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Executive Director

Employer
Literacy Action, Inc.
Location
Atlanta, Georgia
Closing date
Aug 30, 2019

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Focus Areas
Education, Employment, Human Services
Job Function
Executive / Senior Management
Position Type
Full Time
Degree Level
Bachelors
Willingness to Travel
up to 25%
Experience Level
Executive

The Executive Director primarily innovates and executes on the organization’s strategic objectives and current systems – partnering with the Board of Trustees, empowering a team of professionals, and championing the mission of helping adults “Earn and Learn” through literacy training. The ideal candidate for this position is both passionate and measured, capable of setting a realistic vision for the organization and its impact.

Primary responsibilities include: ensuring the fiscal health of the organization, translating strategy into action, and shaping the organizational culture. The Executive Director is the chief ambassador of the organization’s mission and to that end, spends a large percentage of time in the field engaging with donors, partners, and government entities while also ensuring clear direction for the team.

The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of Trustees for ensuring material progress on the financial stewardship, implementation of strategic plan, and fostering a healthy organizational culture.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Stewardship

  • Works with the Board and the Director of Development to create and execute fundraising plans, ensuring that sufficient funds are raised to meet the organization’s financial obligations
  • Serves as the chief fundraiser of the organization and leads certain fundraising tasks, as required
  • Oversees the organization’s budgeting and spending efforts, ensuring proper organizational controls
  • Clearly and consistently communicates the organization’s financial matters to relevant stakeholders

Mission/Vision/Strategy

  • Oversees the translation of strategy into viable work plans and successful business models
  • Strategically invests resources in both short-term and long-term goals
  • Proactively and enthusiastically communicates the vision, mission, and values of the organization
  • Defines organizational success with clear, measurable outcomes – both quantitative and qualitative
  • Innovates on current systems and services; ensures the successful implementation of initiatives
  • Works collaboratively with like organizations and similarly focused government entities to optimize community investment in adult literacy
  • Actively serves as a thought leader, champion, and advocate of adult literacy locally and nationally 

Organizational culture

  • Cultivates and stewards an organizational culture of respect, trust, and transparency
  • Champions and develops an aesthetic environment that inspires learning and literacy
  • Supports the Director of Operations in ensuring a positive work environment and ethical practices
  • Sets and communicates clear, viable, stretch goals for the team; actively removes barriers to success
  • Empowers the Leadership Team to execute on the strategic objectives of the organization, while ensuring accountability

Performs all other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university required; Masters/MBA degree preferred
  • Demonstrable success in implementing new processes and innovating existing ones
  • 10+ years of experience preferred, mostly in a public-facing role with management responsibility  
  • Senior leadership experience in government, business, or nonprofit preferred

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

  • Highly knowledgeable of leadership and change management best practices
  • Ability to lead, inspire, and motivate a diverse team of professionals to achieve strategic objectives
  • Adept at constructing and implementing successful business models
  • Adept at building and maintaining effective systems that optimize productivity
  • Ability to translate broad strategic objectives into a viable organizational work plan
  • Highly effective communicator and persuasive public speaker
  • Highly skilled at setting and communicating goals and empowering teams to reach them
  • Adept at managing and mitigating internal conflict and external distractions
  • Demonstrates a spirit of service with both external and internal stakeholders
  • Adept at defining and determining concrete outcome measures – both quantitative and qualitative
  • Highly adept at listening to and acting on the needs of stakeholders – both internally and externally 
  • Ability to quickly build trust and forge partnerships across various stakeholder groups
  • Ability to serve as a strong and authentic spokesperson for the organization’s mission
  • Ability to establish and maintain relationships with similarly focused government entities
  • Knowledge of the development process and willingness to make large fundraising requests 
  • Business and financial acumen that transfers to effective operational planning and resourcing
  • Understanding of and sensitivity to issues of poverty, racial disparity, educational access, pedagogy, workforce development, and educational leadership
  • Knowledge of local, state, and federal policy germane to adult literacy

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary history, and contact information for three references to: Val Porter Cook, vportercook@literacyaction.org. Applications must be received by Sunday, September 15, 2019.  

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