Due to the retirement of their long tenured Chief Operating Officer, an exceptional opportunity is available to manage the Wild Dunes Community Association. Wild Dunes is located less than thirty minutes from downtown Charleston on the eastern tip of a barrier island, the Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Charleston is well known for its intriguing history, wonderful restaurants and endless shopping and is often referred to as Charleston’s Island Resort. The Wild Dunes Community is surrounded by the amazing sights of the intracoastal waterway and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.

Wild Dunes Community Overview:
The Wild Dunes Community Association (WDCA) was initially established on April 7, 1977, as the Isle of Palms Beach and Racquet Club Association. In 1988, when the residential development of the Community reached the level defined in the Covenants, the governance and the majority membership of the Board passed to the Community members. Initially the management of the WDCA affairs was handled by a contracted management company. In 1998, WDCA shifted Community management to an internal staff augmented with contractors as necessary. The staff reports to a Chief Operating Officer, who is responsible to the WDCA Board. The Community Association provides continuity between the various Wild Dunes neighborhoods by ensuring architectural integrity, maintaining common properties, providing services to owners, promoting Community pride and protecting property values. All property owners are members of the Community Association.

Wild Dunes Resort
The Wild Dunes Resort sits within the gated community and consists of two hotels and residential condos. The Resort offers two Tom Fazio golf courses, twelve clay tennis courts, five pickleball courts and a full schedule of activities, as well as several restaurants, retail shops, a spa, fitness facilities and conference facilities. Property Owners can access the amenities and programs at the Wild Dunes Resort by subscribing to one of the Membership plans offered by the Wild Dunes Club. Note: The Association has no oversight of the resort, but a close and healthy working relationship with the resort’s management is imperative. The resort currently holds a seat on the WDCA Board of Directors
Community Association Facts
Ownership: Member Owned and Controlled since 1988
Board Size: Seven (7) Members
Committees: Eight (8) Active (Six Advisory and Two Board)
2024 Operating Budget: $3,028,000
2024 Capital Reserve Budget: $5,914,000
Combined Reserve Funds
Balance (4/30/24): Over $20,000,000
• Capital Improvements Fund
• Road/Drainage Fund
• Beach Maintenance Fund
• Disaster Recovery Fund

Size of Community: 900 Acres plus 600 acres of marsh and wetlands
Number of Properties: 2,135 (single family, townhomes, condos, second homes, short term rentals and lots)
Regime Associations: Twenty-Eight (28) representing over 1,400 properties
Miles of Roads: 15
Water and Sewer: Isle of Palms Water and Sewer Commission
Police and Fire: City of Isle of Palms
Trash Collection and Recycling: City of Isle of Palms
Marina: City of Isle of Palms
EMS: Charleston County
Direct Reports:
• Community Manager
• Accountant
• Client Services Manager
• Community Services Coordinator

Major Contracts: Security Services, Landscaping Maintenance and Lagoon Management
Website: wilddunesowners.org

Community Association Facilities and Responsibilities:
• Property Owners Beach House
• Roads- 15 miles
• Bicycle/Pedestrian Paths- 4.5 miles
• Fishing Dock
• Main Security Gate
• Contractor Security Gate
• Beach Access
• Waterway Island Bridge
• Member Communications
• Lagoons- 30 plus acres (serves as stormwater drainage system)
• Security- Gatehouses and Roving Patrol (unarmed)
• 2.5 miles of Atlantic Ocean beachfront and one mile of inlet shoreline along Dewees Inlet
• Ensuring Architectural Integrity
• Landscaping in the Common Areas
• Promoting Community Pride
• Protecting Property Values
• Member Events
• Works Collaboratively with resort management

Position History:
The current Chief Operating Officer, Dave Kynoski, is retiring from the Wild Dunes Community Association (WDCA) after serving the Association for 27 years. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced and energetic Association Management Professional to build on the outstanding community culture that has been created by the retiring Chief Operating Officer.

Chief Operating Officer Overview
Reporting to the Wild Dunes Community Association Board of Directors through the President, the Chief Operating Officer recommends and participates with the Board in the formulation of policies consistent with the Association’s governing documents. The Chief Operating Officer works in a community with an active resort component requiring continuing coordination with resort management. The Chief Operating Officer must possess critical leadership skills and a knowledge of association governing documents as well as municipal codes, relevant S.C. state laws and the S.C. Nonprofit Corporation Act. The Chief Operating Officer must be highly skilled in public relations, contract negotiations and oversight, financial operations, as well as having a clear understanding of infrastructure operation and maintenance.

