The Captiva Erosion Prevention District is seeking a qualified and experienced professional to serve as Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall administration, daily operations, financial coordination, project management, public communication, and intergovernmental coordination of the District.
This position requires strong leadership, sound professional judgment, technical understanding of coastal management and beach nourishment, public-sector administrative experience, and the ability to work effectively with elected Commissioners, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, property owners, and the public.
The Executive Director serves as the District’s primary administrative officer and is responsible for implementing Board direction, managing District priorities, coordinating major coastal projects, supporting grant and reimbursement efforts, and ensuring the District operates in a professional, transparent, fiscally responsible, and legally compliant manner.
Key Responsibilities - District Administration and Board Support
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the Captiva Erosion Prevention District.
- Prepare Board meeting agendas, staff reports, supporting documentation, presentations, and public notices.
- Attend and participate in regular Board meetings, special meetings, workshops, and public meetings.
- Implement Board-approved policies, projects, contracts, and directives.
- Coordinate with the District Attorney to ensure compliance with applicable Florida statutes, public records requirements, Sunshine Law obligations, procurement requirements, and District governance procedures.
- Maintain organized District records, files, contracts, correspondence, financial documents, project documentation, and permitting records.
- Provide professional recommendations to the Board regarding District operations, coastal projects, funding strategies, consultant work, public communications, and long-term planning.
Coastal Project Management
- Manage and coordinate beach nourishment, dune restoration, erosion control, vegetation, beach access, and coastal resilience projects.
- Serve as the District’s primary point of contact for engineers, coastal consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, funding partners, and project stakeholders.
- Monitor project schedules, deliverables, budgets, permitting requirements, construction activities, consultant performance, and contractor compliance.
- Coordinate post-construction monitoring, beach surveys, vegetation work, erosion response, turtle-season requirements, and other permit-related obligations.
- Assist with the development and implementation of emergency beach maintenance plans, sand placement strategies, dune protection measures, public access improvements, and post-storm response efforts.
- Coordinate beach access pathway planning, Mobi-Mat permitting, dune walkover considerations, ropes and bollards, sand fencing, and related beach management measures.
Grant, Funding, and Reimbursement Coordination
- Coordinate grant applications, reimbursement packages, funding agreements, and supporting documentation for local, state, and federal funding programs.
- Work with consultants and staff to compile invoices, progress reports, project documentation, photographic records, deliverables, and reimbursement materials.
- Coordinate with agencies such as FDEP, FWC, FEMA, Lee County, the City of Sanibel, and other relevant funding partners.
- Track grant deadlines, funding requirements, eligible expenses, reporting obligations, and reimbursement status.
- Assist with the development of scopes of work, project descriptions, schedules, budgets, resolutions, and supporting materials for grant applications and funding requests.
Financial and Assessment Coordination
- Assist with preparation and management of the District’s annual budget.
- Coordinate with the District Treasurer, bookkeeper, auditor, investment advisors, banking representatives, consultants, and legal counsel regarding District finances.
- Monitor project expenditures, contract balances, pay applications, reimbursements, investment activity, and financial reporting needs.
- Coordinate special assessment processes, including consultant coordination, apportionment support, tax roll deadlines, and communication with Lee County.
- Support audit preparation, financial reporting, bond covenant reporting, and other required financial documentation.
Regulatory and Intergovernmental Coordination
- Serve as a liaison between the District and regulatory agencies, local governments, elected officials, consultants, and community partners.
- Coordinate with FDEP, FWC, USACE, FEMA, Lee County, the City of Sanibel, SCCF, MOTE, FGCU, and other agencies or organizations as needed.
- Track and manage regulatory permits, permit conditions, compliance obligations, field authorizations, environmental monitoring, and agency correspondence.
- Represent the District in professional meetings, public forums, stakeholder discussions, and interagency coordination efforts.
- Support efforts related to federal, state, and local coastal funding eligibility, public access requirements, environmental compliance, and long-term beach management planning.
