Focus the Nation | Executive Director

Organization: Focus the Nation

Status: Open

Closing Date: 01/02/2009

Mission and Program

Focus the Nation (www.focusthenation.org) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization working to empower young people to accelerate the transition to a more just and prosperous clean energy future. We work to connect campus-based clean energy advocates with broader communities and to create opportunities for young people to engage in direct dialogue with decision-makers and elected officials about the need to enact clean energy solutions to stop dangerous climate change.

Organizational History

Focus the Nation began as a project of the Green House Network, a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 to raise public awareness about the challenge of global warming and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Green House Network has undertaken initiatives designed to foster effective campus-based and off-campus activism and to raise awareness through public speaking, athletic events, and efforts to engage artists in communicating the urgency of global warming. In 2006, the Green House Network set out to organize the first national teach-in on climate change and clean energy.

On January 31, 2008, the Focus the Nation organizing team catalyzed the largest teach-in ever held in the United States, joining initiatives on 1,000 campuses and 900 other locations in all 50 states in a day of education and activism on clean energy solutions. Over 75 elected officials including members of Congress, governors, state legislators, mayors, and others participated in town hall-style dialogues with young people at Focus the Nation events.

Responding to feedback from top organizers around the country, the Focus the Nation organizing team in Portland, Oregon has developed a program of sustained engagement with the youth climate and clean energy movement designed to connect campus and community in new initiatives to build the clean energy economy. This phase of our work will be supported with Web-based tools to empower local initiatives from a new Website launched in November 2008.

Primary Responsibilities

The Executive Director bears responsibility for all executive, strategic, programmatic, financial, and management functions. Duties include, but are not limited to, developing the organization's financial, creative, and human resources; forging collaborative partnerships in the youth climate and clean energy movement; articulating and advancing the organization's vision; leading the organization's strategic development; working effectively with the organization's Board of Directors; and broadening Focus the Nation's constituencies. Specifically, we seek the candidate who will:

• Raise the profile, reputation, and visibility of Focus the Nation.
• Provide access to political, policy, business, and media leaders.
• Lead successful fundraising efforts to grow the organization.
• Establish strategic and programmatic direction for the organization and provide supervision and guidance for the staff.
• Strengthen Focus the Nation's leadership position in the youth climate and clean energy movement.

The Executive Director reports to Focus the Nation's Board of Directors. The Board sets broad policy and strategic direction, and approves an annual plan and budget. The Executive Director works closely with the board on strategy, policy, and planning. With staff, the Executive Director fosters an organizational culture that celebrates success, honors diversity, strives for excellence, seeks constant growth and learns from mistakes.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a respected, connected, and flexible leader who possesses the following attributes:

• Broad familiarity with the climate and clean energy movement;
• A demonstrated commitment to cultivation of youth leadership;
• Personal ties to foundations, major donors, and progressive business partners;
• A passion for fund-raising and a strong track record;
• Senior-level campaign and advocacy experience;
• Non-profit management experience including financial and personnel management and knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles;
• Excellent writing, public speaking, and media skills;
• Relevant experience with state-level and national elected officials;
• Skill in strategic and organizational planning;
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent, advanced degree preferred; demonstrated commitment to continuing education in the field.

Qualified candidates will exhibit a drive to achieve results through coalitions and creative collaboration, and the successful candidate will view the chance to take Focus the Nation to the next level as a generational opportunity.

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience.

Application Information

Focus the Nation, an Equal Opportunity Employer, strongly encourages people of color to apply. Please send a letter of application, resume, and salary history to jobs@focusthenation.org.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. We will accept applications until the position is filled. We intend to contact qualified applicants by phone for preliminary discussion, but we cannot promise any applicant an individual contact.