The Opportunity

Thirty years ago, Vashon Maury Island Land Trust began with a single campaign to preserve a rare Sphagnum bog on the north end of the Island. Neighbors banded together; they raised funds; and Whispering Firs Bog was protected. Our first victory. 

Since then, the Land Trust has helped conserve more than 2,800 acres of forests, farms, meadow and shoreline. These lands form a network of publicly held parks, privately managed stream corridors, reclaimed meadows and conifer forests, and an Island-wide trail system for all to use and enjoy.

Our mission, as we have embraced it, is to conserve and care for Vashon Island’s wild and working lands. Together, we have the opportunity to design and build a future that is climate-resilient, capable of nurturing a diverse and connected population. The Land Trust sits at the center of this effort, connecting the forests that define our Island and a community that aspires to create a sustainable home.  

Vashon Island faces many of the same pressures that challenge the greater Puget Sound region: increasing population, rising housing costs, and a changing climate. With heat and drought, our forests will become more susceptible to pests and wildfires. Intense winter storms followed by dry periods will challenge our ability to capture rainfall. And, our shoreline will face increased pressure from rising sea levels, storm surges, and landslides. 

In the face of these challenges, a climate-centered response provides an opportunity to build resilience. Healthy forests and watersheds are key to community health and environmental viability. The Island is dependent solely on its aquifer for drinking water; surface streams and watersheds must maximize their ability to capture water and slow its course to Puget Sound. Vashon was heavily logged from the 1910’s to the 1960’s; much of its forest is now mature red alder that, with active stewardship, can be returned to more diverse stands of mixed conifers.

Unlike many other islands in the region, Vashon is a place where people work and live. The vast majority of Island forestland is held by small private landowners in parcels of five or ten  acres. Vashon is a place where we are invested in protecting what is often, literally, at our doorstep.

These are the places where we are excited to be leaning in:

Conservation for Climate Resilience

Land Trust priorities for conservation include protecting creeks critical to salmon habitat and aquifer recharge; prioritizing the health and protection of large conifers that can provide a buttress against climate stress; and supporting local and region-wide efforts to rehabilitate rather than armor Island shorelines. 

Stewardship of Wild Places

A conservation property is a work in progress, a decades-long healing and adaptation that unfolds across generations. Some properties come to us in beautiful condition. Others are fixer uppers. Land Trust Stewardship Crews have transformed blackberry patches and stands of scotch broom into meadows filled with birdsong. We have taken scrappy piles of alder and transitioned them to the next generation of cedar that the Land Trust will nurture and care for until these forests grow old. The Land Trust is recommitting to its responsibility to care for the land in perpetuity with the creation of a Stewardship Fund whose purpose will be to ensure long-term financial sustainability for our stewardship programs, allowing us at the same time to move boldly forward with new and ambitious land conservation projects. 

Community Engagement

Land conservation is not a point-in-time endeavor. The commitment of the Land Trust requires a generative cycle of growing community among our neighbors and across generations, ever widening the circle of people who will come to know and love these places. A new generation of Islanders has been drawn to the region by Seattle’s technology industry or by the prospect of remote work in a well-connected semi-rural location. We are building a future together. 

Working Land

In 2015, the Land Trust partnered with a local family whose roots trace back to Vashon’s Japanese strawberry farmers. We protected Matsuda Farm and agreed that it should be kept as a working farm. Today, the Land Trust is rebuilding the soil through regenerative farming practices that sequester carbon, increase soil biodiversity, and keep a local food source in production. The Farm produces vegetables and fruits for local food banks and the Vashon School District with the help of students who come to work and learn on the property. 

The Work to Be Done

The next Executive Director of the Vashon Maury Island Land Trust will be a leader who values community, who understands the relationship between people and nature, and who is fueled by a personal connection to the land. Our ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with management and fundraising experience. They are personally engaged in our mission and skilled at sharing this inspiration with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Island community members. 

The Land Trust is a small nonprofit, with seven full-time staff and a budget of $1.2 million. The Executive Director is responsible for the management and execution of all Land-Trust related affairs, including budgeting, planning, fundraising and communications. The Executive Director will have proven experience with leadership, program execution, and management, as well as a demonstrated track record in cultivation of individual donors. They will understand the nonprofit sector and be comfortable operating in an environment that requires competency across a wide range of skill sets and functions: 

• The Executive Director expresses leadership inspired by a shared vision. They will give that vision substance through strategic planning and program development; lead a team through collaborative implementation; and maintain accountability to both vision and mission delivery. 

• The Executive Director will appreciate the Land Trust’s strong financial position and prioritize long-range sustainability. They will provide appropriate administration and support for programs, and manage Land Trust conservation as a long-term investment.  

• The Executive Director will represent the Land Trust in the community, serving as a messenger, ambassador and collaborator who is visible, accessible and trusted. They will have experience with diverse communities, and they will have working knowledge on how to dismantle barriers to participation and engagement with marginalized communities. 

• The Executive Director will build and manage a collaborative team. They will inspire and coordinate to ensure that staff play to their strengths and support each other as colleagues. 

• The Executive Director will steward close relationships with Land Trust supporters, building upon a decades-long tradition of generosity and trust that has been essential to the organization’s success.

The Land Trust Community

Land Trust supporters are ardent and generous. Some have worked for decades to protect the lands around them. Others are recent arrivals, drawn by the Island’s natural beauty. They are doctors and lawyers, teachers and artists, office workers and entrepreneurs. Some live quietly in the woods; others have sweeping views over open water, where whales and seals are frequent visitors. 

The Board of Directors draws from this community. Their role is to represent the interests of the Island community and to ensure thoughtful, responsible governance. Several Land Trust board members are intimately involved in the diligence required for land transactions. Others volunteer weekly at Matsuda Farm, or join the Stewardship Crew for tree plantings, trail maintenance and forest care. Once a year, they bring together the Island community for Big Sky, an open-air party with live music, good food and generous spirit. 

The staff of the Land Trust is a dedicated group of individuals who work across the organization’s primary program areas: conservation, farm, stewardship and operations. Two senior program staff have been with the organization for a combined 39 years and carry a wealth of experience and institutional knowledge. The Conservation Director served as the Land Trust executive director from 2003 to 2020. The Stewardship Director has built the organization’s restoration programs since 2004. Other staff bring experience from a variety of backgrounds and professional fields, including farming, habitat restoration, event management, and communications. 

The Executive Director Position

The Executive Director role is a full-time exempt position. Compensation range is $110,000 to $125,000 and includes medical and dental insurance. Unless in the field, the Executive Director and staff work at the Land Trust office, located on Bank Road in the commercial center of the Island. 

Human communities and ecosystems alike thrive by their diversity. The Land Trust welcomes candidates of all races, ethnicities, genders, abilities, identities, religions, and ages with diverse viewpoints and lived experience. 

If this opportunity speaks to you, and you have skills and experience that might complement what the Land Trust has to offer, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@vashonlandtrust.org. 

Candidates will be considered until the position is filled. Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by September 30, 2023.