Executive Director

Overview

We envision a world in which science-based decision-making, policies, and technology allow people to live in balance with nature. Adventure Scientists collaborates with leaders tackling environmental and climate challenges to design and manage field data collection projects that expand scale and access. By recruiting and training outdoor enthusiasts, the organization delivers high-quality data, enabling conservation leaders to ask bigger questions, accelerate solutions, and inspire civic engagement.

If you’re ready to combine your strategic expertise with a love for the outdoors and a commitment to conservation, this is your chance to make a lasting impact. Together, we will ensure Adventure Scientists continues to be a game-changer for environmental conservation, creating a healthier planet for generations to come.

Adventure Scientists is on the brink of an exciting transformation, and we’re searching for an exceptional leader to guide us into our next chapter. This is a tremendous opportunity to take a pioneering, founder-led organization and shape it into a powerful, lasting force for conservation worldwide.

As our Executive Director, you will play a pivotal role in amplifying Adventure Scientists’ impact, driving innovation, and building a sustainable future for our mission. Reporting to the Board of Directors, you will oversee all operations, ensuring we remain efficient, effective, and ready to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Partnering closely with our visionary Founder/Executive Chairman, you will help refine and execute a bold strategy that elevates Adventure Scientists to new heights. While staying true to our adventurous spirit, your leadership will inspire our team to achieve ambitious goals and foster an organizational culture that values collaboration, inclusiveness, and operational excellence.

This role is perfect for a dynamic and experienced operational leader with a passion for conservation and a proven track record of:

• Managing and scaling complex operations with precision and creativity;
• Building and leading high-performing teams through growth and change;
• Delivering measurable results in mission-driven organizations;
• Thriving in entrepreneurial, fast-paced environments
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Are you ready to lead this adventure?

• We are a mostly distributed/hybrid organization with 15 full-time employees, planning to scale in the coming years.
• We foster an inclusive culture where every team member feels ownership and accountability for their role and appreciated for their contributions.
• Our partners include National Geographic, the World Economic Forum, TED, the U.S. Forest Service, and Harvard Medical School.
• Our work has driven outcomes such as:
• – Preventing illegal timber harvest
• – Restoring extirpated species to their home ranges
• – Building the world’s largest dataset on microplastics
• – Advancing identification of the genes responsible for antibiotic resistance

In partnership with the Founder/Executive Chairman, the Executive Director will serve as the central leader of Adventure Scientists’ operational and programmatic excellence, ensuring that all organizational activities align with the mission and that our long-term strategic vision sets us up for success.

• Partner with the board and Founder/Executive Chairman to create the long-term vision and strategy, ensuring seamless alignment between organizational priorities and execution.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and adaptability, inspiring the team to achieve ambitious goals aligned with Adventure Scientists’ values and mission.
• Prepare and present board materials, including financial reports, strategic updates, and organizational performance metrics, equipping the Board of Directors with the insights needed for effective governance and partnership.

• Fundraise in collaboration with the Founder/Executive Chairman to expand Adventure Scientists’ funding base and deepen donor relationships.
• Identify fundraising needs related to capacity-building, organizational growth, and…