Executive Director

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A B O U T   U S

The Sheridan, Wyoming based Powder River Basin Resource Council is a respected and effective member-led organization in its fiftieth year of working on behalf of Wyoming’s air, land, and water, its people and its non-human residents.  Our commitments are to: the preservation and enrichment of our agricultural heritage and rural identity; the conservation of our land, water, air, and mineral resources consistent with the responsible use of those resources to sustain the web of life of which we are a part; and the education and empowerment of our residents such that each one of us can participate in making the decisions that shape our environment and our communities.

Our new executive director will join a financially strong organization with a grassroots base and committed knowledgeable board members who work with the organization’s staff to advance our members’ priorities. We are excited to work with our new executive director to chart a strategic direction for the next fifty years, to update our staff structure, and to rebuild our team following staff departures in 2024. This is a time of growth and opportunity at Powder River.

P O S I T I O N   S U M M A R Y

The executive director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization.  The director leads our staff and works with the board to plan the long-term direction, priorities, and policies of Powder River.  This means developing relationships with and between staff and board members, community members, individual and organizational funders, and a wide variety of community organizations.  While the position is based in Sheridan, Wyoming where the organization’s office is located, travel and weekend work are sometimes required.  In addition to the responsibilities listed below, the executive director is sometimes asked to carry out other duties as assigned by the board of directors

P O S I T I O N   R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

As to Leadership and Values

• building relationships of trust with Powder River’s staff, board, members, and allies;
• creating with the board and staff strategic planning that engages our members and Wyoming’s residents to plan for the future;
• seeing the big picture–envisioning long-term possibilities with a focus on goals as much as on tasks;
• bringing community organizing values to our conversations along with strong facilitating skills and a commitment to building consensus;
• honoring and promoting member-leaders as spokespeople for the organization and as  visible leaders and
• voices for Powder River with funders and in broader coalitions;

With the Board

• reporting to and working as a partner with Powder River’s board to ensure strong governance policies and fiscal health;
• cultivating the development of an engaged board equipped with necessary information, shared
• understanding and analysis of issues, and ownership of the organization;
• bringing policy recommendations to the board, engaging the board in strategic decisions;
• preparing with the board chair meeting agendas and materials, the time and place of meetings, as well as
• assisting the chair in planning and facilitating meetings to encourage participation, open discussion, the
• freedom to question, and consensual decision-making;
• ensuring that the board chair and board are conversant with ongoing issues and campaigns;
• serving as liaison to board committees;
• informing the board of management changes and areas where staff needs assistance;
• implementing board decisions and communicating these to the general membership.

With the staff

• ensuring equity in staff hiring, training, development, supervision, and dismissal
• developing with staff ongoing work plans and assignments;
• delegating and sharing staff responsibilities;
• overseeing practices to update staff structure when needed so as to strengthen internal relations to increase
• our impact and sustainability;
• implementing personnel policies and conducting regular staff evaluations so as to mentor individuals and
• help them work as effectively as possible.

With financial matters

• ensuring that the organization is fiscally sound and financially healthy;
• preparing with the board’s Finance Committee the yearly budget to ensure that financial resources are used
• effectively and appropriately in advancing Powder River’s mission, strategies, and priorities, and to monitor and report on the budget throughout the year;
• overseeing the fundraising strategy and annual internal and external fundraising plans and campaigns to
• support sustainable funding necessary to carry out our work, including preparing and submitting grant proposals and reports;
• coordinating with the office administrator membership development and renewal;
• maintaining with the office administrator proper accounting procedures and the filing of required financial reports;
• ensuring that all activities maintain the organization’s 501(c)3 status.

With outside organizations

• representing Powder River at the Western Organization of Resource Council’s staff meetings and trainings;
• participating in professional development seminars and reporting to the board as to how such training can be used in the workplace;
• speaking and writing on behalf of Powder River with members, Wyoming individuals and community representatives, government agencies, elected officials, and industry representatives;
• guiding Powder River’s work at the state legislature.