POSITION SUMMARY

The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) is seeking an Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer to manage and direct activities of the Association from facilities owned by the OAN, located in Wilsonville, Oregon, on the south side of the Portland metropolitan area.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer offers vision and leadership with regard to the OAN's goals, objectives, and day-to-day program implementation. Along with the Board, this position determines business strategies, formulates policies, and provides overall direction for the Association. The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer enables the Board to fulfill its governance function. The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer is responsible for proposing an agenda of issues to receive the attention and support of the Association. The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer manages and directs a team of five senior staff who provide leadership and support for programs and activities in the areas of marketing, government relations, events and education, communications and publications, and finance and administration.

While the Board directs the Association’s policy and prioritizes issues, officers rely on the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer to surface and recommend issues the Association should pursue, both at the state and federal level. Thus, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer must identify, develop, and prioritize important issues for the Board to consider, and then execute the policy directives of the Board.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer provides executive supervision, training, and direction to the 12-person staff and OAN committees to operate within the annual budget (currently $2.8M per year) and to achieve the objectives set forth by the Association. The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer has overall responsibility for all legal and financial services of the Association.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer reports to and serves at the pleasure of the Association’s Board of Directors. The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer frequently confers with the elected Board President (an annual rotating position), and is responsible for regularly convening and supporting meetings of the 7-member Executive Committee.

Staff management includes 12 positions. The Association staff are organized with five senior staff reporting to the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer: Directors of Finance and Administration, Marketing, Events and Education, Publications and Communications, and Government Relations.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

External Role of the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer – Issues Management, Legislation, Regulation

• Manage the process of representing members’ interests on political, legislative, and regulatory issues at state and national levels.
• Monitor, understand, and translate evolving public, political, and media perspectives related to the nursery and greenhouse industry, and agriculture generally, to proactively position the OAN and its members on public policy and industry issues.
• Serve as lead spokesperson before media and public audiences on leading issues of interest to Oregon's nursery and greenhouse industry.
• Act as ambassador for the OAN by fostering and retaining professional relationships with industry trade organizations, consulting partners, key business/university leaders, and outside public and governmental agencies. Manage the legislative and regulatory agenda; recommend issues and policies to the Board and respond to their policy decisions.
• Manage the contract consultant in Washington DC who represents the Association on federal legislative and regulatory issues, and manage a second consultant that supports the Association's plant pest and disease agenda.
• Provide liaison with other industry nursery organizations; develop and maintain collaborative relationships with state and national nursery associations.
• Provide leadership in strategizing and coalition building with other general agricultural and commodity organizations, non-governmental organizations, and stakeholders.

Internal Role of the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer – Business Management, Member Service

• Keep the Association vision, mission, goals, and challenges in the forefront of all staff, members, and stakeholders.
• Hire, supervise, and motivate a professional staff of 12.
• Lead and direct senior staff to

o Effectively manage the budget and finances of the Association.
o Assure legal compliance of the Association and all entities administered by the Association, including lobbying and political action committees.
o Provide timely, accurate, and relevant member services, including those that generate Association revenues.
o Communicate with members through email newsletters, the Association's magazine, and personal interaction (groups and one-on-one).
o Recruit new members and retain existing members.

• Maintain an inclusive and unified working relationship with the Board of Directors, staff, consultants, and members that emphasizes open dialogue.
• Work with the Board President to establish an annual calendar of meeting dates and to prepare and submit agendas and background materials for the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.
• Personally communicate with members and prospective members regarding the value the Association provides to the nursery industry and related businesses.
• Take on special activities and responsibilities as directed by the Board of Directors.
• Submit a written monthly column for publication in the Association's Digger Magazine.
• Supervise and manage key projects, including initiatives on plant pests and disease risks.