A nationwide search has begun for a new executive director for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the regional planning agency for Dukes County.

Commissioners met late this week to finalize the job description for the position, which requires an extensive background in planning and a specialized master’s degree.

Mark London, who has headed the MVC for 12 years, announced his retirement in October. He’s scheduled to step down at the end of the summer.

The job opening was listed Monday in the Gazette's classified section. It was expected to be advertised on the websites of a variety of other organizations and will be distributed to the 45,000 people on the mailing list of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, a recruiter that has contracted with the MVC to coordinate the search. 

Candidates can apply for the position through the Collins Center website through Feb. 13. Once the applications are in, the Collins Center will conduct a preliminary screening.

The commission has had only six executive directors in its 40-year history. This week, commissioners said they are looking to hire someone who will continue the legacy of a multi-year tenure.

At their regular meeting on Thursday, commissioners vetted the job description, which will soon be available on the Collins Center site.

It lists the challenges of the position, which includes communication with numerous stakeholders and adjusting to life on Martha’s Vineyard. The profile emphasizes planning, leadership and grant-writing skills as well as the ability to “market” the MVC’s capabilities to the communities it serves.

Salary is listed as negotiable, based upon the candidate’s background and experience.

Mr. London, who has 40 years of experience in the field, earns $130,000, according to a draft version of the job description.

Commissioners debated whether to include a salary range in the final version.

Fred Hancock, who was later overruled, said listing a figure would give applicants a sense of what they could expect to earn while making the costly transition to Martha’s Vineyard.

“I think, frankly, that we would get more interest if we put some number there,” Mr. Hancock said.

But some of his colleagues felt that listing a range could deter applicants.

Commissioner Joan Malkin said serious applicants would call the Collins Center to find out more about the salary.

“If they are not willing to make a call to Collins, I probably don’t want them anyway,” she said.

Commissioners also disputed the length of the application period, which is one month.

“Four weeks is, I feel, very compressed to seek a professional who is, most likely, willing to completely change their lifestyle,” said commissioner Harold Chapdelaine.

But others held firm to the recruiters’ recommendation.

“This was the time frame recommended by the professionals,” Mr. Hancock said. “They said having an extended period wasn’t generally beneficial.”

Commissioner Linda Sibley agreed.

“You can always extend, but if you extend it now, then you can’t roll it back,” she said.

The commission hopes to interview finalists in late March, allowing time for contract negotiations and other logistical arrangements before Mr. London’s late summer retirement.