Executive Director, Friends of Rouge Park

Position Title: Executive Director

Position Terms: Full-time staff with benefits. The position is funded through the end of 2025 with a long-term extension expected as funding is secured. The position includes evenings and weekends as needed.

Position Overview: Friends of Rouge Park (FORP) is seeking its first Executive Director (ED). We seek someone who is a creative thinker and problem solver, capable of co-creating the next phase of the organization with the Board of Directors that moves FORP toward its long-term vision. The ED will manage program staff, work with the Board of Directors, raise funds, and develop strategies that result in the build out of the organization over time to successfully shepherd the Rouge Park strategic plan and vision. The ED should be motivated by nature, community connections, a deep commitment to equity and by FORP’s mission to protect, restore, and promote a natural, environmentally healthy, and culturally vibrant Rouge Park that engages the community for the benefit and enjoyment of all.

Professional Characteristics:

This job description is intended to indicate the general nature of work performed by the Executive Director. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties and qualifications required. Persons who do not meet all listed criteria but feel that their knowledge, skills, and values make them qualified candidates who can grow into the position are encouraged to apply.

• Prior experience in a related field, such as conservation, recreation, or nonprofit organizations, is preferred.
• Direct experience in parks is not required but commitment to understanding and embracing the mission and strategic plan is a must.
• Demonstrated commitment in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in managing an organization and in collaborating with communities.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, hold others accountable, and effectively allocate resources.
• Adept at fund development with a solid grasp of nonprofit finance and grant writing.
• Experience in successfully managing grant-funded projects
• Experience with leadership, external relations, and skills to mobilize others towards a common goal.
• Ability to navigate complex relationships and understanding of the unique interests of multiple stakeholders (e.g., the organization, community constituents, funders, public sector decision makers).
• Effective communicator with proven experience working with diverse populations, including experience in building bridges to develop relationships, trust, and credibility.

Position Description: The Executive Director (ED) will be Friends of Rouge Park’s first ED and will be joining FORP at an inflection point for the organization. The new Executive Director will work closely with the Board and two program staff to co-create the next iteration of a DEI-centered organization. This will include identifying the programmatic initiatives on which to focus resources; strengthening organizational infrastructure and capacity; continuing to engage and maximize the Board’s role; and raising funds in a continually evolving environment.

The Executive Director will also address community engagement, partnership building, fundraising, and have a keen understanding of the political landscape. FORP wants to ensure that residents, park user groups, city, county, funders, and other partners all work seamlessly together to make the park’s vision and strategic plan a reality.

In addition, the ED will bring a highly focused racial and social justice lens and exhibit an abiding passion and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion values and to the role that public space can play in creating healthy, safe, and dynamic outcomes in the community. The ED will also support, sustain, and grow a collaborative work environment that attracts and retains a motivated, diverse, and mission-driven staff and board.

2025 will mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of Rouge Park. The ED will coordinate with the Centennial Celebration to plan and execute the year long celebration.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Implement the strategic plan, and advance FORP’s mission and goals.
• Identify and respond to opportunities to strengthen the park, surrounding communities, and organization.

Organizational Management

• Review operations against stated goals and implement changes as needed.
• Manage and support staff to execute their respective roles and responsibilities.
• Oversee the execution of projects and manage all grants to ensure projects are completed and reporting submitted.
• Nurture a culture of equity and excellence in recruiting, mentoring, and advancing staff and volunteers.
• Support the Board and committees in executing their roles.

Resource Development

• Design a fundraising plan and coordinate with the Detroit Park Coalition.
• Supported by the Board of Directors, solicit support from and steward relationships with corporate, foundation, and individual donors.
• Develop and submit grant proposals and track and report on grant impact.
• Support the membership committee.

External Ambassador

• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with public, private, and community partners including Rouge Park user groups, neighborhood organizations, City of Detroit, Detroit Parks Coalition, Detroit Pistons, Wayne County, etc.
• Serve as an external ambassador promoting the park and FORP’s mission.

