Executive Director - WyoClimbers (CWCA)

Location: Hybrid, based in Lander, WY
Commitment: Full-time
Compensation: $50,000 – $65,000 annually (commensurate with experience)
Paid Time Off: 2 weeks annually plus holidays, additional PTO increasing with tenure
Healthcare Stipend: $200 per month
Application Closing Date: October 17, 2025
Start Date: Early to Mid-November

About WyoClimbers

WyoClimbers, also known as the Central Wyoming Climbers’ Alliance (CWCA), is a nonprofit local climbing organization (LCO) dedicated to ensuring access to and responsible stewardship of climbing areas in the Lander region of central Wyoming. We believe that through collaboration between climbers and local landowners, climbing in Central Wyoming can remain both sustainable and mutually beneficial.

As a nonprofit, WyoClimbers is committed to securing the highest quality climbing opportunities while balancing the needs of the climbing community and the environment. We lead stewardship projects, provide education through programs and outreach, and encourage active participation from the community we serve. To learn more about our mission and ongoing work, please visit our website. To continue expanding our impact, we are seeking a new Executive Director to lead the organization and advance our goals.

Position Overview

The Executive Director serves as the lead advocate for climbing access and stewardship in the Lander area while overseeing the administration, programs, and strategic direction of WyoClimbers. Core responsibilities include conservation and stewardship initiatives, fundraising, project oversight, community engagement, and event execution. A major element of this role is directing the International Climbers’ Festival, which stands as one of WyoClimbers’ largest fundraising efforts and a cornerstone event for the community. In addition, the Executive Director represents the organization and advances its mission at the local, regional, and national levels. This position reports directly to the Board of Directors and carries out the responsibilities outlined here, as well as any others assigned by the Board.

Key Responsibilities

Access & Advocacy

Safeguard access to climbing areas by building and maintaining strong relationships with both public and private landowners (i.e. Shoshone National Forest, Wind River Tribal Reservation, Wyoming Division of State Parks, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Game & Fish) ensuring effective rock climbing management and trail stewardship.
Collaborate with members of the Bolt and Anchor Replacement Fund (BARF) while maintaining open, transparent communication with the route development community.
Strengthen partnerships with organizations such as the Access Fund, the American Safe Climbing Association (ASCA), other local climbing organizations (LCOs), and nonprofits to expand the capacity for climbing stewardship in the Lander area and beyond.

Conservation & Stewardship

Partner with local land managers to support long-term planning and conservation initiatives.
Plan, organize, and execute stewardship projects in collaboration with regional volunteer groups.
Oversee WyoClimbers volunteers in maintaining trails, belay bases, and other infrastructure at established climbing areas.
Participate in collaborative efforts related to raptor management, human waste mitigation, highway cleanup, and similar conservation initiatives.

Education & Outreach

Provide education to the regional climbing community on stewardship practices, conservation principles, and climbing safety through targeted programs and media campaigns, including newsletters, social media, reports, and website updates.
Strengthen WyoClimbers’ outreach efforts within the local community to help grow the positive social and economic impacts of climbing in the region.
Represent the organization at industry events and conferences to share knowledge and build networks.
Foster strong relationships across tribal, local, regional, and national climbing communities.
Support youth and community engagement through initiatives such as after-school programs, stipends, and scholarships.

Events & Sponsorship

Represent and promote the WyoClimbers mission and brand at events throughout the year.
Build, maintain, and expand partnerships with industry brands, local businesses, and peer nonprofit organizations.
Lead fundraising efforts for additional annual events, such as Challenge for Charities.
Stay informed on industry standards and trends by researching the work of peer organizations and event practices.
Work closely with Outreach, Education, and Access/Advocacy committee members to develop and manage the annual events calendar.
Oversee event budgets to control expenses and maximize revenue in support of WyoClimbers’ mission.
Plan, attend, and implement all aspects of WyoClimbers’ three major, annual events:

International Climbers’ Festival (ICF)

