General Responsibilities:

The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lowcountry Open Land Trust.  The Executive Director reports to the Board of Trustees and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial and conservation objectives. He or she has primary responsibility for execution of the Board-approved Strategic Plan and the day to day operations of the Land Trust, including: Administration and personnel; implementation of Board policies; and cultivation of external professional relationships and partnerships of the Land Trust.  The ED will work with each Department head, staff and Trustee oversight committee to develop a detailed annual business plan that ensures conformance with the Strategic Plan approved by the LOLT Board of Trustees.  The Executive Director is the primary staff point of contact for the Board of Trustees and participates, as an ex-officio member of the Board and all Board committees, in strategic planning, community relations, professional relations and fund raising.  The Executive Director ensures Land Trust compliance with the Standards and Practices of the Land Trust Alliance.

Specific Duties:

I.   Land Protection and Stewardship Program

• Work with LP Director, staff and LP Committee to draft an annual comprehensive “Business Plan” to implement the goals of the Overall Strategic Plan and address all important current issues facing the LP Department.
• With LP staff, educate landowners about conservation easements by developing personal relationships and organizing education events to exchange information.
• Through the Land Protection Director, assist landowners in evaluating eligibility for conservation easements, drafting easements, preparing baseline documentation, and closing easements.
• Present appropriate decision documents for the Land Protection Committee to consider proposed easements or other land protection proposals.
• Work with Stewardship Director to ensure annual monitoring and stewardship of all LOLT protected properties.
• With advice from LP Director, recommend to the Board Long-Range Strategic Plans that include geographic prioritization, recommendations for education goals, and methods of protection to be pursued.
• Assist Land Protection staff and committee in targeting areas for easement development and identify specific candidates for contact.
• Identify opportunities for special projects, partnerships, and grant requests that further land protection goals in coordination with LP Division.
• Develop the capacity to use alternative protection methods such as acquisition, purchase of development rights, etc. and recommend appropriate timing and execution steps to the Board of Trustees.

II.  Community Outreach and Member Relations

• Work with Development Director, staff and Development Committee to draft an annual comprehensive “Business Plan” to implement the goals of the Overall Strategic Plan and address all current public relations goals and communications issues.
• Represent LOLT before community groups, landowners, conservation groups, government agencies, members and donors in order to educate, encourage support, and facilitate working partnerships and volunteer involvement in land protection efforts.
• Seek opportunities with and make presentations to interested community groups.
• Organize and execute all scheduled events for members and the general public.
• Oversee preparation of the regular newsletter, annual report, other publications and communications.
• Coordinate publicity activities, including preparing press releases for land protection achievements and organizing media events.
• Primary media spokesperson and liaison.
• Work with Board to develop strategies that increase public awareness of LOLT.

III.  Administration/Staff

• Hire and manage staff.
• Set personnel and administrative policies within the parameters established by the Board of Trustees and maintain adherence thereto.
• Oversee all office operations and evaluate staff performance on an annual basis.
• Report to the Board proposed changes in personnel policy and proposed annual staff salary changes.

IV.  Financial Management

• Prepare and maintain annual income and expense budgets for presentation to the Board.
• Ensure financial goals are met and the Board is apprised of expected variances.
• Ensure adequate control of all accounting, funds deposit, accounts payable, payroll, and investment accounts.
• Direct the preparation of financial reports for Board and Committee meetings, as required, keeping the Treasurer informed of current fiscal status.
• Schedule an annual independent audit and submit the report to the Board.
• Recommend long-range financial plans to the Board and submit supporting documentation for special projects and grants.

V.  Funding and Support

• Work with Development Director, staff and Development Committee to draft an annual comprehensive “Business Plan” to implement the goals of the Overall Strategic Plan and address all important current issues facing the Development Department.
• Work with Development Director and Committee to set an appropriate funding target for each funding source and to determine and prioritize fundraising campaigns to achieve annual funding goals.
• Work with Development Director in setting a Department Income and Expense budget for the following year, and presenting to the Finance Committee before the end of each calendar year.
• Work with the Department to ensure all membership solicitations and renewals are addressed in a timely manner each year.
• Work with Development Director to formulate a plan to see out and solicit new potential funding sources throughout each year.
• Oversee to ensure Development department is adequately building and maintaining a current data base on all funding sources.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with foundation funders as well as individual and business donors.
• Oversee the timely preparation of grant requests to foundations and agencies.
• Report to the Board of Trustees.