Executive Director

Mission & Vision of Wasatch Community Gardens

We envision a community where everyone values and has access to growing and eating healthy + delicious food.

WCG’s mission is to empower people to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food. Since 1989, we have provided children, adults, and families in Salt Lake County with access to land and education for growing and eating

fresh produce, while building and nurturing community connections through gardening and healthy food.

Our Pillars

PRESERVING PRODUCTIVE GREEN SPACE

Prioritize the preservation of land to steward productively, as acres of green space are developed in Salt Lake County.

CREATING SHAREABLE MODELS

Create a well of resources to empower others to adapt and implement programs as food insecurity and demand rises.

STRENGTHENING ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Work with partners to understand community needs and adapt models to better serve historically marginalized populations. Partnerships include Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, the Salt Lake City School District, local farmers, and numerous nonprofit and social service agencies.

Responsibilities:

HUMAN RESOURCES

Culture & Values

• Maintain and build an organizational culture that fosters a positive, inclusive, and productive work environment
• Ensure that the organization’s core operating values (joy, inclusion, collaboration, and stewardship) are honored and reflected throughout operations
• Develop and implement initiatives, activities, and processes that cultivate positive interactions, and ensure supportive organizational culture

Personnel

• Be a resource, leader, colleague, and listener to 30+ employees
• Support Directors in strategic planning and program development
• Recruit, hire, train, manage and retain five direct report positions
• Support direct reports in creating growth opportunities via promotion and internal hiring processes
• Work with Associate Director to determine budget for annual increases and allocations for each department

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Fundraising & Development

• Ensure fiscal responsibility and achievable growth goals annually with the Director of External Relations
• Provide strategic fundraising vision and leadership Collaborate with Board and Director of External Relations to maintain, solicit and cultivate financial support
• Provide strategic leadership to develop larger campaigns, secure major gifts, and cultivate high level donors

Marketing, Events & Outreach

• Ensure organizational identity reflects core values
• Ensure urban agriculture partnerships are based in collaboration not competition
• Promote WCG locally and nationally as a leading educator and resource in the urban agriculture and youth and community gardening fields

Programming & Agricultural Operations

• Collaborate as needed to design innovative programs
• Collaboratively determine development of new food producing sites
• Oversee contract negotiations with site stakeholders such as government departments, land-owners, and partners

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Oversee Department Directors in annual strategic planning objectives
• Collaborate with Board, Directors, and staff to create new three to five year strategic plan
• Oversee all staff committees and assignments and be a resource for the chair of each committee
• Ensure policies and processes are documented, accessible, and followed organization-wide
• Provide opportunities for staff merriment

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Manage $2.5M budget
• Oversee Associate Director in managing finances
• Collaborate with Associate Director and Board Treasurer to create/monitor annual operating budget
• Collaborate with Associate Director and Board Treasurer to present financial reports for Board
• Ensure accounting practices follow all state and federal laws, IRS regulations and GAAP
• Collaborate with Associate Director and Board Treasurer to conduct annual audit and 990 tax filing

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Leadership experience as an Executive Director or in an equivalent position
• Demonstrated success as team leader/player Understanding of urban agriculture and its potential as a tool for social change
• A proven track record in fundraising
• Broad business skills including strategy implementation, non-profit finances, and nonprofit management
• Experience organizing and building coalitions and partnerships with diverse communities and external organizations
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with legislature and other governmental organizations and structures
• Ability to operate/learn to operate various technology systems such as CiviCRM, Joomla, Google Suite, Dropbox, and Asana

WHO YOU ARE

You are an equity champion.

You look inward and ask the important questions. You learn from others and advocate for the people you work with. You are ready to enhance and deepen our commitment to diversity initiatives.

You are a true collaborator.

You know how to listen and partner with staff and board to jointly achieve results. You connect staff across programs. You are approachable, empathetic and truly care about the people you work with.

You have a passion for the purpose.

You are passionate about WCG’S pillars and principles and enthusiastic about carrying out our 5-year growth plan. You can balance a growth mindset with intentionality.

You are a master relationship builder.

You are a skilled communicator and storyteller who loves public speaking, connecting with others, and nurturing relationships.

Wasatch Community Gardens opposes discrimination and injustice in all forms.

Research shows that members of underrepresented groups – including women, LGBTQIA+ identified people, Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other people of color – tend to apply for jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed.

Here at Wasatch Community Gardens, we want the best candidate for the job, and that candidate might not always meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you are passionate about our work and joining our team, we encourage you to apply – especially if you are a member of a structurally marginalized group.

We look forward to your application.

TO APPLY

Please email the following materials to:

edapplications@ wasatchgardens.org

• Resume
• Cover letter that describes:
• your interest in this position;
• what strengths will you bring to our organization and this position
• your leadership style; and
• how you approach culture building

Please put “Executive Director- [Your Name]”in the subject line of your email. Applications will be accepted until 5pm, Friday, November 15, 2024.