The Vision

New England Wild Flower Society’s mission is to promote the conservation of temperate North American flora through education, research, horticulture, habitat preservation, and advocacy. The Society has been working for over 100 years to save native plants and their habitats which is accomplished through direct action, professional and public collaboration, and education.  

Looking toward 2025, the Society's Vision is to insure that all native plants of the New England region will exist in vigorous populations within healthy, balanced, natural ecosystems, with suitable protections that allow these ecosystems and the native plants within them to adapt and evolve over time. Also, that the citizens of the region are actively engaged in conservation of New England’s native plants, and enjoying them in the wild and in their own communities. 

Overview

The Society was formed in 1900 to conserve native flora. The 45-acre Garden in the Woods was acquired in 1965 and serves as its botanical garden and headquarters. The 80 acre Nasami Farm, located in Whately Massachusetts, was acquired in 2003 and is a growing nursery enterprise with over 100,000 plants sold annually. The nursery is the source of over 700 plant species and cultivars.  In addition, the Society maintains 8 properties which serve primarily as sanctuaries.

New England Wild Flower Society coordinates plant conservation programs throughout the region. In 1991, it established the New England Plant Conservation Program (NEPCoP), a nationally renowned collaborative program to prevent the extirpation and promote the recovery of the region's endangered native flora. The Society collaborates with 68 private and public institutions—including all New England state natural heritage programs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, national and regional conservation organizations, and botanical professionals. NEPCoP sets priorities and promotes action to preserve rare plant populations.  The Society is also a leading partner in regional Invasive Plant programs, including the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE). These efforts are supplemented by over 1000 trained Plant Conservation Volunteers.

To support its conservation efforts, the Society provides a wide range of educational programs for professionals and the public while offering the public a variety of experiences and services including the Garden in the Woods (an AAM accredited living museum), exhibits, publications, a website, plant sales and a store.

Currently, New England Wild Flower Society has a staff of 50 including summer fellows and a 30-member Board of Trustees. The staff consists of professionals in conservation, horticulture, education, preservation and member services, as well as communications, marketing and fundraising. The society has a membership of over 5000 households and a corps of over 1500 volunteers.

The FY 2008 budget is approximately $2.5 million plus an anticipated $500,000 in capital gifts. Revenue comes from memberships, major gifts, program fees, admissions, retail sales and events.  There is a $7.5 million endowment.  A $3.8 million Capital Campaign for facilities and endowment has reached $2.5 million and goes into a public phase under board leadership this May.

The Society's content rich website contains the vision statement, facts and program descriptions.

The Position

The Executive Director will report to the Board of Trustees and will be involved in strategic planning, operations management, development, public education, and advocacy. As the primary spokesperson, the Director will be a dynamic voice for conservation and horticulture and an articulate representative of the Society.

The Director will have full responsibility for the staff and operations and will help develop the board and support its active committees. Given the large volunteer base and active board, volunteer management and people skills are highly valued. Management challenges include building a cohesive program across varied disciplines and locations, sustaining communications internally and externally and effectively delegating work among staff. Fundraising will include work with the board, grants, major donors and corporate sponsors, in cooperation with a four person development team.

The Executive Director is the CEO who will demonstrate energy, optimism, and passion for native plant conservation, offer highly effective leadership and consensus building skills with a bias toward collaboration. S/he should empower and motivate the staff, board and volunteers.

We seek a leader with strategic and tactical skills to develop systems that sustain effective operations and a director who is a sensitive and thoughtful agent for change while being a solid and experienced business manager with appropriate skills in planning, financial management, technology, and the generation of earned income.

Skills/Experience Needed

• Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree preferred
• Passion for the mission
• Proven success in executive leadership
• 5+ years of board, management and development experience
• Capability in annual and strategic planning
• Ability to develop earned income
• Strong fiscal management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Effective problem solver and decision maker who enjoys challenge
• Capital Campaign and Planned Giving experience desirable
• Ability to create a team and also work independently
• Familiarity with and interest in conservation and/ or horticulture.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  www.newenglandwild.org

To Apply

Please send cover letter, resume and salary history (Word attachments only please.  Email is the preferred means of communication.)

wegmont@egmontassociates.com

Egmont Associates

85 East India Row #24F

Boston, MA 02110

Fax 857-449-0011