Executive Director Position Description

Last updated June 12, 2026

Position Title: Executive Director

Reports To: OVLC’s Board of Directors

Classification: Full-Time Exempt

Location: On-Site, Ojai Valley, CA. This position requires a consistent on-site presence to effectively lead

staff, engage stakeholders, support organizational operations, and represent the organization throughout

the community.

About OVLC

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) is a nationally accredited land trust with a powerful mission to

protect and restore the natural landscapes of the Ojai Valley forever. The organization works to

permanently acquire, protect, restore, and conserve lands cherished by the community for the use and

enjoyment of this and future generations. Established in 1987, the organization delivers a breadth of land

protection, restoration and stewardship programs and is supported by an incredible team of 20 dedicated

staff members and a highly engaged community of volunteers, contributing over 6,650 volunteer hours

annually. The organization currently protects more than 2,600 acres of open space, manages 27 miles of

recreational trails, guides hundreds of visitors, and hosts tens of thousands of schoolchildren, hikers,

equestrians, bikers, and more each year.

Funding for OVLC comes from broad-based community support, government agencies, private

foundations and environmental mitigation funds. The conservancy is supported by over 2,150 annual

donors and is governed by a 14-member Board.

The organization is poised for significant growth with the anticipated acquisition and restoration of Rancho

Cañada Larga – a 6,500 acre area that will more than triple OVLC’s current land holdings. This expansion

provides the opportunity for OVLC to do even more in securing the community’s collective future through

science-based restoration, stewardship and recreational programs. The organization is entering its next

phase of growth and development as it expands its capacity to maintain its exemplary level of stewardship

with this exciting and significant project.

Location

The Ojai Valley is a picturesque community of approximately 22,000 people and is adjacent to Los Padres

National Forest, 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The community is comprised of residential,

agricultural, and wild lands - citrus and avocado trees abound. It is a passionate and supportive

community and one OVLC anticipates the Executive Director will become an embedded and beloved

member of.

Position Overview

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is seeking an Executive Director to lead its next chapter of growth and

development. OVLC is at an exciting point in time – poised to triple its land holdings, mature its operations,

and grow its staff and volunteer base to provide exceptional stewardship to its increasing land base. OVLC

is seeking someone who can build off the existing strengths in the organization (talented team, strong

organizational culture, deep community support, exceptional program quality, financial health, etc.) to

enable the organization to significantly increase its impact and be an employer of choice in the Ojai Valley.

For this next chapter of the organization’s growth and development, we are seeking an experienced leader

who has a powerful combination of passion for OVLC’s mission, land conservation expertise,

organizational leadership experience, and someone who thrives on guiding an organization through a

period of growth and maturing operations.

Position Summary

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the organization and is responsible for

providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, financial stewardship, fundraising leadership, and

community engagement in support of the organization's mission. Working in partnership with the Board of

Directors and the OVLC staff, the Executive Director ensures organizational sustainability, program

excellence, and mission impact. The Executive Director directly supervises the Deputy Director, Director of

Field Programs, and Restoration Program Director and is supported by the Board, a dedicated staff team,

and a highly engaged group of volunteers.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Lead development & implementation of the organization's strategic plan

Partner with the Board to establish organizational priorities and short and long-term goals

Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and trends

Maintain up-to-date Strategic Conservation Plan

Drive innovation and organizational growth and development

Ensure alignment between mission, strategy, and operations

Serve as primary OVLC representative in local matters that relate to conservation, and with

regional and national trusts

Board Partnership and Governance

Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors

Support effective governance practices

Provide timely and accurate financial, program, and other relevant information to facilitate

Board decision-making

Assist in Board development, recruitment, and engagement

Attend all Board and Committee meetings

Organizational Leadership and Operations

Foster a positive, inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture

Supervise staff including setting performance objectives, managing and evaluating

performance, and developing senior professional staff

Ensure effective organizational structure and resource allocation

Oversee organizational operations, ensuring systems are in place for effective people

management, financial management, fundraising management and conservation management

Establish and monitor organizational performance metrics

Ensure OVLC compliance with organizations’ policies and procedures, government rules and

regulations, required licenses and permits, and Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices

Financial Management

Ensure compliance with financial policies and regulations

Work closely with finance staff, auditors, and Board Finance Committee

Work with Treasurer to develop annual operating budget and operating plan for Board approval

and oversee implementation

Ensure financial sustainability and responsible stewardship of resources

Monitor financial performance and cash flow

Ensure accuracy of monthly financial statements and regular evaluation and reporting of

budget results

Obtain a satisfactory audit annually

With accounting firm, file OVLC’s Federal and State 990 returns

Land and Easements

Direct acquisition projects, including leading the Acquisition Committee and Board in

evaluating and deciding on land protection projects

Serve as a primary OVLC representative with landowners regarding potential donations and

acquisitions and with landowners whose lands are under OVLC protection

Assist conservation efforts to build and nurture relationships with landowners, key

stakeholders, and agency partners

Stewardship

Ensure baseline documentation and management plans for newly acquired properties and

easements are created

Set annual priorities for maintaining and improving existing properties, and conduct and record

annual easement monitoring

Conduct site visits to OVLC’s most frequented properties for stewardship needs and assist

with major stewardship work projects

Fundraising and Resource Development

Oversee the successful development and implementation of an annual fundraising plan

