Colorado Nonprofit Association

Executive Director

Roaring Fork Kayaking Club

Position: Executive Director

Location: Remote and On Site (Roaring Fork Valley)

Compensation: $35-$40

Employment: 15-20 hours/ week

The Roaring Fork Kayaking Club is seeking an Executive Director to lead and manage our organization. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, some experience in nonprofit management, and a love of the outdoors. The Executive Director will oversee the day-to-day operations, manage finances, supervise staff and volunteers, and lead program development. We are a very small nonprofit at the moment, so this position provides a ton of opportunity to steer the program as it grows and make a lasting impact on the local kayaking community, and our community at large.  

The Roaring Fork Kayaking Club is committed to providing access, instruction, and an inclusive community for whitewater kayaking in the hopes that our participants will increase their skills, confidence, love of riverrunning and appreciation for wild places.

Key Responsibilities:

1) Financial Management

• Regularly review the club’s finances in collaboration with the Treasurer.
• Create and manage the annual budget for board approval.
• Identify and apply for grants to support club activities.
• Design and implement fundraising campaigns.
• Maintain organized records of expense receipts.

2) People Management

• Board Liaison- Act as the liaison between the board and the club, attending board meetings and committee meetings.
• Plan annual board retreat in conjunction with the board.
• Prepare meeting agendas and provide an Executive Director report at each board meeting.
• Staff Management- Hire, manage and support coaches.
• Ensure certifications are up-to-date and coordinate instructor training clinics.
• Oversee SafeSport compliance.
• Participants- Maintain communication with participants via email.
• Connect participants with coaches and ensure they receive registration information.
• Volunteers- Recruit, organize, and show appreciation for volunteers.
• Donors- Maintain and update a donor database.
• Create and manage convenient methods for donations (e.g., website links, Paypal)
• Recognize and thank donors.
• Community Engagement- 
• Manage and update the club’s website, and social media accounts.  
• Draft and distribute monthly newsletter.
• Collect and share success stories. 
• Handle press communications.
• Build partnerships with other nonprofits and local businesses.

3) Operational Responsibilities

• Operational Planning
• Develop and maintain the event and clinic calendar.
• Complete all river permitting paperwork.
• Gear Management- Oversee inventory, maintenance and purchase of club gear.
• Policy Development- In coordination with the board, establish, document, and enforce club policies, ensuring alignment with the mission and safety standards.
• Maintain the club’s Standard Operating Procedures manual.
• Program development- In coordination with the programming committee, oversee the growth and development of programs, ensuring alignment with the club’s mission and goals.  
• Advocacy- Acvocate for the club’s mission, engaging with local stakeholders.

4) Leadership

• Vision- Develop and communicate a clear vision for the club’s future, guiding strategic decisions.
• Communication- Ensure effective communication with board members, staff, volunteers, and community partners to maintain organizational alignment.
• Decision Making- Make informed, strategic decisions that support the club’s longterm goals.
• Strategic Planning- In collaboration with the board, lead the club’s strategic plannign efforts, creating actionable steps to acheive future goals.
• Team Building- Foster a collaborative, supportive environment that encourages team growth.
• Risk Analysis- Identify challenges and opportunities, mitigating risks to ensure the club’s success.

Ideal Qualifications:

• Proven experience in nonprofit management, outdoor recreation or a related field.
• Strong leadership and decision making skills
• Excellent communication abilities, with a talent for buiding relationships with diverse groups (board members, staff, volunteers, community members).
• Experience with budgeting, grant writing and fundraising.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently and collaborate with a team.
• Passion for kayaking and/ or outdoor recreation.