Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina

MountainTrue is a non-profit organization that works with communities across 26 mountain counties in Western North Carolina and North Georgia on issues that matter most to sustaining our natural heritage. We focus on a core set of issues – sensible land use, restoring public forests, protecting water quality, and clean energy – that have a high impact on the environmental health and long-term prosperity of our region. For more information: mountaintrue.org.

Creation Care Alliance of WNC
The Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina (CCA), a program of MountainTrue, is a network of people of faith and congregations who have united around a moral and spiritual call to preserve the integrity, beauty and health of God’s creation. We work to bring practical and hopeful solutions to our congregations and broader secular communities by engaging hearts and minds through inspiration, education, service and advocacy. Our work has included climate advocacy, renewable energy education, energy efficiency, solar energy, food justice, eco-grief work, and is an expression of our love of God and God’s love for the earth and all life. For more information: creationcarealliace.org.

The Position
Reporting to the MountainTrue Co-Director the Creation Care Alliance Director is responsible for providing overall direction and faith-based leadership toward attaining the program’s mission, annual goals, and funding. They work closely with the CCA Steering Team and coordinate with MountainTrue staff to accomplish program goals. This position serves as an important bridge across faith, science, nonprofit, and secular organizations by connecting environmental and justice work. A major focus of this role in the coming years is expanding the program’s footprint across MountainTrue’s service area (26 counties) as well as deepening engagement in historically marginalized communities.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management

• Leads and collaborates with the Steering Team and MountainTrue staff to establish strategic goals, develop programs/events, and manage ongoing operations.
• Identifies new leaders, maintains relationships and builds trust within the Steering Team representing a variety of denominations, watersheds and communities across Western North Carolina.
• Serves as an educator and thought-leader in the community, speaking at CCA functions and communities of faith, and coordinating eco-justice efforts among various communities.
• Communicates the stories, mission, programs, events and accomplishments of the program to all relevant stakeholders. In coordination with the MountainTrue Engagement and Communications staff maintains the website, writes newsletters and coordinates social media.
• In coordination with MountainTrue Development Director and CCA Steering Team, plans and implements fundraising goals including work with major donors, congregations, and foundations.
• Recommends yearly budget for Steering Team approval and responsibly manages the program’s resources.

Program

• Ensures programmatic excellence and program evaluation.
• Begins new and nurtures ongoing relationships with congregations, individual members and prospective supporters, with a particular focus on historically marginalized communities.
• Provides the services and resources needed to strengthen and expand the CCA network.
• Promotes active and broad participation by volunteers.
• Leads advocacy efforts, aware of and involved in regional, national and global environmental eco-justice issues that are of interest to communities of faith. Represents CCA, along with CCA volunteers, at public hearings, with elected officials, and in other advocacy opportunities as appropriate.
• Cultivates partnerships that advance the goals of CCA.
• Helps to select, coordinate and supervise student interns from divinity schools and other appropriate educational institutions.

Preferred Qualifications

Faith-based leadership and environmental knowledge

• ordination with good standing and/or experience in faith-based leadership
• knowledge of and sensitivity/openness to different faith communities
• current and continuously updated knowledge of environmental issues and Earth stewardship
• a passion for Creation and caring for it and a commitment to ecological justice
• demonstrated commitment to anti-racism work and fighting other manifestations of oppression
• an understanding of the unique land use issues, complex Appalachian history and diversity of thought and practice across mountain counties and urban centers.

Non-profit management experience

• a minimum of 5 years non-profit or faith community management experience
• fundraising and membership development experience
• experience in volunteer recruitment and management
• prior experience organizing advocacy campaigns
• leadership position on a board or steering Team.

Interpersonal, communication and project management skills

• strong communication skills, both speaking and writing
• effective and compassionate listener with experience eliciting dialogue
• proficiency in computer skills including social media
• ability to work both independently and as part of a multigenerational team
• proven ability to work on several projects at once, set measurable objectives, maintain attention to details, meet deadlines, and report results in a timely fashion.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary for this position is $50,000 – $55,000, depending on experience
• 20 vacation days per year, Sick leave, Sabbatical after 5 years
• Health insurance
• 403(b) retirement contribution up to 3% of salary, upon employee contribution of 3% or more
• Professional development and networking opportunities

MountainTrue values and respects all types of diversity and strongly encourages applicants from traditionally marginalized groups to apply. We prohibit discrimination and harassment and provide equal employment opportunity without regard to, and not limited to, ethnicity, religion, race, national origin, abilities, gender identity, age or genetic information. We are committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting those from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.

How to Apply:
You may submit an application by email to Bob Wagner at wagner@mountaintrue.org. Your application should include: 1) a response to the questions below; 2) your resume; and 3) three references. Please include “Creation Care Alliance, Director position” in the subject line. Do not include any other documents.

In the email please answer the following questions using no more than 400 words per response:

1. What does creation care mean to you?
2. Why are you interested in the position, and in this region, and why would you be a good fit?
3. What strategies might you use to expand the program across the region especially in underserved communities?

Application deadline: May 5, 2021

Join us via ZOOM on Sunday, April 25, 6pm.  

Although we are unable to gather in person again this year, we are excited to host a virtual Earth Day Vigil in celebration of Earth Day. The vigil will be focused around the idea of loving people and place and will include readings, prayers, songs, and information about creation care from speakers from throughout Western North Carolina. The vigil will run from 6-7:15pm and regional breakout rooms will begin directly after it ends. We welcome you to join us for as long as you are able.The vigil will be hosted over Zoom, and you will receive a link to join the Zoom meeting after signing up. When you join for the vigil, you will be muted and your video will be turned off. For the reception, there will be more opportunities for interaction. You may join from your computer or your phone.