Financial Management

• Work with the Board Treasurer, bookkeeper, and accountant to ensure the financial stability of FORP by adhering to the annual budget, developing new budgets and providing regular financial reports to the Board.

Board Relations and Development

• Nurture a positive, open, and collaborative relationship with the Board and its committees.
• Support board member education, engagement, and succession planning.

First-year Priorities:

• Forge meaningful, effective relationships with the Board and staff.
• Gain an understanding of the park’s history and the organization’s history, mission, vision, values, and programs.
• Confirm the fundraising plan and continue fundraising for core operations and programming.
• Ensure programs continue to support engagement with the community and connection to the unique amenities of Rouge Park.
• Oversee the Centennial Celebration Committee and work with partners to implement a yearlong celebration to highlight the park’s history and amenities.
• Confirm and then operationalize the strategic plan, identifying those priorities that will have the greatest impact on advancing the mission.
• Understand and work with the City and partners on the planning and construction of the new City Recreation Center.
• Work with the city on the development of a city led Master Plan.
• Assure the organization has the optimal organizational and staffing structure to (a) advance its mission and strategic goals and (b) empower staff to lead.

Compensation and Benefits: The compensation range for this position is $75,000 - $80,000 per year plus 30% benefits starting based on a full-time commitment, experience, and qualifications.

Application process: Please provide a résumé, a one-page cover letter that conveys why you are well suited for this position and how it fits into your career and three references. These items should be emailed to: sallypetrella@gmail.com. Cover letters can be addressed to the Members of the Search Committee.

Applications will be accepted through October 12, 2024. Phone screens of top applicants will begin immediately. Interviews of preferred candidates will be arranged between October 21 - October 25, 2024.

Equal Opportunity Employer: FORP is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.

Background: The Friends of Rouge Park (FORP) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in

2002 with a mission to protect, restore, and promote a natural, environmentally healthy, and culturally vibrant Rouge Park that engages the community for the benefit and enjoyment of all. Friends of Rouge Park is a membership organization governed by an all-volunteer board of directors.

What began in 2002 as an organization working to clean up and steward the park, then fighting to keep the park open in 2008 has steadily grown to include capital investments in the natural environment, conservation of historic resources and landscapes, and programming to engage residents and visitors in the park. FORP is now poised to move to the next level.

Rouge Park is the City of Detroit’s largest park at 1,184 acres and is located on the far west side

of the city. FORP works with the city, park user groups, neighborhood associations, community

organizations, state and county officials and entities, regional agencies, corporations and more

to support park improvements and programming. More information is available on our website

at www.rougepark.org and in our Strategic Plan and Rouge Park Master Plan.

Friends of Rouge Park is committed to equitable access to the many enriching amenities of Rouge Park through:

• Planning and Capital Projects: Working closely with the City and community partners, FORP shepherds a variety of capital projects that revitalize the park to support community health, safety, and recreation.

• Programming and Partnership: Programming connects people and parks to encourage stewardship, connection to nature, fun, and wellness. FORP has two part-time staff that manage programs such as cleanups, nature walks, yoga, Winterfest, and Buffalo Soldiers and Blues Freedom Festival. FORP also supports park user groups who call Rouge Park home including Black to the Land, Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association, D-Town Farms, Detroit AeroModelers, Detroit Outdoors, Elite Archery, and Motor City Mountain Bike Association.

Today, the value of parks to community health and well-being are widely recognized, new capital investments and programs are being planned for the park, and FORP is ready to move from an all-volunteer Board with two part-time program staff, to a more established and formal organization with new leadership. In addition, Rouge Park is set to celebrate its 100-year anniversary, the City of Detroit plans to embark on a vision plan for the park, and the City of Detroit and Pistons are constructing a $20 million state-of-the-art recreation center to bring needed resources to the community

This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and values-driven leader to co-create the next phase of the organization and lead in this period of growth.