Vice President, Nature and Agriculture Properties

What we do. The Trustees of Reservations is the nation’s first conservation and preservation organization and one of Massachusetts’ largest non-profits. Our mission is to protect and share the irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures under our care with the public. The Trustees of Reservations is presently at a defining moment in its history. Over the past few years we have grown annual revenues from $24 million to over $40 million and now welcome more than 2 million visitors annually. We improve quality of life across the Commonwealth and we provide powerful connections to nature and culture for residents and visitors.

The Opportunity. Reporting the CEO and President, the Vice President of Nature and Agriculture Properties will manage and lead a portfolio of properties in communities across the state including farms, hiking trails and pristine natural landscapes. The portfolio includes Boston Community Gardens, Appleton Farms (Ipswich), Powisset Farm (Dover), Weir River Farm and Land’s End (Hingham), The FARM Institute (Martha’s Vineyard). This is a statewide position with frequent travel to communities where we work and can be based at headquarters (Boston) or our western offices (Florence). The position affords external and internal leadership opportunities. Externally, the VP will interact closely with community leaders, Trustees’ governance, volunteers, and donors. Internally, the VP will provide expert leadership and management for 5 Property Directors while setting clear expectations that are aligned with organizational priorities.

Are you a match? This is a tremendous opportunity for a creative and hardworking executive seeking to leverage prior leadership experience in either hospitality, tourism/agritourism, recreation, land conservation or an environmentally focused nonprofit. We are looking for an agile and creative seasoned leader who has a track record of driving results through expert internal stakeholder management, operations leadership, and revenue optimization strategies.

Scope of Responsibilities.

I. Implement a Triple Bottom Line Across the Culture Portfolio of Properties. The Vice President, Nature and Agriculture Properties will manage and drive gains in the following areas:

• Visitor Experience: The Vice President will ensure a stellar visitor experience across the culture portfolio which includes expanding visitor amenities, providing a sense of welcome and inclusion, driving expectations for high-quality visitor service, ensuring interpretation and programming is top-notch, as well as developing and carefully maintaining impactful relationships with our volunteers and community stakeholders.

• Resource Stewardship: The Vice President will be an active leader in the achievement of baseline standards for every property in the portfolio. The VP will also oversee a standard of excellence for care across all resources: landscape, buildings, and collections.

• Financial Sustainability: Ensure that each property portfolio is effectively managing cost and revenue opportunities. This includes the ongoing monitoring of the financial position of properties as well as identifying and driving growth opportunities via earned income and philanthropy.

• KPI Management: The Trustees utilizes a series of key performance indicators to monitor property portfolio success. The VP will develop, monitor, and be responsible for meeting and exceeding annual KPI targets.

II. Actively Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts & Central Divisions. The Trustees deploy a matrixed structure where strategy is developed by central functions and delivered in the field by property leadership. The Vice President will collaborate with fellow executives to interpret and cascade statewide strategy across the Nature & Agriculture portfolio, specifically:

Oversee the systematization and execution of effective partnerships: The Trustees are a fast-paced and growing organization that is dependent on consistent collaboration between property leadership and several central departments. The Vice President will maintain a high-level perspective on, and mentorship and involvement in, important cross-functional collaborations including curatorial, fundraising, marketing, programming, stewardship, and agriculture.

Develop a set of strategies and protocols: This position will work closely with its executive counterpart (VP of Art and Culture), to find opportunities to streamline important interdependencies with central functions and subject matter experts.

III. Provide Executive Leadership:

• Represent the organization in select community collaboratives/committees/advisory groups/public meetings related to The Trustees’ community initiatives.

• Uphold a high professional standard in all engagements.

• Deploy a mindset that is entrepreneurial and values innovation and leadership.

• Serve as a member of the Executive Team, which includes participating in policy development, management decisions, strategic planning, supporting the Board of Directors, and modeling the core values of the organization.

• Communicate with internal and external partners to promote the work of The Trustees.

• Develop and steward positive relationships with donors and funders.

• Works in conjunction with other Trustees’ divisions to develop innovative ways to share the story and impact of our work.

Education and Requirements.

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree; Master’s preferred.

• 10-plus years of progressively responsible management of staff and programs in hospitality, tourism, museum or arts, and culture nonprofit sectors.

• Demonstrated management and leadership expertise and a track record of effectively leading an outcomes-based operation and staff. Exceptional candidates will possess an impressive track record of growing enterprise revenue.

• Strong commitment to staff development and a successful track record of recruiting, retaining and leading a diverse team.

• Demonstrated expertise in financial management, including financial planning and budget management.

• Ability to navigate a fast-paced and dynamic matrixed organization. Exceptional candidates will have experience in managing change in complex environments.

• Ability to collaborate and build cross-functional team alignment.

• Strong critical thinking skills; ability to assess needs, set priorities, make complex decisions and drive results.

• Proven track record of delivering a great visitor experience within a museum and/or cultural setting.

• Outstanding communication and presentation skills and the experience and proclivity to be an outstanding spokesperson.

• Excellent relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

• Passion for the values, mission and purpose of The Trustees.

• A successful track record in setting priorities; keen analytic, organization and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making.

• Experience working with donors and corporate volunteer groups a plus.

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of The Trustees.

  

Benefits.

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance, with employer premium contributions ranging from 75% – 85% based on plan level.

• Traditional and Roth 401K Retirement accounts available for employees to contribute to upon hire and a 5% employer match after one year of employment

• Day of Service: employees take one regular workday per year to travel to another property to help with a specific project.

• Day of Wonder: employees take one regular workday to explore a Trustees property.

• Discounts and access to properties equivalent to a family membership to The Trustees.

In addition to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, The Trustees of Reservations aim to create a thriving, inclusive workplace that values each member of our team. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

We kindly request that you do not call to inquire about the status of your application. Those candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted.