Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA) is seeking an Executive Director. The job can initially be half time or more at the discretion of the candidate.
The Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA) is a nonprofit membership organization led by a board of directors that takes the lead in promoting use of the trail and champions the businesses and attractions along is length. ARTA represents and promote the interests of the trail towns' business community and the locally elected governments in all public-facing activities. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) oversees construction and maintenance of the trail.
A study by the Rail-to-Trails Conservancy predicted that when the 34-mile corridor is open to the public there will be over 250,000 out-of-town and over 100,000 local annual trail users, with new spending by visitors of $20 million each year. Winter revenues and uses by snowmobilers were not projected but will clearly be substantial (and already are significant on the now-rail-free corridor).
Overview: The Executive Director is responsible for leading the ARTA board and members in helping local governments and the local business community create the infrastructure and coordinated procedures and policies to promote the trail and welcome the 350,000 trail users and help the state establish, maintain, and improve, the physical trail and its amenities.
Job Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Leadership, key objectives
• Help build an expanded board of directors.
• Create governance processes for ARTA.
• Oversee all public out-reach.
• Develop fundraising goals and mechanisms.
• Recruit and train competent volunteers.
2. Financial Leadership
• Set and meet or exceed revenue goals that will permit the organization to carry out its work.
• Create budgets and revenue goals.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major grants and planned gifts.
• Assist the Treasurer of the Board in financial and grant reporting, tax filings, and the like.
Public Relations and Advocacy
• Identify and develop relationships with constituent groups and community members.
• Manage social media and marketing material for the Trail.
• Represent the Adirondack Rail Trail in professional associations.
• Work with ARTA's web design and hosting firm to keep the trail maps, amenity locator, and business links up to date.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with local, regional and state officials.
3. Trail Management
• Coordinate, with the Department of Conservation, day-to-day trail operations.
• Develop maps, guides, signs, kiosks and other public use materials for the Adirondack Rail Trail.
• Monitor municipal council and board meetings to report on funding, progress, needs, concerns, etc.
• Develop and monitor plans with NY DEC, the State Police and municipalities for emergency response, maintenance and other service for the trail.
• Work with municipalities to assist in their requests for Recreational Trails and Planning Partnership Initiative (NY DOT) and other funding.
Qualifications, Skills, Competencies, and Requirements
1. Experience in organizational development and project management with some public outreach or related experience preferred.
2. Experience with fundraising, including donor relations, grant writing, and membership campaigns.
3. Success working with a non-profit or corporate board and building enhanced board capacity.
4. Experience with recruiting and managing volunteers.
5. Exemplary written and verbal communication skills.
6. Comfortable in a computerized office environment.
7. Comfortable with the use of social media, website development and maintenance, and software tools.
8. Personal traits: leadership skills, entrepreneurial instincts, outdoor recreation enthusiast, innovative thinker, ability to inspire achievement in others, sense of humor, and personal integrity.
9. Willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends for meetings, activities, and special events.
10. Must possess a valid driver's license and have the use of a personal vehicle.
Compensation
This salaried position includes paid holiday, sick and vacation time, cell phone, and reimbursement for travel. The first year or two can be part-time but not less than half-time. Help with recruiting a successor if full-time is not possible within two years will be a job requirement. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Continued employment beyond the first year will be contingent upon obtaining ongoing funding from ads, donations, underwriting and state, municipal, and private grant-making sources.
If this sounds like the next step in your professional life, and one that you would like to explore, please submit a cover letter and a résumé to the our selection committee at selectioncommittee@adirondackrailtrail.org. This three-person subcommittee will schedule initial telephone interviews with prospective candidates and in-depth personal interviews with finalists. Résumés will be accepted until the position is filled.