Executive Director

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for non-profit Scientific Association for Botanical Education & Research (SABER) staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. The incumbent will initially develop deep knowledge of field, core programs, operations, and business plans.

SABER is committed to advancing the safe and informed use of botanical products through scientific research, education, and advocacy. We bridge traditional knowledge with modern science to empower communities and promote evidence-based practices.

SABER will foster and advance the development and dissemination of interdisciplinary science and research on the safe and effective use of therapeutic botanicals to improve human health and wellbeing. 

By promoting and sponsoring research grants, our goal is to promote a greater scientific understanding of botanical therapies, to inform the development of evidence-based policy decisions, and to enable informed and appropriate consumer choice.

We are seeking a dynamic Executive Director to lead a brand new organization into its first phase of growth and impact.  The successful candidate will plan operations, drive strategic planning, and introduce the non profit to the public.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Management:

• Ensure consistent quality of finance and administration, communications, and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the strategic goals.
• Develop, maintain, and support a strong scientific advisory board; seek and build board involvement with strategic direction for both ongoing local operations as well as for the national rollout.
• Help coordinate and organize the scientific advisory board to help ensure efficient and timely grant deployment.
• Maintain a relationship with board members, handling day-to-day operations, execute strategies for achieving fundraising goals.
• Informing the board of management changes, ongoing campaign details, donor information, and any areas where staff requires help.
• Relaying staff and volunteers' ideas and other concerns that require the board's attention and involvement.
• Planning for board meetings, preparing meeting structures, and defining meeting agendas in coordination with the board's chair.
• Assisting boards in their administration, operations, planning, and information dissemination.

Planning & New Business:

• Begin to build partnerships in new markets, establishing relationships with the funders and community leaders.
• Be an external local and national presence that publishes and communicates program results with an emphasis on the successes of programs.

Strategic Outreach:

• Coordinate with the scientific advisory board to disseminate funding opportunities to eligible scientists
• Ensure effective messaging to scientific and academic audiences so they are aware of SABER’s mission and opportunities.
• Provide strategic direction that extends organization's reach, develop strategies that enhance development

Community and PR:

• Act as the primary spokesperson for SABER, amplifying the organizations’ vision and goals to public stakeholders. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with other organizations that will enhance goals and reach.

Qualifications

• The ED will be committed to SABER’s mission. All candidates should have proven leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience.
• Specific requirements include:
• Scientific degree or background in applicable scientific discipline (natural products chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, biological sciences).
• Advanced degree with preference given to an MBA and at least 10 years of senior management experience;
• Track record of effectively leading and regionally and/or nationally scaling a performance- and outcomes-based organization and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach, manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget
• Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning
• Preference given to candidates with a background in natural products and science and to applicants with nonprofit director experience.
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, self-directed and remarkable communication skills.

Please send your resume and cover letter to info@saberscience.org