Cultivate relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders

Partner with the Board on fundraising activities

Identify new revenue opportunities

Serve as a visible ambassador for the organization

Work with Deputy Director in solicitation of major gifts and planned giving programs and in the

implementation of all membership recruitment and retention programs and fundraising

activities

External Relations and Community Engagement

Represent the organization with key stakeholders

Strengthen community visibility and reputation

Build strategic partnerships and collaborations

Serve as a spokesperson for the organization and advocate for its mission

Represent OVLC through public presentation and participation in community events

Serve as primary media contact for OVLC, creating press releases and media advisories

Oversee and contribute to social media communications and ensure OVLC website is up to

date and accurate

Compliance and Risk Management

Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies

Oversee organizational risk management efforts

Maintain ethical and transparent practices

Ensure proper governance and accountability systems

Desired Qualifications

Passion for OVLC's mission and commitment to conservation

Conservation, land trust, and/or land management experience and subject matter expertise

Executive Director, CEO, or equivalent senior leadership experience successfully guiding an

organization through a period of growth while strengthening operations, developing

organizational capacity, and preserving culture

Experience leading large-scale land acquisition, conservation, and stewardship initiatives

Strong strategic thinking, vision-setting, and planning capabilities

Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and relationship management

Exceptional partnership-building, community engagement, and stakeholder management skills

Demonstrated success building strong relationships with Boards of Directors and advancing

governance practices to support a growing and increasingly complex organization

Experience building deeply respectful partnerships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous

communities, and/or organizations engaged in Indigenous land stewardship, or demonstrated

commitment and ability to develop expertise in this area

Knowledge of California conservation issues, policies, and regulatory environments, or a

willingness and ability to quickly develop this expertise

Strong financial management skills, and understanding of relevant legal and policy

considerations

Desired Leadership Competencies

Deep connection to OVLC's mission, values, and the lands and communities it serves

Transparent, authentic, and effective communicator

High emotional intelligence, integrity, and professionalism

Skilled at fostering trust, partnerships, and team engagement during periods of change

Empowers individuals and teams through trust, accountability, and shared ownership

Collaborative, inclusive, and relationship-centered leadership style

Adaptable, approachable, and open to feedback and diverse perspectives

Decisive, thoughtful, and composed under pressure

Demonstrates strong ethical judgment and accountability

Builds meaningful community relationships and serves as a visible organizational ambassador

Honors organizational history while thoughtfully leading future growth and evolution

A Note to Prospective Candidates: The qualifications outlined above describe the experience and

attributes that would position a candidate for success in this role. We recognize that exceptional

candidates may not meet every qualification listed above and research consistently shows that many

talented individuals hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. OVLC welcomes applications

from individuals whose experiences may differ from those listed, but who can demonstrate the leadership,

skills, judgment, passion for the mission, and commitment necessary to excel as Executive Director at this

stage in the organization’s growth.

Key Initial Priorities for the Next Executive Director

Successfully lead OVLC through the acquisition and management planning for Rancho Cañada

Larga

Strengthen organizational infrastructure and systems to support growth

Develop and deepen relationships with donors, partners, and other key stakeholders

Establish community presence and deepen relationships across the Ojai Valley

Continue cultivating a high-performing and engaged organizational culture

Partner with the Board to advance governance practices and strategic planning

Compensation and Benefits

OVLC offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation package designed to attract and retain

exceptional leadership talent.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $160,000–$195,000 annually. This range represents the

organization's good-faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting. Final

compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including the selected candidate's

experience, qualifications, skills, and internal equity considerations.

Benefits include:

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan, with 3% Employer Match

Paid Sick Leave (80 hrs./year)

Paid Company-Recognized Holidays (currently 14 days/year)

Paid Vacation Time

0-2 years of service: 12 days/year

2-5 years of service: 15 days/year

5 years+ of service: 20 days/year

In addition, significantly reduced-cost rental housing on OVLC property may be available for the

selected candidate, if desired, providing a unique opportunity to live within and further connect with the

community served by the organization.

OVLC is committed to providing a compensation and benefits package that supports the well-being,

professional growth, and long-term success of its employees. OVLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All

decisions to recruit, hire, promote and release from employment are made without regard to race, color,

religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disabilities, or

veteran status.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and

interest in the position.

This executive search is being supported by Sadowski Coaching & Consulting’s Executive Search Services.

All applications, nominations, and confidential inquiries regarding the position should be directed to:

Krysta Sadowski

Sadowski Coaching & Consulting, LLC

Email: Krysta@KrystaSadowski.com

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Early application is encouraged. All inquiries and application materials will be handled confidentially.