Description

Solano Land Trust seeks its first Chief Operating Officer to provide operational and human resources leadership, financial stewardship, and fundraising oversight to fortify the organization's internal systems and prepare the land trust for its next chapter of conservation impact in Solano County.

Requirements

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES
Operations and Administration

• Demonstrated executive experience managing and mentoring professional teams in an organization of similar size and scope
• Demonstrated success in formalizing organizational processes, building operational infrastructure, and improving cross-functional coordination
• Detail-oriented and systematic thinker with experience translating high-level organizational goals into practical, measurable work plans and staff accountabilities
• Experience managing contracts, vendor relationships, technology systems, facilities, and compliance
• Familiarity with Land Trust Alliance Accreditation is beneficial 

People and Culture

• Experience building and managing inclusive, values-aligned team cultures that support retention and growth
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to build trust across diverse staff and constituents
• Skill at creating clear accountability structures while providing the support that staff need to succeed
• Experience managing through organizational evolution and ambiguity with steadiness and transparency
• Working knowledge of California employment law, benefits administration, and compensation structures

Finance

• Experience managing nonprofit finances, including budget development, financial reporting, audit oversight, and revenue management
• Skill at maintaining internal controls, analyzing financial projections, and developing reserve strategies that support long-term organizational sustainability
• Ability to clearly synthesize and translate complex financial data into high-level, actionable insights for staff, leadership, and the board

Development and Communications

• Broad understanding of nonprofit fundraising strategy across individual giving, foundation grants, government funding, earned income, and planned giving
• Experience overseeing or closely partnering on development operations, donor stewardship systems, and fundraising campaigns
• Ability to support and elevate a communications function that engages the community, cultivates donors, evaluates impact, and advances the mission
• Strong written communication skills and comfort reviewing and editing donor-facing materials, grant narratives, and public communications

Desired Attributes

• Authentic alignment with the land trust’s mission to protect land and connect community to the natural and agricultural landscapes of Solano County
• Background in environmental, agricultural, or natural resources nonprofit sectors is desirable
• Collaborative leadership style that builds trust with the CEO, staff, board, and external partners
• Comfort operating as both a strategic thought partner and a hands-on implementer
• Humility, initiative, and a commitment to continuous learning and organizational improvement