Executive Director - Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) is the collective voice of North America's fish and wildlife agencies. The Association provides its member agencies and their senior staff with coordination services that range from migratory birds, fish habitat, and invasive species, to conservation education, leadership development, and international relations. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key conservation and management policies, and works to ensure that all fish and wildlife entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides management and technical assistance to both new and current fish and wildlife leaders.

Members include all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, along with provincial and federal agencies from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The Association has a staff of 25 that includes an Executive Director, International Resource Director, Legislative Director, Resource Director, Wildlife Diversity Director, and a North American Waterfowl Management Plan Coordinator, in addition to other program, administrative, and financial management staff.

1. Education and Experience

a. Masters degree in fish and wildlife management or a closely
related field and 7 years experience in a responsible administrative or
policy level position, or

b. Bachelors degree in fish and wildlife management or a closely
related field and 10 years experience in a responsible administrative or
policy level position, or

c. Fifteen years experience in a responsible administrative or
policy level position, 5 years of which must have been as the chief
executive officer of a governmental resources agency or a large private
conservation organization.

2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Acceptable candidates must have a demonstrated ability to:

a. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;

b. Provide leadership;

c. Work effectively with others;

d. Be self motivated;

e. Organize own activities and those of the staff to work effectively with others, both on a daily basis and for special events;

f. Implement policies and follow direction as established by the President and the Executive Committee;

g. Develop and manage current budgets and other attendant administrative and fiscal activities and plan for the future of the Association;

h. Provide direction and oversight of numerous projects being undertaken by the Association under grants and agreements;

i. Provide for administration of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program; and

j. Manage a large conservation agency.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As the chief executive officer of the Association, the Executive Director is responsible for the administration, management and conduct of the Washington, DC office, including the supervision of personnel; all business and fiscal matters affecting the Association; and for the scientific accuracy and professional quality of communications, publications and testimony.

The Executive Director is responsible for assuring that the Association's Washington, DC office projects a consistent philosophical and professional image, consistent with the Association's history, its adopted policies and philosophies and the current thinking of the Executive Committee and its leadership.

The Executive Director advises the Executive Committee and Officers of all significant issues, problems and accomplishments and consults, as necessary, with the Officers and Executive Committee and maintains active liaison and effective working relationships with the Legal
Counsel.

The Executive Director maintains active liaison with the four regional associations of fish and wildlife agencies, with state, federal and provincial fish and wildlife agencies, with Governmental, Affiliate and Contributing Members and Associated Committees; and informs member agencies of significant developments and issues in the resource field, especially at the Washington level.

The Executive Director represents the Association with federal agencies, with the members and staff of the Congress, and with the resource and conservation community, and maintains active liaison and work relationships with other organizations in the conservation community.

The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the coordination of the Association's annual meeting as well as the Association's committee meetings at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

The Executive Director is responsible for the timely publication of the periodic release of the Association newsletters, proceedings and miscellaneous publications.

The duties of the Executive Director include, in addition to those assigned by the Executive Committee, general administration of the Association's funds, preparation of the annual budget, keeping and distributing minutes of the Association and of the Executive Committee, editing and distributing the annual transactions and other publications, and representing the Association at various meetings and hearings.

The Executive Director works under the direction and supervision of the President and Chair of the Executive Committee and is the Association's principal representative, particularly in the Washington conservation community. The Executive Director participates directly in supervision of all staff work of the Association.

Extensive travel is involved and a residence near the Washington, DC area is required.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary and benefits will be negotiated. Benefits ordinarily include
health and dental, life and disability insurance, and 401(k).

Selection Process:

The selection of the Executive Director will be made by the Executive Committee. The search committee will conduct a national search and will make recommendations to the Executive Committee. Letters of application, indicating the applicant's education and experience, as well as interest in working for the Association and including a resume and references, should be sent to:

Mr. John Frampton

Chair, Search Committee

Attention: Angela Rivas Nelson

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 725

Washington, DC 20001

Email: arnelson@fishwildlife.org

The closing date for receipt of application is January 25, 2010.

Candidates selected for an interview will be notified of the time and place of the interview, and will be expected to pay their own travel costs for the interview.

The expected reporting date will be about March 22, 2010 depending on availability and specific arrangements with the person selected.