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A letter from our Executive Director

Dear Friends of the RCD,

I write to share some bittersweet news: after almost fifteen years at the RCD, five as Executive Director, I will be departing in mid-January for a new professional adventure. My last day here will be January 13th. Words can’t describe how grateful I am for my time at the RCD. Since day one, it has been a great honor to serve our community and to learn from so many creative and determined land managers, partners, and of course our own RCD Board and staff. Serving as Executive Director has been rewarding and challenging in ways I never could have imagined, and I will always be thankful to have had the opportunity.

Over the next two months as my time at the RCD draws to a close, I look forward to sharing some reflections on all we’ve accomplished together. In the meantime, we have work to do! We will be recruiting a new Executive Director to lead our excellent team and carry forward the RCD’s important and impactful work. I believe this is a great opportunity for the organization to have new leadership and for the right person to grow their career in an environment that is exciting, supportive, and meaningful. I humbly ask that you pass on this opportunity to anyone you think may be a good fit for the RCD and this position. More information is below.

Thank you for your partnership and support of the RCD, it has meant and continues to mean so much. I look forward to our work together over the next two months, and to our paths continuing to cross in the future,

Valerie

We're hiring: Executive Director

The Executive Director position offers an exciting opportunity to apply technical, administrative, policy, and collaboration skills to meaningful and impactful conservation work in some of California’s most beautiful landscapes. The Executive Director is the chief administrative officer responsible for managing and directing the operations and programs of the RCD consistent with the mission, strategic direction, and policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director reports directly to the Board and serves as the primary liaison between the District and agricultural, environmental, and regulatory stakeholders and the public at large. 



Organizational Background

The Sonoma RCD is a non-regulatory, local government entity empowered to manage soil, water, fish, and wildlife resources for conservation. In existence since the 1940s, RCDs are local grassroots conservation delivery systems that identify local conservation problems and guide solutions on a voluntary basis. The RCD covers 85% of Sonoma County, and includes portions of the Russian River, Petaluma River, Sonoma Creek, Stemple Creek, and Gualala River Watersheds. The RCD has an annual budget of $4.4MM and is almost exclusively grant and contract funded. The RCD has a team of seventeen, with expertise in a wide variety of natural resource and agricultural disciplines, education and outreach, policy, fundraising, and administration, and is governed by a board of seven directors. Our mission is carried out through four programs: LandSmart® Planning, LandSmart On-the-Ground, LandSmart Water Resources, and LandSmart Education.

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