Executive Director

Break Away is seeking a passionate and forward-thinking leader to serve as the organization’s next Executive Director. As leader of a national organization with a 30-year history, our next ED will guide an extraordinary team in pursuit of a bold strategic framework by providing vision, direction, and leadership. 

Our next leader will have the opportunity to shape an entire system of social justice and community-based learning programs, equipping people and partners across the country to move toward active citizenship.

OUR NEXT ED WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

strategy + planning

Working with big ideas and the myriad skills necessary to prioritize, pay for, and turn those ideas into programs that serve the organization and our stakeholders:

• Leading a productive and incredibly passionate staff in pursuit of our strategic framework
• Effectively partnering with the Board of Directors to assess progress toward our strategic framework - including, setting and measuring annual goals
• Exercising good judgement by focusing staff and resources on the organization’s highest priorities and knowing what can wait

administration + financial management

Leading smooth and sustainable operation of the organization:

• Ensuring our goals, strategic framework, and budget are aligned
• Providing sound and detail-oriented financial management
• Managing the day-to-day systems and organizational culture essential to our work
• Leading HR and risk management practices

people

Developing and managing the people who move our work forward and make Break Away’s brand and culture so unique:

• Hiring, coaching, and providing professional development for staff
• Caring about people, not just process or productivity
• Fostering trust and two-way communication with staff and Board of Directors
• Co-creating and modeling organizational culture
• Facilitating discussions across diverse perspectives in order to generate action

fundraising

Stewarding our existing donors and fundraising campaigns while developing a comprehensive plan to cultivate and secure new donors:

• Developing strategic relationships and vision for new revenue streams
• Analyzing current revenue models (i.e., membership, training) and fundraising initiatives
• Substantially growing the organization’s charitable contributions

​programs + external relations

Serving as an ambassador and inspirational leader internally and externally:

• Knowing our programs - both strengths and challenges - inside and out
• Taking a continuous learning and improvement approach to enhancing our work
• Facilitating impactful trainings, workshops, and programs alongside staff
• Building rapport with stakeholders from a wide variety of audiences and sectors - college students and administrators, nonprofit and civic leaders, and peer organizations
• Growing Break Away’s visibility and presence as a thought leader in community engagement and higher education sectors 

ED APPLICANTS WILL HAVE:

• Deep personal commitment to social justice, community engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• 3+ years of leadership experience in a nonprofit or higher education context.
• 3+ years of experience managing full-time, paid staff.
• Experience managing the day-to-day operations of an organization, office, or department- including budgeting and financial management, HR, and risk management.
• Proven experience as a fundraiser - both planning and implementing fundraising activities, including individual, foundation, and corporate donors.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

IT’S HELPFUL IF:

• You have worked closely with a Board of Directors or other leadership-level volunteers.
• You have experience working with an all remote staff.
• You have 5+ years of leadership experience in a nonprofit or higher education context and 5+ years of experience managing full-time, paid staff.
• You have knowledge and experience with community-engaged learning, alternative break programs, nonprofits, higher ed environments, and the broader volunteer sector.
• You’ve built relevant programming from the ground up and implemented it with success.
• You are an excellent presenter, facilitator, and trainer.
• You have more-than-beginner level experience with Salesforce and Quickbooks Online.
• You bring a sense of humor that is both empowering and kind.

YOU’D LOVE WORKING AND LEADING HERE IF:

• You're passionate about leading crucial conversations around power, privilege, oppression, justice, liberation, and inequity.
• You like opportunities to build new relationships and bravely lead into new territories.
• You’re a problem solver at heart, not afraid to try new things, and not a fan of saying “that’s how we’ve always done it.”
• You’re creative and think on your feet.
• You appreciate being part of a small, close-knit team: engaging in dialogue to find creative solutions to organization-wide problems, and sharing the joys and hardships of your work.
• You’re energized by our values - justice (seek equity and liberation for all), active service (engage early and consistently), solidarity (share priorities and share power), education (be open to transformation).
• Your life has been transformed through the power of community. 

LOCATION: Staff is currently working remotely, but we intend to return in-person as soon as it is safe to do so. Our next ED will work remotely at the start, however, they would have to be in or willing to relocate to the Atlanta, GA metro area if/when the office decides to return to an in-person setting. Occasional travel is also required.

SALARY & BENEFITS: $55,000 - $60,000 based on experience - also includes health-care benefits, generous time off, and a flexible work environment.

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume and cover letter to the Executive Director Search Committee at ed.search@alternativebreaks.org. Any questions about the position may also be directed to ed.search@alternativebreaks.org - no calls please. Desired start is January 2022.