Executive Director

Vermonthuts; Waterbury (VT); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k contributions (10%)

Home office reimbursements

Three weeks paid time off (increases)

Job summary

Vermont Huts & Trails (VHT) seeks an Executive Director to lead the organization through a growth phase, overseeing staff across hospitality, development, marketing, and operations, and guiding strategic direction.

The ED will manage eight staff plus seasonal workers, build partnerships with public and nonprofit partners, ensure financial sustainability, and advance the Velomont Trail project and hostel network.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Strong financial acumen and experience with budget planning and P&L management.
• Experience with strategic planning processes and working with a governing board.
• Proven track record in fundraising and donor relations.

Responsibilities

• Provide organizational leadership across all functional areas including marketing, development, guest services, trail development, and operations.
• Lead recruitment, performance management, and professional development across the team.
• Develop and implement strategic plans with board and partners, translating into annual goals and budgets.
• Oversee hospitality operations, guest experience, and revenue-generating projects.
• Engage with the board, prepare communications, and represent VHT publicly.

Skills

Senior leadership

Financial fluency

Strategic planning

Staff development

Fundraising

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Budgeting

Job description

Our team is working to create a lasting, positive impact for Vermonters and visitors alike. Check out our opportunities below:

Executive Director

The Position
The Executive Director (ED) is a full-time position with benefits that reports to VHT’s Board of Directors. We are seeking a dynamic individual to lead the organization in a significant growth phase as it builds on the success of its first ten years. Our ideal candidate is a versatile leader who can move seamlessly across focus areas while building and growing a strong team. The ED is accountable for the organization’s impact, financial health, people, and culture. The ED will be able to confidently manage a growing staff—currently eight people—with seasonal employees across functions including marketing, development, guest services, trail building, hut and hostel construction, and project development. As the leader of a growing nonprofit organization, the ED will help grow and empower VHT’s leadership team, cultivating skill-building and channeling passion. They will play a fundamental role in evolving the vision for the organization as it grows, and be comfortable leading an organization with many moving parts and a broad range of organizational activities. The successful candidate will be adaptable and will thrive in a constantly evolving environment as they prioritize growing and managing the VHT team, making direct contributions in key areas, and building on the VHT vision with an eye towards financial sustainability and the continued growth of the organization. One of the ED’s primary focus over the next 10 years will be to complete the Velomont Trail and its supporting infrastructure.

Essential Job Functions
Organizational Strategy and Leadership

• Manage a motivated team of full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff across all functional areas
• Lead recruitment, hiring, performance management, and professional development for the full VHT team, and ensure personnel policies and HR practices scale responsibly with organizational growth in a culture of flexibility, trust, and autonomy. Maintain a collaborative and transparent process for decision-making and communication while improving efficiency as the organization grows
• Lead development of VHT’s strategic plans with staff, board, and key partners, and translate these into annual goals, prioritization criteria, and budget allocation.
• Provide executive oversight and guidance of hospitality operations, including guest experience, marketing, communications, sales, and the hut, hostel, and trails project pipelines
• Meet and strategize regularly with the board chair, engage with board members and committees, prepare board-related communications, and plan and participate in relevant events

Fundraising and Financial Management

• Develop and manage capital budgets with support from the Development Director (DD) and controller, and review financials, cash flow, and expenditures against projections and revenue.
• Ensure financial sustainability and fund development in conjunction with the DD through identifying new revenue streams and cultivating existing relationships, developing annual campaigns, and growing VHT’s donor base
• Support the DD in expanding our top-tier philanthropic base by meeting with prospecting donors and foundation contacts

Statewide Partnerships and Project Development

• Work with local, state, and federal officials to secure hut and trail access throughout Vermont
• Collaborate on an ongoing basis with external stakeholders and partners including partner non-profit organizations, hut owners, donors, state and federal agencies, and municipal leaders as needed
• Represent VHT publicly within Vermont and the greater region’s ecosystem of business, recreation, and conservation organizations as well as the media

Location
This is a Vermont-based hybrid position. VHT maintains a shared office space in Waterbury, Vermont.

Desired Experience
Experience in the following will be an asset to applicants for the ED position:

• Senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, social enterprise, or other mission-driven business
• Financial fluency; experience with budget planning and P&L optimization
• Senior experience in strategic planning processes and working with a governing board
• Demonstrated success growing, managing, and leading a collaborative team
• Familiarity with delivering capital projects from concept to completion, including permitting, environmental review, and funding
• Successful track record of significant fundraising and building long-term donor relationships with a focus on major individuals and institutional donors
• Senior-level strategic planning, budget planning, and relationship building with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Experience running a profitable customer-facing lodging or hospitality business preferred but not required
• Experience in outdoor recreation, land stewardship, or trail development preferred but not required
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
• 401k contributions (10% of salary) and home office reimbursements
• Three weeks paid time off (increases to four weeks after one year of employment and five weeks after five years)
• 10 paid holidays per year (can be added to your PTO)
• 16 weeks family leave (four weeks paid, 12 weeks unpaid)
• Eligibility for a six-week sabbatical every five years

To Apply
If you’re passionate about creating an enriching outdoor experience for everyone, please submit a cover letter and resume to [e-mail] with the subject line: Executive Director—Last name, First name. We look forward to hearing from you.

About Us
Vermont Huts & Trails (VHT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to foster a deeper appreciation of our natural environment and strengthen Vermont’s communities by providing enriching and immersive outdoor experiences for all. We increase access to outdoor recreation and support rural economies throughout Vermont by creating the country’s most ambitious statewide, hut-supported trail network and by building and linking existing trail networks. Our work takes many forms. We build huts, hostels, and trails, partner with existing hut owners, landowners, and other non-profits, conserve land, host and manage guest experiences, fundraise, and run the F.O.R.E.S.T. program, which has brought 300 young people on free hut-based retreats since 2020. Our core values include building strong partnerships, equity and belonging, a supportive, collaborative workspace, creative problem-solving, self-direction, and persistence.

Vermont Huts & Trails is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities.