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THE STRAND INSTITUTE AT PINE HOLLOW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Where the freshwater of Lake Michigan reaches the land on the liminal edge, the shoreline is a place of meeting, of communication, and of enlightenment.

The Strand Institute at Pine Hollow is seeking an Executive Director to be based in Elk Rapids, Michigan.

Overview

Inspired by the beauty of Lake Michigan Leslie Lee built a house as fine as humanly possibly—beautiful, welcoming, authentic, and long-lasting to share with the greater world in hopes that its guests will find it conducive to support the well-being of the world through the sustainable use of the Earth’s land and water. Moreover, Leslie created Pine Hollow to foster the uniquely human capacity for imagination and creativity by building a home for hosting leaders, policy makers, and thinkers who are working toward solving the complex problems of our time.

Strand Institute is a newly created nonprofit organization established to convene meetings of world leaders and others to explore issue impacting education, environment, arts and culture and other social issues. The Institute is housed at Pine Hollow, a 17,000 square foot house designed by Sutton’s Bay architect Roger Hummel situated on 600 feet of lakefront property on the shore of East Grand Traverse Bay, near the village of Elk Rapids, Michigan.

Over the next three to five years, Strand Institute will pursue a set of strategic goals that align with these three areas:

1) Enhance Strand Institute as an organization

• Develop a strong, engaged Board and Group of Advisors

• Build the management capacity and human infrastructure of Strand Institute

• Steward and enhance Strand Institute’s natural, built, and social environment

2) Achieve ongoing financial sustainability

• Achieve full financial sustainability of Strand Institute’s Initiatives

• Obtain financial sustainability of operations through revenue from program events and program initiatives at Strand Institute

3) Develop Innovative Programs

• Working with the Board and outside Advisors develop a set of programs which address civil society; freshwater and other environment issues; and creativity, imagination, and enlightenment

• Work to build partnerships with other institutions providing an opportunity for shared knowledge and learning about ways to inspire institutional and personal transformation

Executive Director

The Executive Director should be a person who thrives on working with individual leaders and who brings passion and a unique interest to serve as a convener and catalyst in seeking to address today’s pressing social, educational, economic and environmental concerns. The Executive Director must be able to bridge the inspired thinking found in the Institute with a pragmatic ability to implement and stay grounded in actions which support the sustainability of the organization.

If the Institute is to become the “resource to solve problems” the Executive Director will need to ensure the programs, fundraising activities, and Board operate at their maximum capacity. The Executive Director will need to be comfortable with an engaged founder and serve to facilitate the development of an extraordinary resource. The Executive Director will be based in Elk Rapid, Michigan.

The broad goals and objectives facing the Executive Director include:

• To serve as a champion for the mission, direction and activities of the Institute – building, strengthening and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, donors, partners and critical constituencies;

• To provide organizational leadership for Institute, including the implementation of established program priorities and fostering a culture which recruits and retains top level professional staff;

• To support the development of a vibrant future by continuing to cultivate, expand and make best use of the Institute’s Board of Directors, Advisors, and partners.

The Program Director assumes executive leadership for all aspects of the Institute with respect to their impact on furthering the organization’s mission. This responsibility includes: strategic planning, marketing, sales, public relations, program development and execution. This position requires collaboration with a team comprised of the Pine Hollow operations management staff, the Institute’s Board of Directors (to be developed), and the property’s management company to ensure continuous improvement and “best practices” for all institute activities. The Executive Director will lead the Institute in creating an environment of world-class excellence in which guest groups can experience grace and comfort in a purposeful, natural setting while pursuing their high-level educational programs and other stated goals that are aligned with the mission of the Foundation.

Professional Qualifications and Personal Attributes

Beyond these objectives, the Executive Director should ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

Professional Qualifications

• A passionate commitment to the mission and values of Institute.

• Demonstrated leadership and business acumen, a proven record leading organizational growth and effectiveness, engaging and fully utilizing a Board, and comfort in dealing with the budgeting process and management of staff and financial resources;

• Demonstrated ability to increase fundraising with individuals of high net worth, private and family foundations and corporations, and a willingness to try new ideas in fundraising;

• Leadership stature and experience working with state, national and international public policy leaders, private sector, nonprofit advocates, and other key stakeholders;

• A demonstrated track record of success as leader and manager of a multifaceted organization with staff and Board development oversight. An ability to attract, retain and develop professional staff that can expand the capacity for Institute to make a difference.

Personal Attributes

• An ability to inspire trust, a proven ability to lead and facilitate with strong interpersonal skills and an ability to move from ideas to action.

• An ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse range of people from different environments, sectors, and society.

• Personal creativity and strategic vision, coupled with an ability to listen to others and learn from their best ideas – a sense of inquisitiveness and intellectual curiosity;

• Articulate, high energy, intellectually inquisitive, and possessing impeccable integrity.

• An ability to listen to others and learn from their best ideas, demonstrating intellectual curiosity, approachability, and openness to input from all levels of staff.

• An ability to be stay grounded, trustworthy, an ability to give credit and recognition to others and personal style of acting with humility and grace – in sum a superb professional and personal presence.

Compensation

Compensation for the Program Director includes a competitive base salary, significant performance-related bonus potential, and an excellent package of health and pension benefits.

To Apply

Interested candidates should send their resume via e-mail to:
Daniel Sherman, President, Explore Company, at resumes@explorecompany.com attn: Strand Institute.

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