Monthly: March 2026

Interim Executive Director Job Description 2026

The Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA) and Eastern Trail Management District (ETMD) seek a strategic and hands-on Interim Executive Director to lead both organizations for an 18–24 month term.

The Eastern Trail is a visionary plan for a long-distance walking and bicycling trail that will one day extend continuously off-road from South Portland to the Maine-New Hampshire border. The membership-based Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA) and the regional semi-municipal organization Eastern Trail Management District (ETMD) jointly manage the Eastern Trail, one of southern Maine’s most significant recreation and active transportation assets. The organizations share an executive director and a cost-sharing relationship.

We are currently looking for an interim Executive Director to partner with the ETA and ETMD Boards to assess our current structure, maintain operations, investigate operational models for trail organizations, define our trail-building strategy, and plan the transition for long term executive leadership.

The Interim Executive Director will have the guidance and support of the Boards and staff for their entire tenure. During the 18-24 month term, the Interim Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of our programs, trail management projects, fundraising efforts, financial oversight, and community partnerships while shepherding the organization through a period of transition

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide unified leadership across ETA and ETMD to the staff, volunteers, and board members.
• Support the Board in defining the purpose and structure of the organization.
• Lead the development and oversight of annual budgets for both ETA and ETMD, ensuring strong fiscal controls, responsible expenditure approval, and accurate financial reporting across entities.
• Working with the development committee,begin the design and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including donor cultivation, grant writing, and sponsorship opportunities.
• Oversee and/or manage projects and events, ensuring their effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with the organization’s goals.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as ethical standards governing nonprofit organizations.
• Work with staff and board to maintain existing relationships with community stakeholders, government agencies, and other local nonprofit organizations to leverage partnerships and maximize the organization’s impact.
• Serves as the chief spokesperson and is responsible for all public relations.
• Performs other duties as directed by the board of directors.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience with organizational development and organizations in transition
• Ability to identify areas of needed organizational improvement and help to prioritize needed changes
• Nonprofit business management experience, including: general non-profit business expertise, managing people and change, budgeting, and fundraising skills.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategy while managing day-to-day operations in a lean, hands-on environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community members, donors, and government officials.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance, legal compliance, and best practices in nonprofit management.
• Knowledge of Quickbooks Online is required; Google Workspace, Donor Perfect, and Constant Contact are a plus.

This position is structured as an 18-24 month appointment to support both the Boards to align on long-term vision while advancing day-to-day operations.

Job Information:
Job Category: Executive/Senior Management
Salary:$88,000 – $110,000
Position Type: Full Time, Exempt
Reports to: ETA and ETMD Board of Directors
Experience: 6-10 years
Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and skills. Benefits include generous time off policy and health care subsidy.

Location: The office is located in Biddeford, ME. The organization operates on a flexible work schedule. Work on nights and weekends occasionally required as programming and board meetings dictate. Position requires a valid drivers license and automobile as there will be frequent local travel.

Physical Activities: Lifting of up to 50 pounds; potential for sitting for several hours at a time; potential for standing on feet for 8 hours a day.

The ETA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status.

Residency within commuting distance of Biddeford, ME is required. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor employment visas.

To apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@easterntrail.org with “Interim Executive Director” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and continue until the position is filled.

Download/View a pdf of the Job Description here

Join us on Saturday, May 30, 2026 for a timed 3.1 mile trail run or walk along the scenic Eastern Trail followed by an awards ceremony to celebrate and acknowledge the top finishers. The race begins and ends in the Mill Brook Industrial Park (Saco, ME) with ample parking at Maine Molecular. Registration fee is $35 per person, $40 day of the race for adults, or $25 for students (13 to 17 years old) and youth (12 and under) Register on or before May 2nd to receive a free race tech t-shirt.

Register now!

This race honors John Andrews, the Eastern Trail’s legendary founder, who passed away in 2017. John’s vision to create the Eastern Trail started in the early 1990s. He worked patiently and persistently for decades to put the Eastern Trail on the map throughout southern Maine. Today, hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy the trail every year. Your participation in this race and generous support enables the Eastern Trail Alliance to continue John’s mission, working to ensure the existing trail is well maintained, safe, and clean, and ultimately extended to Kittery through ongoing trail-building campaigns.

Are you interested in a part-time role supporting one of southern Maine’s most beloved trails? The Eastern Trail Alliance is seeking a part-time Office Administrator.

