POSITION
Executive Director
ORGANIZATION
Redwood Coast Land Conservancy
JOB DESCRIPTION
About Redwood Coast Land Conservancy
Redwood Coast Land Conservancy (RCLC) is a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit organization founded in 1992 to preserve, restore, and enable public access to the coastal landscapes and native habitats of southern Mendocino and northern Sonoma Counties. Since inception, RCLC projects have provided trails and coastal access, including a segment of the California Coastal Trail. In 2021, RCLC purchased 113-acre Mill Bend Preserve, which elevated the organization to new levels of opportunity and responsibility.
RCLC is currently managing three publicly-funded grant projects on Mill Bend Preserve, aimed at wildfire resilience, restoring native habitats (including enhancing Gualala River anadromous fishery conditions), and designing and implementing a public access plan for the Preserve. Future years will require the continued management of these grants, together with pursuing plan implementation grants. Mill Bend Preserve promises to be the jewel of southern Mendocino and northern Sonoma Counties.
RCLC is primed for additional property and conservation easement acquisitions. With a strong financial base and refined organizational governance and operations support, RCLC is eager to work with area landowners, public agencies, local and tribal governments, and partner organizations to acquire property interests that protect native habitats, restore others, and enable new public access opportunities. RCLC is also preparing to pursue Land Trust Alliance (LTA) Accreditation.
RCLC hired its first full-time executive director in 2022 and has since created four additional staff positions, including an outreach director, stewardship director, and two restoration technicians.
About the Executive Director Role
The executive director (ED) serves as RCLC’s chief executive, responsible for leading organizational operations and mission delivery. As the public face of the organization, the ED is expected to build and sustain collaborative relations with conservation partners, local and regional leaders, tribal and governmental agencies, volunteers, and current and prospective supporters to advance RCLC’s visibility and development goals. The ED is guided by eight board directors and reports to RCLC’s board president.
Key Responsibilities
Work collaboratively with the board of directors and internal committees to identify, prioritize, and achieve strategic organizational goals
Lead, support, and collaborate with staff, contractors, volunteers, and donors
Together with the treasurer and finance committee, manage finances and annual budgets
Guide fundraising, including conducting major donor outreach
Create an operational environment characterized by safety, support, optimism, and a commitment to RCLC’s mission and fellow employees and volunteers
Represent RCLC to public officials and agencies, tribal partners, organizational partners, and the broader community
Oversee external messaging, guided by the outreach director
Ensure effective resource stewardship of RCLC’s property interests, guided by the stewardship director
Evaluate and advance potential land and easement acquisitions, together with appropriate staff, committees, and contractors
Measure RCLC operational practices against LTA Standards and Practices, toward seeking LTA Accreditation
Ideal Candidate Profile
Extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and staff management, ideally in a land trust or resource management organization
Minimum eight years of increasingly responsible experience
Strong financial acumen, including budget design, tracking, and reporting
Demonstrated success raising organizational revenues through a combination of donor fundraising and grants that support program operations
Proven track record of partnering with key stakeholders, constituencies, funders, elected officials, public agencies, and organizational partners to accomplish conservation goals
Understanding of and ideally experience with land and easement acquisition protocols and property stewardship requirements
Highly effective communicator–verbal and written, internal and external
Comfortable with modern IT tools, including Microsoft 365, Google, CRMs, etc.
Familiarity with California North Coast natural and community environments
Experience building collaborative relationships with new partners and constituencies
Deep conservation values, as reflected by RCLC’s mission
Terms & Compensation
Salary range: $110,000 – $130,000, commensurate with experience
Full-time, salaried, exempt position
Paid time off (PTO) package includes holidays, vacation, and sick leave, with terms negotiable
Health insurance stipend negotiable
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume in one PDF document to admin@rclc.org with “Executive Director” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until March 6, 2026, or until the position is filled.
RCLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive, values-driven work environment where all employees can thrive.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
CONTACT
Jim Elias
jelias@rclc.org
https://rclc.org/