Executive Director

Executive Director  

Longview Arboretum and Nature Center

Full Time Salary with Generous Benefits

Longview, Texas

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The mission of the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center is to celebrate the unique natural beauty of East Texas and commit to raising environmental awareness through education and conservation.  

Our vision is inspiring our community through nature, art, and education to grow a better world.

Opened Saturday, November 2, 2019, the Longview Arboretum solidified it’s role as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arboretum corporation devoted to revealing the special eco-system of East Texas in a beautiful and thoughtful manner. The Longview Arboretum and Nature Center (LANC) is a privately managed 29 acre arboretum and botanical garden, 8,000 square foot nature center and 12,000 square foot event center in the heart of Longview. Like many other public venues across our nation, a respectful partnership exists between the City of Longview and the Board of the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center regarding the sustainability of this massive endeavor. This public/private partnership allows for cultivation, development, private investment, and collaborative maintenance.

POSITION SUMMARY

LANC is looking for a visionary leader to help the arboretum continue to flourish and grow.  The executive director’s role is critical to the success and future growth of the Arboretum. These include: maintaining and building new major donor relationships; creating new revenue streams, meeting revenue goals and managing expenses; communicating in a consistent and meaningful way with our stake holders and diverse constituents; continuous strengthening of the board and staff; maintaining and creating new and relevant programs; and creative hands-on management of annual fundraising events, programs and other cultivation and fundraising activities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The key responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to the following:

1. Strategic Vision: Develop and execute a strategic vision for the arboretum, aligning with the organization’s mission and long-term goals.
2. Leadership: Lead a passionate team, including horticulturists, administrative staff, and volunteers fostering collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence.  Maintain relationships with City of Longview and other public sector entities to collaboratively enhance the arboretum. 
3. Financial Management: Oversee budgeting, fundraising, retail operations, facility rentals and financial sustainability. Seek grants, donations, and sponsorships to support programs and infrastructure. Foster meaningful relationships that lead to mission aligned gifts.
4. Program Development: Curate engaging educational programs, workshops, and events that connect visitors of all ages to the natural world.
5. Community Engagement: Cultivate relationships with local schools, businesses, and community groups. Foster volunteer outreach.  Be an ambassador for the arboretum.
6. Plant Collections and Exhibits: Collaborate with horticulturists to maintain diverse plant collections, design captivating exhibits, and enhance visitor experiences.
7. Visitor Experience: Ensure a welcoming and enriching experience for all guests. Manage visitor services, interpretive signage, and amenities.
8. Facility Management: Oversee maintenance, safety, and improvements of the arboretum grounds, buildings, and infrastructure.
9. Board Relations: Work closely with the Board of Directors, providing regular updates, seeking input, and driving strategic direction.
10. Advocacy: Advocate for environmental conservation, sustainable practices, and the importance of botanical gardens within the community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.  
• 5-7 years proven executive leadership experience.  Additional consideration if in a nonprofit, arboretum/botanical garden, or related organization.
• Strong written and verbal communication, fundraising, and organizational skills.  Confidently able to speak to groups in formal and informal settings. 
• Experience developing, tracking, and staying within budgets with multiple fund sources, and analyzing financial data sufficient to project income and expenditures.
• Experience managing staff, including recruiting, hiring, training, motivating, coaching, and implementing accountability.
• Skill in viewing issues both from a broad perspective and in detail. Ability to establish a vision and lead people toward that goal. 
• Project management skills.
• Passion for nature, education, and community engagement.

We recognize no one person will have every qualification, thus we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet all of the requirements that are listed within this job description.

Please direct resume and cover letter to Kat Cochran.

katc@longviewarboretum.org