Following the unexpected passing in January 2017 of the Coalition’s longtime executive director, Katherine Ozer, the executive committee of the board has been highly engaged to sustain the organization during the leadership transition.
The organizational assessment process has raised a number of key priorities for NFFC and its new leadership to address in the near term:
- Developing a strategic plan: While the organization should remain responsive and adaptable, a clear strategic plan for the next 3-5 years to guide the organization, staff commitments and priorities will be critical to its success;
- Restructuring organizational systems: During the transition, NFFC has focused on strengthening systems for its administrative functions and internal infrastructure;
- Diversifying and strengthening its funding: While long-time supporters have stepped up to see NFFC through this unexpected transition, its overall funding base must continue to diversify to further stabilize the organization;
- Building new leadership: Several NFFC board representatives are cycling off the executive committee, and those who took on additional responsibilities during this time of transition are ready to return to their normal board duties.
- Ongoing presence as a collective effort: No one person is or carries the Coalition, and the Coalition’s success depends on effectual collaboration between its staff and membership.
The Ideal Candidate
The new executive director of the Coalition must be a courageous risk-taker grounded in deep integrity and social justice values, and passionately committed to NFFC’s mission as informed by its members.
Specifically, the ideal candidate will have skills and experience in the following areas:
- Facilitative leadership and management that is inclusive, consensus-building, empowering and supportive of staff and other stakeholders’ growth, efficacy and ownership of the work;
- Cultivating, engaging and maintaining healthy relationships with a diverse (largely rural) membership and executive committee, allies and potential allies;
- Being an ally or member of the movements engaged in family farmer or fisherman, food, economic, and/or environmental justice work with an understanding of racial, gender and economic justice issues;
- Managing or supporting a member-driven organization;
- Poised and confident enough to tell a compelling story yet comfortable learning from and lifting up traditionally marginalized voices;
- Creative problem-solving with sometimes limited resources;
- Balancing “roll-up-the-sleeves,” on-the-ground organizational management, leadership and program work with big-picture thinking and strategy;
- Familiarity with efforts to effect change in policy and legislation, preferably in a leadership role with farmers and/or fishermen, coalitions, or movements;
- Developing and managing a multi-faceted, innovative fundraising plan, including experience cultivating donors, soliciting major gifts and writing grants.
Candidate Guidelines
This search is being led by transition consultant Jeremy Phillips. Interested candidates should submit a resume and brief cover letter describing how their qualifications and experiences match the needs of the National Family Farm Coalition, their salary requirements, the source from which they learned of the position, and any informational questions to jeremy.kp@jeremyphillipsconsulting.org.
NFFC has a generous benefits package, including savings plan, health and life insurance, and unemployment contributions.
Candidates are encouraged to apply promptly, but the search will remain open until the position is filled.