Executive Search Firm:

12707 High Bluff Drive,
Second Floor
San Diego, CA 92130
858.350.4330
Fax: 760.634.1533

THE ORGANIZATION:

Equinox Center is a new 501c3 created by leaders from the business and  environmental communities in San Diego.  It is a non-partisan, independent, nonprofit research center focused on economically sound environmental sustainability for the San Diego region.

The Center will bring together leaders and ideas to drive practical solutions in the following areas:

• Smart Growth and Land Use
• Transportation
• Green Building
• Energy and Water Efficiency

POSITION SUMMARY:

Equinox Center is seeking an innovative and diplomatic leader to guide its development.   

Working at the intersection of scientific understanding, community values and economic strength, Equinox will provide San Diego’s community leaders with usable information, practical vision and innovative practices. The Board would like to explore “Smarter Growth” (density) as the initial focus area for Equinox Center. This is a central, highly leveraged topic that affects issues of urban development, habitat preservation, mass transit, quality of life, economic sustainability, and other issues related to a projected regional population increase of one million residents by 2030.

The Board of Directors and the Strategic Advisors of Equinox Center are leaders from business, the environmental community, academe, government and the media. The Board has secured three years of funding to provide a stable financial base for developing this important strategic resource for the San Diego region.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

• Refine the vision, mission and create a strategic plan with the Board of Directors.
• Determine desired outcomes and related milestones for next three years.
• Relationship-building – identify stakeholders, create relationships with high-profile “influencers” in government, business, the environmental community, academe and the media.
• Fundraising – begin building a diversified funding base by exploring potential support from major foundations, public and private grant sources, and cultivating a strategic set of major donors.
• Review best practices and policy studies from other policy centers (e.g. Sightline, PPIC, CCRL, TPL, SmartGrowth America, Next 10.)
• Create the organizational plan with support from the Board, including governance policies, fund development, information technology, financial and administrative systems.
• Create staffing plans and hire staff as required.
• Set the research agenda and oversee research; identify a set of initial high impact projects based on stakeholder interviews (business, community, government, academe) and strategic analysis. Identify potential partners, and potential users of research.
• Serve as organization’s spokesperson; as research results become available, craft compelling messages for government officials, business leaders, community groups and the media.

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS

• Strategic and mission-focused leader: determines key leverage points, sets initiatives and long-term solutions to ensure sustainable prosperity and proactive environmental stewardship for the San Diego region.
• Policy influencer: formulates and influences policy; understands political dynamics, frames issues objectively and finds common ground with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Creative problem solver and innovative thinker: proposes “proactive solutions” and builds alliances with leaders of the community, business, government, military and nonprofit organizations.
• Articulate and diplomatic communicator:translates science-based research into compelling policy options for “key policy influencers”, the media, and the community. Communicates ideas diplomatically to various stakeholders. Serves as spokesperson of Equinox.
• Non-Profit Fundraising expertise: cultivates strong Board relationships to manage and leverage funding. Responsible for ultimate success of all fundraising activities.
• Focus on accountability:  concentrates on outcomes measurement, sets measurable performance targets and determines if proposed solutions are achieving desired community outcomes.

Experience Desired:

• Minimum ten years experience in a management position in a for-profit or not-for-profit organization
• Significant experience in public speaking, media presentations, public relations and related activities
• Board experience with a non-profit organization
• Demonstrated success implementing a strategic plan
• Success as a consensus builder with multiple stakeholders
• Five to ten years of policy experience

Personal Attributes:

• High integrity
• Strong, dynamic leader
• Excellent communicator
• Creative problem-solver
• Results/metrics driven
• Strong partnership/teamwork skills
• Strategic thinker and planner
• Self-starter, ability to work independently

Education:

Bachelors Degree required; Masters Degree preferred.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to mary@bentehansen.com.