Quivira Coalition Executive Director

Quivira Coalition seeks a visionary Executive Director to lead our organization's work fostering resilience on working lands across the American West. The ideal candidate will bring a collaborative leadership style, strategic thinking, and a genuine passion for regenerative agriculture.

The Executive Director will guide our talented team of 23 staff members to lead innovative programs that offer community-focused education and support around regenerative agriculture and healthy soil practices, training the next generation of land stewards. They will represent Quivira to diverse stakeholders, from ranchers and farmers to conservationists and Indigenous communities, while strengthening our fundraising capacity and organizational sustainability.

This is an exciting opportunity for a leader who values both ecological health and social health to make a lasting impact on Western working landscapes and the communities that depend on them. If you are passionate about building resilience through education, innovation, and collaboration, we encourage you to apply.

Location: Santa Fe, NM with remote/hybrid options available

This position is open until filled. For priority consideration, please submit your materials by Friday, April 25, 2025. Interviewing is anticipated in May; early applications are strongly encouraged.

Starting annual salary range: $100,000 - $115,000

OUR PURPOSE AND APPROACH

Founded in 1997, Quivira addresses one of today's most critical challenges: reconciling agricultural production with environmental stewardship and social equity. In a time of increasing climate instability, water scarcity, and rural economic challenges, Quivira works at the intersection of the health of our land, communities, and food systems.

OUR MISSION

Quivira fosters resilience on working lands. To create a culture of land stewardship that integrates ecological, economic, and social health, we work in a coalition of ranchers and farmers, landowners and managers, public agencies, conservationists and environmentalists, students and educators, and the general public. We believe this culture is rooted in three areas of practice: education, innovation, and collaboration.

OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE

We envision a future where agriculture regenerates the land, strengthens rural economies, and heals social injustice—centering diverse leadership, restoring ecosystems, and producing healthy food. Through widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture, we seek to build a resilient food system that sustains communities, stewards the land, and serves as a vital solution to climate change.

By connecting local land management practices to global concerns like climate change and food security, Quivira positions regenerative agriculture as a powerful framework for addressing multiple interconnected challenges, offering hope and practical solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future.

OUR APPROACH

We bring together diverse stakeholders—ranchers, farmers, landowners, Tribal agencies, conservationists, students, and the general public—to create a culture of land stewardship rooted in three key practices:

Education: We provide hands-on learning opportunities and information exchange through our New Agrarian Program, which offers aspiring and experienced land managers a framework for regenerative agriculture that considers social, economic, and ecological health.

Innovation: Our Carbon Ranch Initiative builds capacity to test and implement evidence-based land management practices for climate change mitigation and adaptation. We work to improve local, rural food systems and economies through research, engagement, and technical support for the productive use of waste and rangeland and soil health improvements.

Collaboration: By creating spaces where diverse stakeholders can work together, we break down traditional barriers between environmental and agricultural communities to develop shared solutions. We do this, in part, through the REGENERATE conference which convenes ranchers, farmers, conservationists, land managers, and scientists to share knowledge, build community, and create a culture of resilience and regeneration.

OUR BELIEF IN THE RADICAL CENTER

We operate from the Radical Center, a space where diverse stakeholders find common ground and transcend traditional divides. By committing to working landscapes that are both ecologically healthy and economically viable, we're building a "society to match its scenery" where stewards with shared goals are valued for their conservation contributions and all participants share both authority and responsibility in land management decisions.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY

At Quivira we acknowledge that agriculture in this country was built on systems of inequality affecting Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. We recognize that true regenerative agriculture must address social justice alongside ecological health. We are committed to amplifying historically underrepresented voices, supporting transparent and equity-based policies, and challenging systems that perpetuate inequities in food and farming. By centering diverse perspectives and sharing resources inclusively, we strive to build a coalition that reflects the communities we serve. We believe that healing relationships between people is as essential as healing the land—both are necessary for creating truly resilient working landscapes that sustain all communities and ecosystems for generations to come.

STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES

Quivira is a highly respected organization at the forefront of regenerative agriculture and land stewardship across the American West. The new Executive Director will join a dynamic organization poised for its next chapter of growth and impact, with open doors to influence and lead conversations about the future of working lands and climate resilience.

The Executive Director will inherit an organization with strong foundations and significant momentum, energized by a passionate, creative, and devoted staff and board. The team is currently expanding its development capacity to further strengthen fundraising efforts.

