• Develop and implement procedures and policies to govern business operations.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant state, federal, and local laws.

• Manage contracting process for external goods and services.

• Oversee office technology and other operational needs, including troubleshooting, acquisition, and coordination of external services.

Essential Qualifications (“Need to Have”)

Candidates for this position should have the following qualifications, as a result of their experiences and/or educational attainment:

• Five or more years of experience in the nonprofit sector (advocacy, management, communications).

• Fluency in the policy and politics of conservation,  fish and wildlife, public lands, and outdoor access in Utah, regionally, and nationally.

•  Personal participation in and enthusiasm for wildlife-based outdoor recreation.

•  Experience leading, managing, and facilitating a collaborative team of staff.

• Experience in grassroots and institutional fundraising and enthusiasm for raising the revenue needed to meet organization-wide budget and program needs.

• Competency in communicating with, listening to, and working with people from diverse backgrounds and differing points of view.

• Skill in public speaking and writing for a wide range of audiences, including the media, elected representatives, agency personnel, donors, and the public.

Other Desired Qualifications (“Good to Have”)

Candidates who demonstrate the following additional qualifications will be well positioned to succeed in this position:

• Understanding of Utah communities, people, history, and politics.

• Experience working with nonprofit board members.

• Experience in grassroots fundraising via direct mail, digital appeals, events, etc.

• Experience working with philanthropic foundations and familiarity with funders who work in conservation and Utah.

• Aptitude for working collaboratively with conservation stakeholders, including nongovernmental organizations, farmers and ranchers, public agencies, and other community interests.

• Experience with financial management, including preparing budgets, and financial reports.

• Experience coordinating and motivating the work of people with diverse backgrounds, interests, and skills.

• Familiarity and skill with standard office software, donor and constituent management software, and other relevant technology.

• Campaign/advocacy communications experience, including strategic messaging as well as writing, editing, public speaking, and social media.

• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans and campaign plans.

• Aptitude for tackling nuts-and-bolts operational and business needs.

• A commitment to giving all Utah residents a voice in fish and wildlife conservation and reaching out to new constituencies.

We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national

origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or

mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local

law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Physical and mental demands

This position can include prolonged periods of sitting and also requires occasional work in outdoor locations, sometimes directly in the sun for extended periods. UWF offers flexible work scheduling and a culture that supports your quality of life and values work/life balance.

About the Utah Wildlife Federation

At the Utah Wildlife Federation, we are deeply committed to our mission of ensuring wildlife thrive in Utah. Through our work, we strive to create a collaborative and inclusive community that brings together a diversity of voices and perspectives that care about Utah and its wildlife. We believe that through active listening and respectful dialogue, we can find common ground and work together to achieve our shared goals. Our approach is nonpartisan, moderate, and evidence-based, and we seek to provide accurate and factual information to inform decision-making and policy development.

Application Materials

Interested applicants, please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to isobel@utahwildlifefederation.org with the subject line “Executive Director Application”.