Friday, December 14, 2012

OWAA Initiates Search For New Executive Director

The Outdoor Writers Association of America, the nation's oldest and largest association of professional outdoors-focused communicators, is seeking a new executive director.

The 1,000-member association, formed in 1927 at a meeting of the Izaak Walton League of America, counts among its members the nation's foremost outdoor writers, photographers, artists and broadcasters.

Current OWAA Executive Director Robin Giner submitted her resignation in November. Giner, who began her affiliation with OWAA in 2001, assumed the role of executive director in 2010. She plans to embark on a career more closely aligned with her agricultural roots.

"During her tenure with the organization Giner helped navigate OWAA through difficult times as it confronted challenges facing the entire media industry," said OWAA President Mark Taylor, outdoors editor of The Roanoke (Va.) Times.

"However, this presents us with an opportunity to find a new director with the special vision and skills needed to keep moving us forward."

An eight-member committee of OWAA officers and individual members is heading up the recruiting effort.

In the past, the organization's leaders felt strongly that the position should be based in Missoula, Mont., current location of OWAA headquarters. That requirement has been adjusted to accommodate skilled individuals who might not find it possible to relocate.

"Our priority is finding a skilled, experienced leader who is familiar with the outdoors industry and outdoors-related communication," Taylor said. "We are trying to do everything we can to ensure that our pool of candidates is as good as it possibly can be."

The application deadline for the position is Jan. 21, 2013.

View the complete position description.