Executive Director

Job Announcement

Founded in 1987, Dakota Rural Action (DRA) is a grassroots, community organization organizing people and building leadership in rural South Dakota. DRA’s mission is to protect environmental resources, advocate for resilient agriculture systems, and empower people to create policy change that strengthens communities and cultures. 

Position Summary

We are seeking an Executive Director who will embrace our mission and history while bringing fresh energy and new leadership. The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization, leads our staff, and works with the board to plan the long-term direction, priorities, and policies of DRA. This means developing relationships with and between staff and board members, community members, funders and donors, and a wide variety of community organizations. 

This position is based in South Dakota. Our offices are currently located in Brookings, Sioux Falls, and Rapid City. Other locations within South Dakota will be considered for the right applicant. 

Our new Executive Director will join a financially strong organization with a grassroots base, board members who work with the organization’s staff to advance our members’ priorities, and a committed and talented staff team. We are excited to work with our new Executive Director to chart a strategic direction, strengthen the structures we have in place to support our board and staff to do their best work, and develop a shared vision for the transformative future we’re working toward in South Dakota. 

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership and Values:

• Building relationships of trust with Dakota Rural Action’s staff, board, members, and allies;
• Creating with the board and staff strategic planning that engages our members and South Dakota’s residents to build our collective power to affect change;
• 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 DRA. 

With the board:

• Reporting to and working as a partner with DRA’s board to ensure strong governance policies and fiscal health; 
• Cultivating an engaged board equipped with necessary information, shared understanding and analysis of issues, and ownership of the organization; 
• Developing the individual and collective leadership of board members, including providing training and coaching in leadership development; 
• Bringing policy recommendations to the board, and engaging the board in strategic decisions; 
• Preparing with the board chair meeting agendas and materials, and assisting the chair in facilitating meetings to encourage participation, open discussion, and group decision-making. 

With the staff:

• Ensuring equity in staff hiring, training, development, supervision, and dismissal;
• Ensuring that staffing assignments are aligned with priorities set by the board;
• Directly supervising some DRA staff positions, including developing work plans;
• Directing routine staff meetings and other staff gatherings in person and virtually;
• Updating DRA’s staff structure when needed to increase our impact and sustainability;
• Implementing personnel policies.

With financial matters:

• Ensuring that the organization is fiscally sound and financially healthy; 
• Preparing with the board the yearly budget to ensure that financial resources are used effectively and appropriately in advancing DRA’s mission;
• Monitoring and regularly reporting on the budget and finances;
• Overseeing fundraising strategy, annual internal and external fundraising plans, and campaigns; 
• Preparing and submitting grant proposals and reports;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with major donors and foundations on behalf of DRA; 
• Overseeing coordination of membership development and renewal;
• Ensuring proper accounting procedures, the filing of required financial reports, and activities required to maintain the organization’s 501(c)3 status. 

With outside organizations:

• Representing DRA at Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) meetings and conferences;
• Building relationships with regional and national organizations, including the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), and Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment (CFFE);
• Representing DRA in conversations with South Dakota community representatives, government agencies, elected officials, and industry representatives. 

Travel, evening, and weekend work are sometimes required. In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the Executive Director is occasionally asked to carry out other duties as assigned by the board of directors.