The Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture (CSCC) is excited to announce an opportunity for a passionate and driven individual with a big vision to work collaboratively towards the broader adoption of sustainable living practices with the goal of creating resilient, empowered, and nurturing communities.

The Executive Director/Lead Link will take a lead role in supporting Dancing Rabbit, one of North America’s most well-established ecovillages, by working day to day with creative people of diverse views and skill sets and shepherding a long-term plan for the organization. This opportunity in a rustic, rural, and radically sustainable community environment, is ideal for a committed communitarian or environmentalist looking to work in a values-aligned position; a budding non-profit professional looking to take on more responsibilities; or someone who has always wanted to live in community and brings professional skills, boundless energy and a creative and pragmatic approach to complex problem solving.

CSCC uses a Holacratic governance system, so the successful candidate will share accountability and authority in a radically empowered team, rather than occupying the role of a traditional manager. CSCC is the nonprofit branch of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage and manages its education, outreach, development, and research functions. You can read the Dancing Rabbit vision statement here.

Candidates who hold traditionally underrepresented identities are encouraged to apply.

You can find more information on Holacracy, Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, CSCC, and the Executive Director/Lead Link role here.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Time Commitment: up to 25 hrs / week*

*The Executive Director / Lead Link position engages with and will potentially function as other roles in the organization. Therefore, time commitment varies as organizational situation dictates.

Salary Range: $19-$24/hr

Required Qualifications

Education and Training: A minimum of 5 years of leadership and lived experience in a related environment or a bachelor's degree that supports the candidate in this position.

Experience: Familiarity with cooperative and complex human and group dynamics as well as a willingness to undertake on-the-job training in holacracy, to develop understanding sufficient to participate in and work with the community and staff using that model.

Location: Must live in or be willing to relocate to Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Red Earth Farms, or Sandhill. Candidates living in the nearby area but not in one of those communities will be considered.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Lead Link is responsible for stewarding the resources of the nonprofit so that it can operate most effectively. The person in this role ensures that the staff, Board, and membership have sufficient and up-to-date information on the organization, as well as required resources for operations. The Lead Link is the “buck stops here,” bottom-line person, responsible for making sure that the work of the organization is carried out and managed effectively.

The Lead Link aids in making day-to-day decisions for CSCC which express and carry out its purpose. This includes bottom-lining the implementation of its plans and managing its human, financial, and physical resources. Finally, the Lead Link both shepherds the formulation of policies and planning recommendations to the Board and guides staff operations.

The Lead Link must develop an understanding of how related organizations function and cooperate with the nonprofit, both legally and informally through its operations. These organizations include a land trust, a vehicle cooperative, a micro-grid electricity cooperative, and the village’s infrastructure cooperative.

The Lead Link role has a strong interpersonal component and holds responsibility for balancing the needs of people inside the community, ensuring that all views are included.

Some daily activities may include the following:

Coordinating with multiple staff to facilitate successful programming and operations (such as internships, inn guests, or fundraising campaigns), both in person and over email
On-boarding new staff
Developing new programs
Creating and managing budgets for the organization
Building relationships with potential and existing donors
Visioning new ideas for CSCC outreach and funding
Connecting with staff to ensure their needs are well met
Using Salesforce business management software and Google Sheets to track organizational data
Meeting with the CSCC Board of Directors over Zoom
Communicating with those residing in the village to ensure their perspectives are included in decision making

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Supervisory and management capability (oversight responsibility for day-to-day operations of the organization, human resources, and budgeting).
Ability to allow for, accept, and embrace initiative and leadership emerging from within the organization, which may include releasing authority to other roles.
Leadership skills (proactive preparation for and understanding of the needs for the success of the organization; working in partnership with staff, the Board and the community to identify ways to meet those needs).
Strong time management skills, including the ability to set boundaries between work and personal life.
Ability to prioritize, organize, track, and schedule complex tasks.
Critical thinking and problem solving while holding the vision of the overall project.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Proficiency with and/or ability to learn to use technology (such as Google Docs, Salesforce, OpenOffice, spreadsheets, accounting software, AWeber, or WordPress) at a level sufficient to oversee staff in those roles and to grant/rescind access as necessary.
Navigating dynamics and process between various stakeholders.
Understanding of the context and dynamics of intentional communities and of the consensus process.
Ability to work well with others and create positive professional relationships.
Willingness to work through and resolve conflict.

TO APPLY

Please email the Lead Link Hiring Committee (search@dancingrabbit.org) with a cover letter that highlights your qualifications, including your relationship with Dancing Rabbit and the Tri-Communities or with the Communities movement more broadly; a résumé; and contact information for three professional references.

CSCC is deeply committed to creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates the diversity of all of our employees. We respect the dignity and inherent rights of all individuals and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other federal, state, or local protected class. CSCC believes its greatest strength is its team, and continuously focuses on equitable hiring, training, promotional practices, and policies.

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Executive Director/ Lead Link