Executive Director
The Coast Salmon Foundation is looking for an energetic, conservation-minded person with
strong leadership skills who is passionate about salmon and steelhead on the Washington
coast.

Organizational Background
The Executive Director is an employee of the Coast Salmon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization based in Aberdeen, Washington. The Foundation serves as fiscal sponsor to the Coast
Salmon Partnership, which is the Washington State salmon recovery organization formed by Interlocal
Agreement among Tribes, counties, cities, and port districts of the Washington coast. The Washington
Coast Salmon Recovery Region spans the geography from Cape Flattery to Cape Disappointment. The
Partnership and Foundation serve a network of partner organizations across the Washington coast
region. Our role is to facilitate collaborative decision making in support of salmon recovery and to equip
partner organizations with the resources they need for on-the-ground work, including administrative and
technical support, fundraising, and outreach.

The Washington Coast Salmon Recovery Region produces the most abundant and diverse wild Pacific
salmon populations in the contiguous United States. The region has more than half of the Washington’s
salmonid populations that are not currently listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since the
Coast Salmon Partnership was formed in 2009, our focus has been on preventing ESA listing through
sustainability planning, and this distinguishes our work from other regional salmon recovery
organizations in Washington State. However, as salmon and steelhead numbers continue to decline in
coastal watersheds, we are adapting our approach to increase the focus on ESA-listed Lake Ozette
Sockeye Salmon and awaiting pending decisions on additional ESA listings.

Position Summary
This is an executive management position reporting to the Coast Salmon Foundation (Foundation)
Board of Directors, in consultation with the Coast Salmon Partnership (Partnership) Board of Directors.
The Executive Director leads the collaborative and strategic implementation of salmon recovery actions
for the Washington Coast Salmon Recovery Region. This position represents the Partnership and
Foundation in technical and policy forums at the local, state, and federal levels and is responsible for a
full range of managerial functions, including policy, financial, personnel, and facility needs. The position
secures funding from the state, federal, and private sectors. The position also engages in interagency
coordination, elected official outreach, and media relations.

The Executive Director supervises a staffing team of five people who have diverse expertise in habitat
restoration, facilitation, spatial data, business administration, and communications. Employees operate in
a supportive and collaborative work environment and are expected to take individual leadership in their
respective area of expertise.

The Executive Director should have strong communication and writing skills and working knowledge of
natural resource and land use policy. The incumbent should have local knowledge of the region,
managerial experience, and an interest in nonprofit development. The incumbent should be comfortable
with diverse viewpoints and disagreements and have the ability to move past disagreements to identify
paths forward. A firm understanding of Tribal treaty rights and knowledge of laws and regulations
pertaining to salmon recovery are essential for this position.

Job Functions
The Executive Director works collaboratively with Tribal and state co-managers, federal agencies, local
governments, conservation districts, and nonprofit organizations engaged in salmon recovery in the
Washington coast region. Three major areas of job function are leadership, operational planning and
management, and nonprofit development.
Leadership:
• Work with the Partnership Board of Directors to identify core priorities that advance the
Washington Coast Sustainable Salmon Plan.
• Represent the Washington Coast Salmon Recovery Region in local, state, and federal
technical and policy forums, including the Council of Regions and Salmon Recovery Funding
Board.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships to advance salmon recovery, including the Cold
Water Connection Campaign, Prioritized Watershed Restoration, and Salmon Recovery
Network.
• Establish and maintain a relationship network with community groups, funders, elected
officials, and other organizations to help achieve the goals of the organization.
Operational Planning and Management:
• Support the Partnership and Foundation Board of Directors and designated committees.
Oversee scheduling, agenda preparation, meeting summaries, and provide facilitation
services as needed.
• Maintain a safe and productive working environment for staff, volunteers, and contractors.
Serve as liaison between staff and the Board of Directors.
• Develop annual work plans that address core priorities of the Partnership and Foundation.
• Develop budgets, make payments, and prepare financial reports.
• Manage payable and receivable contracts and grants, ensuring compliance with
organizational procurement policy.
• Develop human resource, fiscal, and administrative policies for approval by the Foundation
Board of Directors, as needed. Prepare procedures to implement organizational policies.
Review existing policies on an annual basis and recommend changes to Foundation Board,
as appropriate.
• Identify, assess, and inform Foundation Board of internal and external issues that affect the
organization: provide solution options for Board consideration.

Nonprofit Development:
• Work with the Foundation Board of Directors to implement the Foundation’s Strategic Plan.
• Secure revenue from governmental, foundation, corporate, and individual funding sources.
• Maintain a high level of fiscal accountability, including internal controls, internal and external
audits, and nonprofit financial reporting at the state and federal level.
• Build and maintain relationships with public officials, tribal government leaders, community
organizations, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of Washington state salmon recovery
• Knowledge of Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights
• Knowledge of habitat protection and restoration, including regulatory requirements
• Ability to facilitate constructive discussions with diverse groups of people and ideas
• Ability to work independently, multi-task, and prioritize work
• Experience synthesizing technical and policy information,
• Excellent writing and speaking skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, ArcGIS, and R software (preferred)

Qualifications
Education: A Master’s degree from an accredited university or college in environmental science,
environmental policy, fisheries, or a related field.
Experience: At least 4 years of professional experience in the areas listed below:
• Experience with principles and practices of natural resources planning, management
and implementation, and research tools
• Experience with public speaking
• Experience with fundraising, grant and proposal writing
• Experience with project management and program development
• Experience with fisheries data analysis (preferred)
Transportation: Must have a valid driver’s license and a vehicle available to be used for work.

Working Conditions
This is an exempt, full-time, salaried position. Office location is the Coast Salmon Foundation office in
Aberdeen, Washington. Hybrid work schedule is possible depending on board approval.
Time spent in this position will be split between an office setting and out-of-office meetings/events with
occasional field work. This incumbent will work outside of the normal work day (9a.m. – 5p.m. Monday
– Friday) and occasionally on weekends.
Compensation
• Salary range $90,000 – $100,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation leave. Other leave as provided by law.

• Group health insurance (75% covered by employer) and retirement benefits (up to 3%
employer match).
• Approved travel is compensated at rates established by the Office of Financial Management for
the State of Washington.

To Apply
• Send cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 professional references to Christa Bale,
Coast Salmon Foundation christa@coastsalmonpartnership.org.
• Recruitment is open until filled. A review of applications will begin on January 3, 2025.

The Coast Salmon Foundation is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors protected by law.