Executive Director

Depave in Portland, OR is recruiting an Executive Director to lead its small but nimble team. Depave transforms pavement into community pocket greenspaces to reduce stormwater and urban heat, boost access to tree canopy, child’s play, food growing, and inspiration in the natural world in cities. Learn more here: https://www.depave.org/jobs

Posted: March 5, 2025

Position Title: Executive Director

Employment Status: Full-time, exempt

Salary: $89,000-$95,000

Benefits: Generous medical-vision-dental insurance benefit with 100% employer-paid premiums, $150/month technology allowance, $300/year transit or active transportation allowance, a SIMPLE individual retirement plan with employer match, executive coaching for 1 year

Leave Allowance: 8 paid holidays, 4 weeks paid time-off increasing to 5 weeks after two years, sick leave accrued at 4 hours/month

Reports to: Depave board and executive committee

Direct Reports: 3 Employees

About Depave

Depave is a small nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon that empowers disenfranchised communities to overcome social and environmental injustices and adapt to climate change through urban re-greening. Through our unique community-driven model, we transform over-paved places, create resilient community greenspaces, educate about the pitfalls of over-paving, advocate for policy change, and inspire an emerging world-wide Depave movement. We work with schools, churches, businesses, agencies, and nonprofits to remove asphalt and transform it into gardens, playgrounds, bioswales, and connected community green spaces. Depave’s work reduces stormwater and urban heat, and supports environmental education, child’s play, urban tree canopy, food growing, economic revitalization, joy, and inspiration in the natural world.

Over the last 17 years, Depave developed from an all-volunteer pavement demolition crew into an effective community-driven model that combines volunteer- and contractor-led urban greenspace transformations. Depave leads fundraising, outreach, design, permitting, construction, and stewardship of new pocket greenspaces with a particular focus on underserved communities. Depave’s current growing edges are: transforming a dangerous over-paved street into a green plaza, and hosting the first-ever in-person Depave Network gathering in Chicago in 2026.

Job Summary

Depave seeks an Executive Director (ED) to direct the organization’s strategic and programmatic initiatives in alignment with a five-year strategic plan; build strong community relationships to enhance the organization’s impact and sustainability; lead fundraising initiatives; ensure robust financial management; oversee daily operations and human resources; and ensure compliance with regulations and best practices. The ED will report to and partner with a highly-engaged board of directors, and will manage a staff of three and various outside contractors. The ED promotes diversity, equity and inclusion within the team and ensures effective collaboration and communication to support the organization’s goals.

Essential Functions

The Executive Director’s duties and responsibilities include:

• Strategic leadership: Lead the organization towards its five-year strategic plan goals.
• Community relationships: Cultivate and sustain relationships with diverse partners in government, nonprofit, and business sectors.
• Fundraising: Spearhead fundraising and organize the board to assist with various fundraising initiatives to grow business sponsorships, individual and foundation support.
• Staff management: Hire, supervise, on-board and support staff, and implement annual performance reviews to determine compensation and development.
• Board support: Attend, present reports, and hear feedback at board meetings. Assist board president with developing meeting agendas, prepare financial reports, support recruitment of new board members, and organize an annual retreat.
• Team culture: Cultivate and sustain a robust team spirit internally, and within several external strategic partnerships.

Required Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership and Planning: Ability to direct and implement our strategic plan, lead organizational initiatives, inspire others, and ensure alignment with long-term goals.
• Financial Management: Experience in managing finances, developing budgets, and leading strategic financial development.
• Fundraising: Leading fundraising efforts to support organizational growth and sustainability, with a particular emphasis on business, foundation, and individual donors.
• Community Relations and Representation: Competence in building and maintaining strong community relationships with diverse partners, representing the organization publicly, and enhancing its visibility with key audiences.
• Staff and Board Management: Skills in supervising staff, conducting performance reviews, hiring and onboarding. Effective at coordinating with and supporting a board of directors.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Commitment to promoting and integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team culture and organizational practices.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

A deep appreciation for the mission and values of Depave.

Innovative in spirit, values-driven, self-directed, confident and action-oriented. Exceptional interpersonal and culturally proficient communication skills.

Demonstrated ability and willingness to work independently and responsibly, but also in collaboration with internal and external partners.

Adaptable, accessible, compassionate and professional in demeanor.

Experience cultivating and growing community partnerships, particularly in the context of environmental justice work.

Cultural competence with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Demonstrated experience advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

At least five years of progressively responsible management experience with a strong track record of developing and executing strategies for growth.

At least three years of fund development, fundraising, and/or other revenue-generating experience. Familiarity with local and regional private and public funding sources.

Demonstrated willingness, ability and success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, foundation, and business donors.

Experience in designing, implementing and articulating strategic organizational development plans and operational budgets.

Experience in organizational management with the ability to coach, supervise and develop staff. Demonstrated proficiency interfacing with a board of directors.

Experience and comfort with public speaking.

To Apply

The position is open until filled. Please send one single PDF document that includes a resume and cover letter to jobs@depave.org with the subject line: Depave ED Application - “First and last name.” Applications submitted in a format other than PDF will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed beginning in early April 2025.

Please address the following in your cover letter:

1. Please describe why this position inspires you, and how your personal and professional experiences position you to be successful in this role.
2. What unique experiences or insights do you offer to help grow our movement?
3. Please describe any qualifications and skills that are relevant to your success in this position that are not apparent in your resume.