The Position
The Chief Operating Officer of the Wild Dunes Community Association is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Association, working with a seven member Board of Directors that sets policy for the Association. They will have a passion for Association Management and have experience with shaping and enhancing community association operations. The ideal candidate will understand and strive for superior service and exceptional standards of quality to deliver excellent Property Owner experiences. An eye for detail is critical, as is an eye for the future.
A hands on approach, visibility in the Community, along with building relationships are key attributes for the Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating Officer will often represent the Association in the community and will exhibit the highest level of personal and professional conduct both within and outside the Association.
Required Qualifications for the New Chief Operating Officer:
• Ten years of community association management experience, including minimum five years as a large-scale manager. Equivalent experience in a related field can also be used to meet this requirement.
• Active Professional Community Association Management (PCAM) credentials. Equivalent certification in a related field can also be used to meet this requirement.
• Extensive experience with community services, staffing and staff management (including compensation and benefits), roads and drainage, access controls, public safety and security, emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, insurance, strategic planning, replacement reserve plans, records management/retention and applicable legal services.
• Solid track record with leadership in financial planning, budgeting, cost and efficiency management, resource/vendor management, contract negotiation and reserves management and investment strategies.
• Demonstrated “hands-on” experience in managing community infrastructure and facilities.
• Understanding of applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, including non-profit requirements.
• Demonstrated track record of owner relations and working with other regime managers/officers.
• Experience working and coordinating with local government officials.
• College degree.

Key Characteristics Desired for the New Chief Operating Officer:
• Has strong operational knowledge, balances a “hands-on” approach with an appropriate level of delegation and knows how and when to be a coach and mentor.
• Strong, energized, respectful, competent, approachable dynamic leader.
• Passion for the position with a positive, thoughtful demeanor.
• Oversees governance structure based on inclusiveness, mutual respect, consensus building and responsiveness to changing needs and opportunities.
• Understands the difference between management and leadership and is skilled in both areas; recognizes that leadership involves vision, taking prudent risk and driving the organization towards continuous improvement and success.
• Has an inclusive and participatory style that concludes with clear and concise direction to staff and is followed-up by establishing goals/timelines and holding Team Members accountable for performance.
• Will effectively represent the Association to public agencies and other external entities; is diplomatic.
• Is a good listener and facilitator; is diplomatic and has a calming effect on people; can say “no” without offending.
• Is an effective problem solver and capably addresses complex issues.
• Radiates personal warmth, sincerity, empathy and caring towards residents and guests.
• Brings a track record of achieving goals and has a “can do” positive attitude.
• Has a solid work ethic and high integrity, follows through on commitments, has common sense and does not take things personally.
• Has a successful track record of dealing with challenging owners.
• Responsive rather than reactive.
• Progressive management and leadership practices leading to promoting a positive, engaging and competent service culture.
• Can positively guide the Board and Committees in a professional and respectful manner.

Preferred Qualifications for the New Chief Operating Officer:
• Experience in a multi-use community with a mixture of permanent and part time residents and vacation rentals.
• Experience managing relations with resort/commercial tenant properties on site.
• Experience in a coastal/beachfront location, environmental awareness and commitment.
• Resilience planning experience.
• City, regional, state, and/or national government advocacy and awareness helpful.
• Familiarity with evolving technology solutions, i.e. website, social media and communications platforms, security solutions, budgeting, payroll, etc.

Initial Priorities for the New Chief Operating Officer:
• Work with the Retiring Chief Operating Officer in order to glean as much institutional information as possible.
• Gain a working knowledge of the Association’s governing documents.
• Get to know Key Association Members and Team Members as quickly as possible, engaging them in a sincere and enthusiastic manner.
• Begin to develop a working relationship with the Resort and the City.
• Get a firm grasp on the Association budget, financials and strategic plan.
• Meet individually with each Member of the Board of Directors to determine how the Chief Operating Officer can best serve the policy setting arm of the Association.
• Meet with City Government Officials whose positions impact the Association to establish channels of communication.

Additional Candidate Qualifications and Experience
The expectation is that the integrity of the Chief Operating Officer is foremost and that they will provide innovative, visionary and strategic leadership to the Board of Directors, Committees, Association Members and Team Members. They will be capable of recognizing and proactively anticipating trends and relevant impacts to WDCA.
The successful candidate will ensure that WDCA is consistently striving to provide the best programs and service in the area, continually enhancing WDCA’s overall position in the South Carolina market.

A college degree and certification as a Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) and/or Master Community Manager (MCM) are preferred with ten plus years’ experience in association management or an equivalent field. Salary Range: $225,000-$275,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Association will provide typical CAI/CMIA benefits and offers an excellent benefit package. The Board will consider entering into a multiple year Employment Agreement with the successful candidate.

Prospective Chief Operating Officer Candidates should email a resume and a detailed cover letter addressed to the Search Panel outlining how they align with the above noted qualifications and expectations for the position to the following:

Jeffrey M. Evans
Management Matters, LLC
6302 Route 191, PO Box 529
Mountainhome, PA 18342
KaylaMgmtMatters@yahoo.com (Email)
570.350.3550 (Phone)

Note: Kindly respond no later than July 18, 2024. A decision is expected by August 30, 2024. Target date for New Chief Operating Officer to be on-site is November 4, 2024.