Executive Director

Organization: RIVERE Ecological Center

Location:

Fredericksburg, Virginia (Hybrid: Remote / On-Site / Community)
Position Type:
Full-Time, Exempt W-2 Employee (12-Month Limited Term with Option for Renewal Pending Funding/Campaign Milestones)
Target

Start Date:

December 1, 2026

About RIVERE Ecological Center
RIVERE is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation that is working to build the RIVERE Ecological Center, a purpose-built hub along the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Designed as shared space, the Center will bring together researchers, environmental educators, nonprofits, ecopreneurs, public agencies, Tribal partners, and community members who are working to advance watershed health and river stewardship. Rather than operating programs itself, RIVERE will provide the space, digital tools, and connective tissue that allow existing organizations to collaborate more deeply, reach more people, and create lasting economic, environmental, and educational impact.

The Rappahannock Smart River Initiative will serve as a focal point for collaboration among researchers and ecopreneurs at the RIVERE Ecological Center. This pioneering initiative aims to deploy a smart wireless sensor network in tributaries throughout the length of the Rappahannock to enable proactive monitoring, mitigation, and planning measures as projected population growth and development upstream place increased pressure on the river.

RIVERE collaborates and engages with over 120 regional and national stakeholders, to include Virginia Tech, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Friends of the Rappahannock, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, the University of Mary Washington, the City of Fredericksburg, and Stafford County. RIVERE is preparing to launch a capital campaign to construct a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art ecological center featuring wet/dry laboratories, immersive virtual/augmented reality exhibit space, conference facilities, and a coworking membership model.

Position Summary
The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive leader of RIVERE, driving strategic direction, financial growth, operational development, and stakeholder mobilization. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will lead RIVERE through a critical transition from its foundational startup phase into rapid organizational expansion.

Key priorities include co-leading the capital campaign alongside the Board of Directors, overseeing startup nonprofit infrastructure development, supervising staff and operational systems, establishing the center’s earned revenue coworking model, and managing complex public-private partnerships. The Executive Director works in close collaboration with project leads, the Operations Manager, board leadership, and key institutional partners.

Core Responsibilities
1. Strategic Direction & Startup Execution
(In partnership with the founder and board of directors)
Organizational Scaling:
Define and execute strategic growth plans that transition RIVERE from initial startup planning to full facility operation and regional presence.
Board Governance &

Collaboration:

Partner closely with the Founder & Chairperson of the Board and the Board of Directors; prepare board packets, track governance metrics, support board expansion, and implement board committee charters.
Consultant & Advisory Management:
Lead direct collaboration with external advisory teams, including CIMA Consulting (project leadership, financial modeling, campaign strategy) and architectural/engineering partners.
2. Capital Campaign & Comprehensive Fundraising
(Supported by development consultants)
Capital Campaign Leadership:
Drive…