The Hitchcock Center for the Environment is a nationally recognized environmental education center known for its talented educators, progressive leadership, and innovative programming. The Hitchcock Center’s programs have an intentional focus on inclusion and accessibility. Participants are offered scholarships, reduced cost, and free programs, while educators work with school systems from across the region. They have inspired young learners and adults in indoor and outdoor classrooms for almost six decades, and in recent years, the Hitchcock Center has assumed a powerful new role in the face of climate change. At a time when our species faces the biggest environmental challenge we have ever seen, the Hitchcock Center recognizes that “effective learning must be transformative, directly inspiring engagement and action.”  

The Hitchcock Center is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, a culturally and educationally rich western Massachusetts area, home to the Five Colleges and in close proximity to numerous museums; near music, theater, and dance venues; and near a range of sports, camping, and outdoor recreation sites. The Hitchcock Center employs thirteen staff, in addition to seasonal camp staff, and has an operating budget of $850,000.

Strategically positioned to fulfill its mission “to educate and to inspire action for a healthy planet,” the Hitchcock Center opened the doors to its new home, a 9,000-square foot “living” environmental education center in the Fall of 2016. An award-winning structure, and the 23rd certified Living Building in the world, it was built in response to the Living Building Challenge. Its construction followed a highly successful capital campaign that has raised almost $7 million, and adheres to “holistic standards incorporating the most progressive thinking from architecture, engineering, planning, interiors, landscape design, and policy.”

The Ideal Candidate

The Hitchcock Center seeks someone with demonstrated leadership and nonprofit management skills, with the ability to inspire board members and staff, introduce new funding, cultivate donor relationships, and think strategically. This position requires a skilled communicator with the capacity to develop and articulate a compelling vision, and to embrace the public visibility the position will require.

The successful candidate will be passionate about environmental issues, and bring some measure of sustainability and climate change knowledge to the work at hand. The position will also require financial management skills as well as volunteer and staff management experience.  The ideal candidate will have compatible values and will be able to direct the organization’s intention to become a more inclusive and equitable organization:  They will bring a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion to the Hitchcock Center board and staff, and an expansion in reach and appeal to its program participants. The competence and confidence required to manage multiple areas of responsibility simultaneously are also sought in the successful candidate.

For the complete leadership profile and application guidelines please visit this LINK.