IMBA Adds Regional Positions, Seeks Directors for the Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Regions
For Immediate Release 2-6-09
Mark Eller
IMBA Communications Director
303-545-9011 ext. 115
markeller@imba.com
From the earliest days of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew (TCC) program, IMBA has looked for ways to strengthen local mountain bike communities. "The Trail Care Crews have provided our flagship grassroots capacity building program for going on 13 years," says executive director Mike Van Abel. "With robust new support from SRAM, we are now poised to invest financial and human resources in our club network by deploying professional staff on a regional basis."
This year, IMBA will add regional directors in four regions: Mid-Atlantic, Mountain States, Pacific Coast and Upper Midwest. The Mountain States and Pacific Coast regions will be staffed with two IMBA veterans: Ryan Schutz and Anna Laxague (respectively). Both apprenticed as Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew members, and each brings a depth of local knowledge, as well as crucial nonprofit development and organizing experience, to their regions.
A search is underway for directors for the Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Regions. Interested candidates should fit the qualifications of the job description (see below) and e-mail a cover letter and résumé to Mike Van Abel by February 20th. "The recipe for improving our grassroots network has two primary ingredients — volunteer leadership and professional, paid staff," says Van Abel. "One needs to look no further than IMBA's own origins to see the effectiveness of hiring professionals. In 1993, when our board decided to hire its first paid executive director, the organization began to grow rapidly, and has continued to do so ever since. Deployment of regional directors will accelerate the growth of our clubs, build membership and help IMBA become a more effective voice for mountain bike advocacy."
Regional Director Job Description
Regional directors will be responsible for collaborating with IMBA's
grassroots partners to assess opportunities, cultivate leadership
within the mountain bike advocacy community, and generate the
resources to make potential trail projects a reality. The position
reports to the executive director and works closely with IMBA's staff,
including other regional directors from across the country.
Regional directors will also organize and manage a 10-15 member
Regional Leadership Council (RLC) in their region and collaborate on
the organization and management of councils in adjacent regions. The
RLCs are advisory panels established to assist in the development of
regional resources.
Responsibilities Include:
- Developing, updating, and activating a plan for regional growth in membership, funding resources, and volunteer capacity
- Facilitating communication between IMBA staff, Regional Leadership Councils, and other local advocates
- Actively cultivating, documenting and disseminating best practices in all aspects of sustainable advocacy and trails conservation
- Assessing and cataloging stakeholders, partners, resources, and opportunities throughout the region
- Engaging and mobilizing volunteer leadership
- Enrolling new partners into IMBA's chapter program
- Cultivating and aligning trail development opportunities with IMBA's Trail Solutions program and partner trail building organizations
- Representing and promoting IMBA at relevant public events and festivals
- Identifying, cultivating, and activating grassroots leaders within the mountain bike advocacy community
- Preparing and updating club governance and policy documents in collaboration with other regional directors
- Collaborating with the regional director team to support advocacy in adjacent, unstaffed regions
- Traveling one week or more of every month
- Working on a flexible, opportunistic schedule, including some evenings, weekends, and holidays
Required Qualifications:
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated group facilitation and negotiation skills
- Successfully building, or significantly expanding, grassroots initiatives
- Experience leading and collaborating with professional staff or volunteers
- Fundraising and/or relevant business development experience
- Experience recruiting and motivating volunteers for grassroots initiatives
- Attention to detail and strong time-management and organizational skills
- Experience with social networking, group management, and communication technologies
- The successful candidate will be a self-starter with an energetic personality who is comfortable working both independently and as part of a team. Experience and contacts in grassroots advocacy and the active outdoor recreation industry are highly desirable.
