Application Guide

How to Apply for Executive Director

at American Hiking Society

🏢 About American Hiking Society

American Hiking Society is the only national nonprofit dedicated to empowering everyone to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience. With a focus on trail protection and public lands advocacy, AHS offers a unique opportunity to lead an organization that directly connects people with nature and protects America's hiking trails. Working here means joining a passionate community of hikers, advocates, and conservationists making a tangible impact on outdoor access and environmental stewardship.

About This Role

As Executive Director, you will be the driving force behind AHS's mission, leading strategic planning, program development, fundraising, and advocacy. This role offers the chance to shape the future of outdoor recreation and conservation at a national level, working remotely with a dedicated team and board. Your leadership will directly impact the preservation of trails and public lands for generations to come.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a virtual check-in with your leadership team to review key initiatives, followed by a phone call with a major donor to discuss a six-figure gift. After lunch, you'd meet with the advocacy team to finalize a position statement on a proposed trail legislation, then spend the afternoon drafting a speech for an upcoming outdoor industry conference. Evenings could involve reviewing board materials or connecting with partner organizations via email.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who American Hiking Society Is Looking For

  • A seasoned nonprofit leader with 5+ years in senior management, preferably in outdoor recreation or conservation, who has successfully scaled programs and managed a budget of similar size.
  • A proven fundraiser with a track record of cultivating major donors, securing corporate sponsorships, and diversifying revenue streams, including grants and individual giving.
  • A strategic thinker and spokesperson who can articulate AHS's mission to policymakers, media, and the public, and advance a policy agenda for trail and land protection.
  • An inclusive leader committed to equity in outdoor access, with experience designing programs that welcome diverse communities and remove barriers to hiking.

📝 Tips for Applying to American Hiking Society

1

Highlight your experience in nonprofit management and fundraising with specific metrics (e.g., '% increase in donations', 'number of new corporate partners').

2

Demonstrate your understanding of AHS's programs (e.g., National Trails Day, Volunteer Vacations) and suggest how you would expand their impact.

3

Showcase your advocacy work, especially related to public lands or environmental policy, and mention any connections to key partners like the Forest Service or BLM.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize remote leadership experience, as this role is fully remote and requires managing a distributed team.

5

Include a cover letter that directly addresses the job description, using language from AHS's mission and values (e.g., 'empower all to enjoy, share, and preserve').

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for hiking and the outdoors, and how it aligns with AHS's mission to protect trails and public lands.", 'Your leadership experience in a similar nonprofit, with concrete examples of strategic planning, program growth, and fundraising success.', "Your vision for advancing AHS's policy agenda and increasing diversity in outdoor recreation.", 'Your ability to build relationships with donors, partners, and board members, and your commitment to transparent communication.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review AHS's current strategic plan, annual reports, and recent press releases to understand their priorities and achievements.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key advocacy campaigns, such as the 'Trails and Public Lands' policy agenda and partnerships with the National Park Service.
  • → Explore AHS's programs like National Trails Day, Volunteer Vacations, and the NextGen Trail Stewardship to identify areas for growth.
  • → Look into the backgrounds of board members and major donors to understand the organization's network and culture.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you develop a strategic plan to increase AHS's national impact and membership base?
2 Describe your experience with major gift fundraising and how you would diversify AHS's revenue sources.
3 How do you approach advocacy for public lands, and what is your understanding of current threats to trails?
4 Tell us about a time you led an organization through change or growth, and how you managed staff and stakeholders.
5 What is your vision for making hiking more inclusive and accessible to underrepresented communities?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without referencing AHS's specific programs, mission, or recent initiatives.
  • Focusing solely on your hiking experience without demonstrating senior leadership, fundraising, and strategic planning skills.
  • Failing to address the remote nature of the role and how you will build team culture and manage operations virtually.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to American Hiking Society!

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