Public Communication and Stakeholder Relations
- Serve as a professional and responsive point of contact for residents, property owners, community organizations, consultants, contractors, media representatives, and public officials.
- Respond to public inquiries regarding beach conditions, access paths, dune restoration, vegetation, construction work, District projects, funding, and Board actions.
- Prepare clear and professional public updates, Board communications, community notices, website content, media responses, and stakeholder correspondence.
- Communicate complex coastal, financial, regulatory, and governance issues in a clear and understandable manner.
- Maintain professional and respectful working relationships with Commissioners, residents, local partners, agencies, consultants, contractors, and the public.
Contractor and Consultant Management
- Coordinate work performed by engineers, coastal consultants, economists, attorneys, accountants, auditors, contractors, invasive species contractors, beach maintenance contractors, vegetation contractors, and other professional service providers.
- Review consultant proposals, scopes of work, contracts, invoices, progress reports, project deliverables, and technical recommendations.
- Track project milestones, deliverables, deadlines, budgets, and performance expectations.
- Ensure contracted work is completed in accordance with Board direction, permit requirements, grant requirements, and District priorities.
Environmental and Beach Operations
- Coordinate District activities related to beach nourishment, dune protection, beach access, invasive species control, vegetation restoration, turtle-season compliance, erosion monitoring, and storm response.
- Support implementation of programs related to iguana control, Australian pine removal, dune vegetation, post-and-rope installation, sand fencing, escarpment leveling, and beach access management.
- Coordinate with beach ambassadors, field staff, consultants, and contractors regarding daily beach operations, public use issues, parking lot operations, MOTE reporting, wildlife concerns, and beach conditions.
- Monitor coastal conditions and elevate issues requiring Board, consultant, or agency attention.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, coastal management, public administration, natural resources, engineering, planning, business administration, or a related field.
- Significant professional experience in coastal management, environmental consulting, local government administration, special district management, public-sector project management, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, budgets, consultants, contractors, public communications, and regulatory requirements.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with elected officials, legal counsel, engineers, consultants, government agencies, contractors, residents, and the public.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, meetings, contracts, and documents simultaneously.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, email, document management, public records organization, and professional communication tools.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with beach nourishment, coastal construction, shoreline management, dune restoration, coastal permitting, environmental restoration, or erosion control projects.
- Experience working with Florida special districts, local governments, public boards, or public agencies.
- Familiarity with Florida Sunshine Law, public records requirements, government procurement, public meeting procedures, and public-sector financial processes.
- Experience with grants, reimbursement programs, FEMA, FDEP, FWC, Lee County, USACE, or other government funding programs.
- Experience managing engineers, environmental consultants, contractors, attorneys, auditors, and other professional service providers.
- Familiarity with non-ad valorem assessments, special assessments, tax roll coordination, public-sector budgeting, and audit support.
- Professional experience in environmental restoration, habitat restoration, wetland mitigation, coastal resilience, or natural resource management.
Desired Skills and Attributes
- Professional judgment and discretion.
- Strong leadership and problem-solving ability.
- Excellent public communication skills.
- Ability to remain calm and professional in high-pressure public settings.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to interpret technical, legal, financial, and regulatory information.
- Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
- Commitment to transparency, public service, environmental stewardship, and responsible financial management.
- Ability to build productive relationships with Board members, agencies, consultants, contractors, residents, and community partners.
Working Conditions
This position involves a combination of office work, public meetings, site visits, field coordination, consultant meetings, and agency coordination. Some evening meetings, public workshops, emergency response work, and post-storm coordination may be required.
The position may require walking beach and dune areas, observing coastal conditions, meeting contractors or consultants in the field, and responding to time-sensitive project or public concerns.
Compensation
Compensation will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and the responsibilities of the position.
Application Process
Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and professional references to the Captiva Erosion Prevention District for consideration.
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District is an equal opportunity employer.
Pay: $120,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person