Executive Director, Northeast Recycling Council

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) seeks an experienced leader with well-developed management and facilitation skills who can broaden NERC’s impact on minimizing waste, conserving natural resources, and advancing a sustainable economy through facilitated collaboration and action.

Organization

NERC‘s programs are the result of an 11-state collaboration (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont) that emphasizes source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, environmentally preferable purchasing and decreasing the solid waste stream. Their projects and staff often impact national dialogues, contributing solutions to strategies for sustainable materials management.

A 35-year-old, $750K 501(c)3 organization, NERC acts as a facilitator to member states, the private sector, and other organizations, providing varied vehicles for collaboration, information sharing and direct support. NERC’s Board of Directors is comprised of a representative from each member state recycling agency and authorities, along with four ex officio members. The Board meets regularly with NERC staff to prioritize projects and directions. There are also 100 Advisory Members consisting of representatives from trade associations, all aspects of the recycling industry, local government, and environmental groups, providing input to committees, conferences and directly to the Board.

The NERC office is currently located in Brattleboro, Vermont, though much of the three staff members’ work is done remotely.  This position has the potential to be in-office, hybrid or remote.

Operations

• Manage staff of two
  • Assess current responsibility distribution, reassign as appropriate
• Create and oversee budget and finances
• Manage audit, reporting and compliance
• Administer and implement contracts associated with project and program activities
• Manage tenancy of Brattleboro, VT office and decision-making/logistics around maintaining or vacating.

Programming/Project Management

• In collaboration with the Board and Advisory Members, plan, develop and implement programs, projects and activities that are aligned with NERC’s mission
  • Clarify goals, assessing impact of past projects and taking into consideration priorities of different states within the Council, recent legislation, and other external factors. Work can include:
    • Research
    • Writing
    • Development of best practices
    • Convening
    • Training
    • Outreach and information sharing
• Provide fee for service consulting
• Manage relations with other associations and organizations
• Facilitate meetings and webinars that support knowledge sharing and collaboration
• Oversee annual in-person convenings.

Fundraising and External Relations

• Diversify funding sources by developing relationships that will attract new revenue streams, creating a proactive strategy that allows NERC to set goals and seek funding
• Pursue grants, overseeing implementation and reporting of deliverables
• Strengthen NERC’s relationships by growing the Advisory Membership, deepening connections, and initiating collaboration with other like-minded organizations
• Represent NERC at meetings, on boards, and with other initiatives
• Manage external communication, increasing visibility and understanding of NERC, the services it offers, and the significance of the recycling industry to the economy and environment, specifically:
  • Website
  • Social Media
  • Messaging as a response to anti-recycling media
  • Email Bulletin
  • Articles and blogs. 

Board and Advisory Member Relations

• Meet regularly with the Board and Advisory Members on various aspects of NERC’s programming goals
• Act as Secretary to the Board
• Provide regular reporting:
  • Progress or quarterly reports, annual reports, final reports to funders
  • Annual Report and Operating Plan
  • Minutes and notes from Board Meetings
  • Financial Reports.

• Minimum of 5 years of management operations experience, nonprofit preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven networking and convening skills
• Fundraising and grant writing experience
• Group facilitation preferred
• Experience managing staff, preferably in a remote context
• Experience with sustainable materials management and recycling preferred, a passion necessary.

Additional

• Residency within one of the 11 NERC states is required (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, or Vermont).

Application Guidelines

This executive search is being conducted by TSNE with consultants Anna Asphar and Mimi Brunelle.  Interested candidates should submit materials via this link. Electronic submissions sent through this link are preferred. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential within the search committee.

Candidates should include a resume and a cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of NERC, along with salary expectations and how they learned of the position. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. The approximate salary range for this position is $95-$105K.  NERC also offers a benefits package that includes medical, long-term disability, paid time off, and a retirement savings plan.

NERC actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates and welcomes people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, religions, ages, and sexual orientations to apply. NERC will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.