The Position in Brief
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County seeks applicants to help lead our positive, dedicated team in the newly created role of Deputy Executive Director.
The Deputy Executive Director manages the day-to-day operations of the Forest Preserve District and ensures its performance goals are met.
The Deputy Executive Director assists with implementing strategic initiatives of the District and leads work on a wide variety of projects, across all departments.
The Deputy Executive Director is responsible for directly overseeing the Community Engagement, Operations, Natural Resource Management, and Planning and Land Acquisition departments.
Other duties include coordinating the organization-wide grant-funding efforts with the District’s consultant firm and supporting the development and monitoring of the annual budget, including the capital improvement plan.
The Deputy Executive Director acts in the absence of the Executive Director, collaborates and directs a high-performing leadership team, and works closely with an experienced and actively engaged Board of Commissioners.
The Deputy Executive Director also serves as the point of contact for numerous intergovernmental partners and represents the District at various public engagements.
View the full job description online at: https://www.kaneforest.com/careers
Forest Preserve District of Kane County
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County was formed in 1925 by public referendum. We recently celebrated our centennial on June 8, 2025, and eagerly look forward to our second century of conservation, recreation and environmental education.
Kane County is located within northeastern Illinois, approximately 40 miles west of Chicago, and is considered one of the “collar counties.”
The District’s existing forest preserves, facilities and natural areas are a large part of Kane County’s culture. Forest preserve holdings contribute to the overall livability and quality of life valued by Kane County residents, workers and visitors.
Support for Public Open Space
The residents of Kane County have long been supporters of the Forest Preserve District’s mission and have supported six open space land acquisition and preserve improvement referenda, most recently in 2024. The District’s goals have consistently been to:
• Add acreage to existing forest preserve natural areas;
• Acquire land for new forest preserves;
• Increase flood control and water protection;
• Preserve and restore woodlands, wetlands and prairies;
• Provide locations for residents to escape urban stresses and balance development;
• Improve the District’s renowned trail system;
• Expand recreation and environmental education
District Holdings
Currently, the District manages nearly 24,000 acres of public open space and includes 91 properties and three regional trail systems. District holdings are spread throughout Kane County and consist of a diverse portfolio of properties including woodlands, prairies and wetlands; property along the Fox River, which runs the length of the County; greenbelts along creeks and waterways; and, environmentally significant properties in critical growth areas. The District also owns a variety of unique facilities including campgrounds, a nature center, specialevent rental facilities, golf courses, Northwestern Medicine Field — home of the Kane County Cougars, the Fox Valley Ice Arena, and the Strikers Indoor Soccer Facility.
Governance
The District is governed by the Forest Preserve Commission. Those elected to the Kane County Board also serve as members of the Forest Preserve Commission. Kane County is comprised of 24 board districts. One Commissioner is elected from each district for a four-year term. Half of the board is elected every two years. The President of the Commission is elected by fellow Commission members, every two years. With the Commission’s approval, the President appoints commissioners to serve on the following
committees: Executive, Finance & Administration, Land Acquisition, and Planning & Utilization. The Commission and the Executive Committee handle the District business of preparing policies and acquiring open space for the citizens of Kane County.
The District participates in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA) and the Intergovernmental Personnel Benefit Cooperative (IPBC).
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency. The District was the first forest preserve district in the state to receive this accreditation.
Ideal Candidates
The ideal candidate will have considerable knowledge of legislation and regulations affecting forest preserves, well-practiced administration skills in a similarly sized government organization, and be familiar with government finance practices. Applicants must have the proven ability to lead a highly capable senior leadership team and a diverse organization with creativity and collaborations as pillars of their management style. Importantly, the Deputy Executive Director will demonstrate a conservation ethic.
Qualifying Education & Experience
B.S./B.A. in public administration or a field equivalently appropriate to lead a government organization with a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible management and leadership experience in a natural resourcebased or other public agency or any satisfactory combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job.
Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time, FLSA exempt position. The fiscal year 2025/2026 salary range is $133,452 to $175,094, with a starting salary up to the mid-point, depending upon qualifications. The District offers a competitive benefits package including:
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO/HMO health plan
• Dental, vision, and life insurance
• Participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF)
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off for vacation, sick leave, personal leave, paid holidays, flexible and hybrid work schedules
• On-site fitness, program and facility discounts
• Membership in professional organizations
• Registration and travel for professional conferences
• Reimbursement for related educational expenses
• Vehicle stipend
How to Apply
Apply at: https://www.kaneforest.com/careers with a resume, cover letter and contact information for professional references by July 7th, 2025. Inquiries may be directed to Jennifer Clough, Director of Human Resources at cloughjennifer@ kaneforest.com or 630-2325921.
For more information about the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, visit https://www.kaneforest.com.
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
