About American Whitewater

American Whitewater is a great organization for individuals that are self-motivated, creative, and passionate about making a difference. We are a national nonprofit 501.c.3 river conservation organization founded in 1954 with approximately 6,500 members and 100 local-based affiliate clubs, representing whitewater enthusiasts across the nation. American Whitewater’s mission is to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. The organization is the primary advocate for the preservation and protection of whitewater rivers throughout the United States, and connects the interests of human-powered recreational river users with ecological and science-based data to achieve the goals within its mission.

We are a small organization with staff living across the country in the communities where we work. We take a collaborative team-driven approach to projects but our staff are expected to be self motivated with an ability to work independently and think critically. You don't need to be an expert paddler to work at our organization but we all have a passion for rivers and their responsible enjoyment

American Whitewater embraces and celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do. Long-term stewardship of river resources requires inclusion. At American Whitewater, we believe that in order to shape the future of river stewardship, we must serve a constituency that is representative of that future. By bringing together people with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences - plus, encouraging a community of openness and inclusion - we can shape creative solutions for river conservation and stewardship.

Open Positions

Executive Director, Posted March 18, 2022

American Whitewater seeks to hire a new Executive Director to lead our organization in fulfilling its mission and goals. The Executive Director is charged with managing and building the organization – through fundraising, enhancing credibility and visibility with the public and the media, financial oversight and budget expansion, and cultivating new and existing organizational opportunities. The Executive Director will provide oversight for staff, empower staff to work effectively, and support a positive work environment.

In recent years, American Whitewater has had great success in achieving programmatic goals, building a talented staff, and developing reliable funding. The organization is well situated for a smooth transition to new leadership, which will help the organization continue to grow and become even more effective.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, which includes an Executive Committee. The Executive Director position is a full-time role classified as exempt from FLSA overtime requirements. Location is flexible, with a preference for geographic regions where the organization is focused.

We are no longer accepting applications for this position at this time. Target employment date is June 2022.

Executive Director Position Description

Organizational Background for the Executive Director Position

Join AW and support river stewardship nationwide!