The next chapter of the organization's life offers a visionary leader the opportunity to work with a passionate staff team and supportive board to make a significant impact on regenerative agriculture in the West. The Executive Director will advance initiatives focused on:

• Developing soil health and watershed restoration practices for working lands in the Southwest
• Cultivating agricultural apprenticeships and learning communities across the West
• Creating pathways for young people to build careers in regenerative agriculture
• Strengthening networks of non-traditional agricultural education providers
• Producing and sharing knowledge that supports land stewards and inspires the public

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, manages an annual budget of $4 million, leads a staff of 23 with 6 direct reports at the senior leadership level, and is responsible for overseeing these main functional responsibilities:

VISION AND STRATEGY

Collaboratively develop and champion a compelling vision for Quivira's future that advances regenerative agriculture and land stewardship across the West. Transform this vision into action by establishing strategic priorities and implementing thoughtful plans that ensure alignment and synergy across the organization.

EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

As Quivira’s primary ambassador, embody our radical center approach by convening and building authentic relationships with stakeholders across political, cultural, and socioeconomic divides. Adapt messaging for different audiences without compromising values. Represent Quivira in key forums and expand our collaborative impact across the region.

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT AND CULTURE

Provide inspiring leadership to staff and board, supporting them to excel and grow in their roles, while fostering an organizational culture that embodies collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. Manage organizational operations, including budgeting, financial management, and program evaluation.

FUNDRAISING

Partner with the Development Director to fundraise and ensure sustainable revenue. Cultivate relationships with individual donors and develop strategies to diversify revenue sources. Develop innovative funding approaches that support Quivira's long-term financial health and clearly communicate the organization's impact and value proposition to current and potential supporters.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Quivira Coalition seeks candidates who have a deep commitment to regenerative agriculture and are passionate about our mission and radical center approach. While we don’t expect every candidate will bring deep experience in every area, we seek a leader with skills and experience across these key areas:

STRATEGIC AND VISIONARY ORGANIZATIONAL LEADER

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to develop and implement a clear, compelling strategic vision that balances innovation with our organizational history and values. They will bring experience collaboratively developing strategy while being decisive in advancing our mission. We seek someone with proven ability to manage a ~$4M organization's financial strategy, including diversifying revenue sources and enhancing organizational capacity.

COLLABORATIVE TEAM LEADER AND CULTURE BUILDER

The ideal candidate will bring experience managing a primarily remote, distributed team with an emphasis on work-life balance, autonomy, and flexible scheduling while maintaining organizational effectiveness. They will demonstrate the capacity to build trust and psychological safety by fostering transparent, collaborative team dynamics. We seek someone who can support staff development and create a positive workplace culture that emphasizes both accountability and staff wellbeing.

EXCEPTIONAL RELATIONSHIP-BUILDER WITH AN EYE FOR THE RADICAL CENTER

Our next leader will have experience effectively convening people across political, cultural, and socioeconomic differences. They will bring skill in building authentic relationships with diverse stakeholders, particularly rural and Tribal communities, agricultural producers, and environmental advocates. The ability to balance increasing inclusion of historically underrepresented communities while maintaining engagement with existing stakeholders is essential.

FAMILIARITY WITH SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT

We seek a candidate with an understanding of key concepts in regenerative agriculture, land stewardship, and ecosystem health. They will be familiar with the socioeconomic and ecological challenges facing rural communities and agricultural producers in the West and able to engage respectfully with diverse land stewards.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

We seek a leader who can translate DEI principles into concrete organizational practices affecting both internal operations and external programming. They will bring experience leading productive conversations about equity across different stakeholders, with an understanding of the historical context of inequity in agriculture and land management.

We value our staff and their quality of life, and we have built an organizational culture that is collaborative and mission-driven while respecting work-life boundaries. This is a full-time (36-hour week) salaried position located ideally on site in Santa Fe, NM with remote/hybrid option available. It requires occasional travel to meet with staff, board members, partners, and funders throughout the region, including spending time in New Mexico. The expected starting salary range is $100,000 - $115,000 depending on qualifications and experience.

Quivira Coalition is pleased to offer a comprehensive benefits package to its employees, including 100% employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage through our Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico Bronze plan, with two additional upgrade options. Employees participate in a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with a 2% employer non-elective contribution. Quivira closes for eight individual paid holidays throughout the year, as well as two weeks of paid break (typically one week in July and one week in December). Paid time off days increase with tenure, starting at approximately 15 days annually, and includes medical and paid family leave.

Additional benefits include life insurance, short and long-term disability coverage and flexible work scheduling. We value work-life balance, have fostered a family-friendly culture, and have built an organizational culture that supports both professional excellence and personal wellbeing.