Clayton County Conservation Board will be hiring a new Executive Director

The Clayton County Conservation Board is accepting applications for their Executive Director position. The position is posted on the county website www.claytoncountyia.gov/jobs, linked on the Conservation Board website www.claytoncountyconservation.org, as well as https://www.mycountyparks.com/Jobs/Default.

Interested applicants shall submit an employment application, and upload a cover letter, resume, and references. Applications will be received up to February 20, 2026 by 5pm.

Interested applicants shall complete an employment application, and upload a cover letter, resume, and references. Applications will be received electronically or can be mailed to the Conservation Office, 29862 Osborne Road, Elkader, Iowa 52043 by 5:00pm Friday, February 20, 2026.

Current Executive Director, Jenna Van Meeteren, who has served the county since April of 2015, provided the Conservation Board notice of her upcoming resignation at their November 2025 meeting. Van Meeteren will serve the county through the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2026. While the departure is bittersweet for both the Conservation Board and Van Meeteren, Jenna states, “I’ve been very fortunate to serve Clayton County over the last decade and I’m proud of the projects our team has accomplished, additional revenue streams generated, and I look forward to supporting the ongoing efforts of the Conservation Department in their prosperous future.” Van Meeteren noted in her resignation an opportunity to take a more active role on her family farm, expanding her private business, and growing her family.

The Conservation Board will be seeking an applicant that can manage multiple roles of leadership at the county, regional, and statewide levels. The last decade has seen several capital projects completed by the Conservation Board, including the Osborne Shop, Motor Mill Trail, Inn at Motor Mill, Osborne Campground, and soon to be completed the Pony Hollow Trail Expansion (construction in 2026). With these recent accomplishments, the new Executive Director will have an opportunity to fine-tune these additions and their maintenance needs. Collaborative feedback from the community and public feedback surveys will also aid new leadership in updating the Conservation Board’s five-year plan. Current Conservation Board Members include: Daryl Landsgard, St. Olaf; Gary Kregel, Guttenberg; Kris Lau, Guttenberg; Larry Stone, Elkader; and Dave Asche, Farmersburg.