The Office Administrator provides support for Eastern Trail operations and administration. The Office Administrator develops and implements efficient systems for bookkeeping, office management, and events, along with other duties as assigned. This position supports staff, the Board of Directors, and, at times, donors, partners, and volunteers. This part-time position works closely with and is supervised by the Executive Director.

This is a part-time, hybrid position working approximately 10-20 hours per week, with a flexible schedule based on deadlines and events. Some infrequent night and weekend work is anticipated. Event staffing can involve moving pop-up tents, tables, chairs and some moderate lifting (up to 30 pounds) on an occasional basis. The anticipated hourly rate for this position is approximately $25 per hour, with final compensation depending on experience.

Residency within commuting distance of Biddeford, ME is required. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor employment visas.

To apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter (PDF format) to jobs@easterntrail.org with “Office Administrator” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and continue until the position is filled.

Duties and Responsibilities

Bookkeeping. The Office Administrator works in coordination with the Executive Director and outside accounting agencies to perform bookkeeping for the Eastern Trail Alliance and the Eastern Trail Management District in QuickBooks Online.

• Completes bookkeeping functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and banking. Coordinates monthly reconciliations and reports in a timely manner. Follows segregation of duties and accounting principles to coordinate financial record-keeping and reviews with internal and external partners.
• Coordinates biweekly payroll with payroll service.
• Works closely with the entire team to contribute to the preparation of and adherence to the organizations’ annual budgets.
• Keeps records and documentation in accordance with annual audit requirements and supports the annual financial review process with reports and information as needed by the Executive Director, Finance Committee, and external auditors.

Office Management. The Office Administrator manages the day-to-day needs of the Eastern Trail Alliance office.

• Provides professional front desk services including greeting visitors, managing incoming calls and emails, and responding to general inquiries.
• Manages all mail and package operations and supplies. Maintains a well-organized office including computers, office equipment, and electronic and paper filing systems.
• Serves as the primary point of contact with building management for maintenance requests and other building-related services.
• Coordinates purchasing by researching, placing orders, and interfacing with vendors for insurance, office supplies, equipment, payroll service, banking, financial audit, IT services, and other operational needs.
• Manages organizational materials such as guides and brochures by coordinating design, production, and distribution and/or sale.
• Coordinates development operations with proper financial controls including processing donations, maintaining the donor database, generating gift acknowledgments, coordinating outreach mailings, and producing reports.

Events. The Office Administrator assists with ETA events such as the Maine Lighthouse Ride and John Andrews Memorial 5K, as well as smaller events and tabling opportunities.

• Coordinates permits and insurance, processes sponsor contributions, and maintains participant records.
• Coordinates the Special Event Permit process when the community requests use of the trail.
• Helps set up, staff, and take down events and coordinates equipment and promotional materials.

Qualifications

• A minimum of five years experience in bookkeeping, administrative support, nonprofits, or a related field.
• Nonprofit bookkeeping experience is required
• Proficient with QuickBooks Online (QBO) is required
• Experience with office management and purchasing
• Strong computer and administrative skills with an attention to detail
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently and as part of a team
• Excellent customer service skill and ability to interface (either written or orally) with a variety of stakeholders and audiences including board members, vendors, accountants, volunteers, as well as the public
• Preferred: DonorPerfect or other donor databases.

The ETA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status.

Organizational Summary. The Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA) is a 501(c)(3) membership-based organization that builds, maintains, and promotes the Eastern Trail, southern Maine’s premier multi-use greenway. Together with the Eastern Trail Management District (ETMD), a semi-municipal organization, the two sister organizations manage the Eastern Trail.

The Eastern Trail is a visionary plan for a long-distance, multi-use trail that will one day extend continuously off-road from South Portland to the Maine-New Hampshire border. Designed to support a wide range of outdoor activity—including walking, birdwatching, cross-country skiing, and cycling—the Eastern Trail serves both recreational and transportation purposes. Today, approximately twenty miles of non-contiguous protected, off-road trail is complete.

Join the Eastern Trail Alliance for its May 2026 full moon walk in the Scarborough Marsh. This month’s full moon will be a Flower Moon. The May Moon Walk will be held Friday, May 1st 7:45 –9:15 pm. The walk leaves from the Eastern Trail’s Pine Point parking area (138 Pine Point Road in Scarborough). Registration is required – go here to register.

The walk is limited to 25 people and is first come first serve.

Pets and flashlights are not allowed for this event so as to ensure guests are able to best appreciate the marsh and full moon. Please email info@easterntrail.org with any questions you may have.

Visit our EVENTS page for information on other events.