Position and Responsibilities: The President & CEO is a full-time position located in Durham, NC. The successful candidate is expected to provide strategic leadership and executive management consistent with the strategic plan and the direction of the board. The President & CEO leads the professional staff and day-to-day operations to achieve the Society’s mission and leads the Society to a place of credibility in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Responsibilities include to develop and nurture strategic relationships and represents the Society to the supporters, media, and other publics. The position advances the mission and achieves financial and operational objectives.
Qualifications: Applicants should have an advanced degree in forestry, history, library sciences, and/or related disciplines. Certification in association management preferred or willingness to pursue. Preference will be given to applicants with substantial and multi-year experience in a senior executive management position or at the associate/full professor level. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how they would bring external funding to the Society for its core programs in library & archives, research & publications, and education & outreach.
Durham, North Carolina: Durham is part of the Research Triangle Region, known for its technology companies and scholarly institutions. The City of Durham is famously known as the “City of Medicine,” with healthcare as a major industry including more than 300 medical and health-related companies and medical practices. The area is attractive to many thanks to its fruitful housing market, record low unemployment rate and exceptional education system. Durham has become one of the most desired places to live in America. Its diverse population of 245,000 enjoy robust opportunities for performing arts, music, sports, coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants.
About the Forest History Society: FHS is a 75-year old non-profit institution known as the foremost library and archives of forest and conservation history. It operates from its new $7.1 million headquarters, opened in 2019. It enjoys diverse sources of funding including an $8 million endowment. It is a non-advocacy organization known for its credibility and foundation in absolute integrity in historical interpretation.
“The Forest History Society is the preeminent organization supporting research and understanding of how people used and interacted with the forested ecosystems of the planet over the long sweep of human history. It’s archives, publications, and outreach programs are indispensable in advancing the knowledge of forest and conservation history worldwide.” Bill Cronon, Emeritus Professor, Department of History, University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Application: Interested applicants are requested to provide a complete CV or resume describing their professional and academic credentials along with a letter of interest as it pertains to the position. The letter of interest and CV should be emailed to Janet Askew, Assistant Director for Administration, at janet.askew@foresthistory.org. The complete application process can be found on the FHS web site at www.foresthistory.org. Inquiries about the position may be made by contacting Lynn Wilson, Search Committee Chair, WILSONNL2020@GMAIL.COM. For technical questions about the application process or to arrange for a visit to the Society’s headquarters, call 919-682-9319.