employment
The Access Fund Access Director
Primary function: The Access Director (AD) manages core programs in advocacy, grassroots activism, conservation, stewardship and education.
Description: The AD provides support for local affiliate organizations and activists and takes direct action where necessary and appropriate to successfully achieve our shared missions. Work is accomplished through grassroots support programs and direct action campaigns that empower local climbing communities to address access and conservation concerns through outreach, advocacy, education and stewardship. The AD must know, support and espouse Access Fund policy positions and statements. The AD works closely with the Executive Director, Policy Director and Grassroots Coordinator. The AD is employed at the Access Fund's national headquarters in Boulder, Colorado and maintains an office in this facility. This position requires travel around the United States to climbing areas and communities.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
Climbing Area Closures
The AD is the first point of contact for climbing area closures. The AD coordinates the responses to climbing area closures or threats, and involves local activists whenever possible. The AD will:
- Provide timely and direct guidance on issues and/or action opportunities that require Access Fund involvement
- Be knowledgeable about current public/private land issues, such as landowner liability, recreational user statutes, government agency land planning, local political processes, etc
- Stay informed and up-to-date on current climbing practices, ethics, debates and standards
- Travel to climbing areas when needed to deal with local issues or building support in the local community
- Work with local climbers and the Grassroots Coordinator to facilitate the formation of Local Climbing Organizations (LCO) to deal with problems proactively
Land Acquisitions
As the AF's land acquisition expert, the AD assists regional climbing communities with acquisition opportunities. To accomplish this goal, the AD will:
- Maintain and refine acquisition guidelines and strategies
- Provide timely and professional support for LCO acquisition projects consistent with existing AF policies and directives
- Have working knowledge of various options in lieu of direct land purchase, such as conservation and recreation easements, partnerships with other organizations, etc
Grants Administrator
With support from the Business and Finance Manager, the AD administers the Climbing Preservation Grants Program that distributes funds to governmental agencies, individual climbers, and local climbing organizations
- Provides guidance and support for grant applicants
- Funds are awarded and distributed on a 3 times/year cycle basis. Reviews requests, determines eligibility, and authorizes disbursements
- Chairs staff/board grant committee. Prepares summary and staff recommendations document for the meeting
- Works with development staff to explore further external funding opportunities
- Ensures grassroots, stewardship and conservation message is integrated in fundraising activities
Priority Setting
The AD is responsible for annual priority setting for grassroots and direct action campaigns. The AF will prioritize initiatives in which the Access Fund can make a significant contribution to a regional or national climbing community. This will be accomplished by soliciting input from LCOs, Affiliates, Regional Coordinators (RCs) and other interested parties.
Writing
The AD will prepare quarterly reports for Board meetings. The AD will also work closely with Programs staff and Media Manager to draft content for monthly E-News and quarterly Vertical Times. The AD will assist the Policy Director in the creation of scoping comments as needed.
Direct Action
With the Policy Director, the AD manages the direct action component of Access Fund work related to specific regional/local access issues. These are defined as all the external initiatives (or campaigns) decided annually by staff, and worked on directly by staff, in order to further the AF mission. The AF will continue to grow and refine current direct action campaign tools and will develop new ones based on upcoming threats.
Site Visits and Workshops
The AF will facilitate and conduct local site visits, and regional and national workshops. This will include workshops and targeted trainings for RC's, / Local Activists so as to develop the local expertise, skills and resources to assure the sustainability of climbing.
- Salary competitive and commensurate with experience
- Strong benefits package
- Working knowledge of current public/private land issues, such as landowner liability, recreational user statutes, government agency land planning, local political processes, land acquisition, and conservation and recreation easements
- Grassroots organizing experience
- Ability to be diplomatic
- Familiarity with the Access Fund's work
College degree required.
Other Skills and Abilities:- Knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Office
- Familiarity with current grassroots organizing tools a plus
- Ability to recognize and resolve problems quickly using sound judgment and diplomacy
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to use own initiative
Submit cover letter and resume to brady@accessfund.org by September, 22nd. No calls please.