Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Organization: West Region Wildfire Council
Location: Ridgway, Colorado
Office/Remote: The minimum expectation for in office work is three days per week. Staff work in the office but are afforded the flexibility to work some days remotely as job duties and schedules allow.
Reports To: Board of Directors
Direct Reports: Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Positions Status: Full Time, Regular, Exempt Employee
Position Overview
The West Region Wildfire Council seeks a dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our nonprofit organization. This leadership role requires a strong background in fundraising and grants, financial management, and organizational strategy. The CEO is responsible for overseeing programs, ensuring financial stability, leading fundraising, and promoting a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork. The CEO’s responsibilities are carried out in close partnership with the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising and Development
Grant Writing and Management
Financial Management
Leadership
Relationship Building and Stakeholder Engagement
Communication and Public Relations
Leadership and Organizational Culture
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with a passion for wildfire resilience and community safety. They are a strategic thinker, experienced fundraiser, and effective relationship builder who can engage donors, partners, and community members. They will have exceptional communication and relationship building skills, a drive to write grants as well as raise non-governmental funds, and a passion for advancing our mission. They bring strong financial management skills, a track record of leading mission-driven organizations, and a commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
Qualifications and Keys to Success
Organization Overview
The West Region Wildfire Council (WRWC or the Council) is a nonprofit based in Ridgway, CO. Since 2007, WRWC has worked to increase wildfire resilience in our communities and forest ecosystems. The organization’s staff is dedicated to wildfire mitigation, community resilience, and collaboration with landowners, agencies, and stakeholders across Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties.
WRWC is governed by a Board of Directors and is also advised by U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) liaisons.
Video of Our Work: Wildfire Resilience and Stewardship Across the Landscape: Working with Private Landowners
Where We Are Today
The WRWC is at a critical moment of growth, change, and impact. Wildfire is one of the most confounding issues of our time and our organization is on the forefront of providing resources and programming that addresses wildfire risk in our communities and ecosystems. Our work has led to diverse industry relationships, expanded funding sources, and increased demand for our services. At this time in our organization’s lifecycle, we are seeking an exceptional leader to manage change, continue building momentum, and advance our mission with strategic visioning, fundraising expertise, financial acumen, and partner engagement.
Our Team and Work Culture
We are a small, hard-working team that is dedicated to making great work happen with limited resources. We have a strong passion for our work and are driven each day to advance our mission and help make our communities, forests, and watersheds more resilient to wildfire. We utilize a team-oriented and collaborative approach to address the wildfire issue.
We understand that addressing the wildfire issue requires a dedicated and multi-disciplinary approach, and we seek to leverage the best available science and the best available technologies as well as our relationships to further our work and impact.
Our staff values a high-quality work product and ability to recognize needs, coupled with the willingness to jump in and begin addressing those needs. We are focused on honoring commitments, and we value the capacity to think outside the box, innovate, and move our programs forward in support of WRWC’s mission. We value a sustainable work-life balance.
Location and Housing
The West Region Wildfire Council office is in the town of Ridgway in the beautiful San Juan mountains of Colorado. Our office provides a mountain feel, abundance of natural light and FAST fiber internet.
If the candidate relocates to the West Region Counties from outside our six-county region, WRWC offers $300 per month for the first six months of employment as a taxable relocation housing stipend. In addition, the WRWC will help the new CEO connect with housing and real estate professionals in the region.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and qualifications to https://apply.workable.com/west-region-wildfire-council/j/E934F80D17/. In your cover letter, highlight your achievements in fundraising and financial management and share how your leadership style aligns with the mission and values of the West Region Wildfire Council.
Hiring Timeline
Environmental and Physical Factors
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with some vehicle and outdoor exposure. While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to stand, sit, walk, talk, talk on the phone, type, participate in on-camera virtual/hybrid meetings and hear for extended periods of time. The person in this role will frequently sit in one position while in the office or while driving or attending in-person or zoom meetings. Limited overnight and domestic travel is expected. Weekend or evening commitments exist but are not frequent.
Equal Employment Opportunity
There shall be no unlawful discrimination or harassment against employees or applications for employment because of race or color, religion or creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, military status, genetic information or other protected status. Equal employment opportunity, as required by law, shall apply to all personnel actions including, but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, demotion, layoff, or termination.
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Organization: West Region Wildfire Council
Location: Ridgway, Colorado
Office/Remote: The minimum expectation for in office work is three days per week. Staff work in the office but are afforded the flexibility to work some days remotely as job duties and schedules allow.
Reports To: Board of Directors
Direct Reports: Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Positions Status: Full Time, Regular, Exempt Employee
Position Overview
The West Region Wildfire Council seeks a dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our nonprofit organization. This leadership role requires a strong background in fundraising and grants, financial management, and organizational strategy. The CEO is responsible for overseeing programs, ensuring financial stability, leading fundraising, and promoting a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork. The CEO’s responsibilities are carried out in close partnership with…
Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and qualifications to https://apply.workable.com/west-region-wildfire-council/j/E934F80D17/. In your cover letter, highlight your achievements in fundraising and financial management and share how your leadership style aligns with the mission and values of the West Region Wildfire Council.
Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and qualifications to https://apply.workable.com/west-region-wildfire-council/j/E934F80D17/. In your…