WABA Looks for new Executive Director

Eric Gilliland announced his resignation last week and now the Executive Board is looking for a replacement. You can see the full job description and application process here.

The ideal candidate will have:

1. A strong commitment to WABA’s mission and goals, and an understanding of bicycling and transportation issues;
   
2. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, with a minimum of ten years job experience, including significant management experience;
   
3. Demonstrated non-profit management or highly relevant business and government experience with organizations of similar size and composition;
   
4. Demonstrated fundraising experience and capability;
   
5. Broad-based connections and experience with Washington area governmental bodies, political institutions, and other entities active in environmental and transportation related issues;
   
6. Strong competency in administration, strategic planning, and fiscal budgeting;
   
7. Superior oral and written communication skills, and excellent computer/technical skills.

Comments

[darren]

Obviously, they need somebody running things. And even more obvious, Eric accomplished the very hardest of all management tasks -- turning a shoestring org into a very vital sustainable entity. My comments below should absolutely NOT be construed as any criticism with anything WABA has done to date.

But perhaps the WABA board is missing an opportunity that comes when any longtime leader departs -- taking the time to critically examine the mission, ACTIVELY seek out the thoughts of membership on the direction, and then find a new leader that will take them wherever WABA needs to go next.

I know what WABA does, and I always knew Eric was doing a masterful job at it, but they'll have the luck o' the Irish if they're able to just find and plug in Eric's clone. They ought to define where WABA should go, with many painful meetings with membership to argue about it, and THEN do the headhunting. That fine organization that Eric helped build is capable of holding down the fort for a few months, why not take the time to open the floor to the important questions? Doing otherwise risks much of the momentum Eric and WABA have built in the past 5 years. IMHO.