Secure sponsors over the course of each year, determining sponsorship levels, donations, athlete clinics, artist activations, and more.
Create engaging fundraising opportunities for attendees to participate in on each of the event days.
Organize and manage all sponsor reps, athletes, volunteers, contractors, and Board members throughout the course of the event, from set-up to breakdown and any other needs.
Execute all ICF planning including sub-events such as the trade fair, art crawl, keynote speakers, film festival, limestone rodeo, etc.
Contract necessary work for event sound, music, lights, visuals, etc.
Obtain event permits and coordinate with local BLM, Forest Service, State Park, and the City of Lander.
Maintain and update the ICF website, ticketing platform, and oversee online signups.
In coordination with the Board, hire and supervise an ICF Festival Coordinator who will manage event communications and marketing to maximize participation, fulfill sponsor advertising requirements, and assist with recruiting, organizing, and managing festival volunteers.
Design or outsource all promotional materials (t-shirts, poster, website, registration, social media posts, sponsor deck, etc.) in conjunction with the Festival Coordinator.

Two local community events (Autumn/Winter and Winter/Spring)

Develop engaging and meaningful programming that brings the community together.
Build and maintain partnerships with local sponsors and businesses to support these events.
Secure suitable venues to accommodate attendees and program needs.
Oversee event logistics including sign-ups, registration, volunteer coordination, and project leader management.
Arrange and coordinate delivery of all necessary materials to the venue in advance of the event.

Membership & Fundraising

Develop and launch a WyoClimbers membership program by building partnerships, running targeted outreach campaigns, and offering member incentives.
Identify, pursue, and apply for grants and other fundraising opportunities to support key strategic projects.
Integrate fundraising efforts across all areas of WyoClimbers’ work to maximize financial support for the mission.
Create and implement innovative ideas and projects for donor engagement, including events, matching opportunities, and other fundraising initiatives.

Operations & Governance

Collaborate with the Treasurer to create and track budgets for each fiscal year, as well as for specific events, committees, and projects.
Partner with the Treasurer to accurately record all transactions using QuickBooks or another bookkeeping platform.
Manage financial transactions, including depositing checks and cash from events, monthly donations, and general contributions.
Maintain sound financial practices to support accounting functions such as processing credit card purchases, expense reports, deposits, bills, contractor tax forms, and invoices.
Strengthen organizational efficiency by developing and refining standard operating procedures and applying strong project management practices.
Utilize a CRM platform to manage donor and member relationships, ensuring accurate data and effective communication.
Provide clear summaries and regular updates on current projects to the Board every two weeks.
Attend subcommittee meetings as needed, including Outreach, Education, and Access/Advocacy.

Desired Skills & Qualities

Mission-Focused: Deeply committed to protecting climbing areas in Lander, with experience in mission-driven work and the ability to inspire philanthropic support.
Results-Oriented: Thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment while providing thoughtful leadership as the organization’s subject matter expert.
Self-Motivated & Proactive: Shows initiative, drives innovation, takes measured risks, and upholds high performance standards in pursuit of strategic and annual goals.
Strategic Thinker: Balances long-term strategic vision with effective day-to-day execution, embodying the work ethic common to nonprofit teams where staff, board, and volunteers go above and beyond.
Diplomatic Communicator & Leader: Skilled at engaging respectfully across the climbing community and broader Lander community, with the ability to mediate conflict, assess situations objectively, and guide constructive outcomes.

Requirements

Deep knowledge of technical rock climbing and outdoor climbing area stewardship.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with sharp attention to detail.
Ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously and adapt effectively to challenges.
Demonstrated leadership experience with staff, volunteers, and external partners.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

If you meet most of the qualifications but not all, we still encourage you to apply.

3–5 years of experience in outdoor advocacy, nonprofit management, or a related leadership role.
Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, project management, education, or a related field.
Proficiency with CRM systems, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Squarespace, and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram).
Experience in budget management, financial processes, and grant writing.
Familiarity with the Lander climbing community, with preference for candidates residing in Lander or Fremont County.

Application Process

WyoClimbers will be accepting applications for the Executive Director position from September 26, 2025 through October 17, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to participate in multiple rounds of interviews during the weeks of October 19–31, 2025. We anticipate making a final hiring decision by early November.

Apply now