As Executive Director of the Minnesota site, you are the general manager for the site overseeing operations including planning, managing, and executing a comprehensive strategy that drives impact within the site. In addition to regional operations and leadership, the Executive Director serves as the external face of College Possible to the local community and the various stakeholders of College Possible. As such, the Executive Director will lead all fundraising activities, and community outreach efforts and support the Local Advisory Board.
As a talent leader and champion, you will be responsible for recruiting, developing, and retaining 31 full-time staff members and 40 full-time AmeriCorps volunteers. Moreover, you work to ensure that the proper infrastructure is in place to support the high-performing, results-oriented, mission-aligned team in reaching their goals and contributing to the mission of College Possible. As such, you have highly effective communication and listening skills, set clear and realistic expectations for staff, and possess the ability to inspire and activate individuals across all levels. As a leader, you thrive when it comes to leading with transparency, collaborating, vision-setting, creating accountability, and maximizing the impact of diverse skills, talents, and experiences of the team.
As an intentional, strategic, results-oriented, and mission-driven leader, the Executive Director ensures that the organization has the regional strategic priorities and relationships needed to achieve the mission of College Possible.
The Executive Director is integral to the culture, effectiveness, and impact of College Possible:
Overall Site Management
- Serves as the leader of the site, which includes providing overall management of the organization in all operational areas including human resources, information technology, facilities management, purchasing, budgeting, and finance/accounting, directly supervising the site leadership team, and working collaboratively with national staff members.
- Works in close collaboration with the local Site Advisory Board to develop a strategic plan for the site, and to maintain community relations, determine the programmatic direction, support donor cultivation, and ensure program satisfaction.
- Instills and develops the organizational culture, one of the key components to our success as an organization
- Cultivates, recruits, develops and retains diverse, highly effective talent
- Ensures compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, rules, and College Possible policies and standards
Fundraising and External Relations
- Responsible for designing, developing and implementing funding strategies to support College Possible’s programs in the region
- In collaboration with national leadership, develops strategies to build and cultivate new individual donor relationships, enhance current institutional partner relationships (including foundations and corporations), and increase levels of engagement with the organization
- Actively works to elevate the regional and national brand by serving as a thought-leader on issues of education and college success at various events, meeting with community partners and stakeholders, and acting as a primary external advocate for the organization
- Responsible for grant-writing efforts, in coordination with and with support from the national office where appropriate.
- Schedules and attends meetings with key foundations and individual contacts with national leadership, local leadership and/or members of the local Site Advisory Board, as appropriate.
Program Development
- Provides programmatic oversight, ensuring alignment in the development and implementation of the College Possible programs in the local service area
- With support from the National program team, maintains and enhances the standard for College Possible, both internally and externally, while ensuring fidelity to our program model and achieving key metrics
- Ensures appropriate evaluation of program efforts and maintains a results-focused orientation across every aspect of College Possible’s work in the region.
Marketing & Communications
- In close collaboration with the national communications team and regional external relations team, oversees the marketing and communications efforts in the local community and supports the elevation of College Possible’s brand identity in the region.
- Serves as the region’s main spokesperson in the Minnesota community and provides strategic direction for special events and media efforts
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred)
- At least 8-10 years of relevant experience, which includes serving as a successful senior leader and rebuilding organization culture
- Evidence of a results orientation in management and a record of achieving desired outcomes
- Prior fundraising or development experience is required, with a proven track record of building upon and expanding an organization’s donor base
- Experience with the Minnesota funder community is strongly preferred
- Outstanding problem solver with an entrepreneurial spirit
- Demonstrated leadership skills that inspire and motivate both internal and external stakeholders
- Superior interpersonal and presentation skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Evidence of excellent collaborative and relationship-building abilities
- Self-starter with the ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Strong experience with change management
- Flexible and adaptable to change
- Comfort with budgets and financial management
Computer/Software Skills:
- Strong computer skills, including demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office, and experience in database management
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds when needed
- Office environment with limited travel
- Ability to stand and/or sit for a minimum of 7 hours a day
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Along with meeting the experience requirements and opportunity specifications, the ideal candidate must possess several critical success factors aligning with our values of collaboration, equity, and learning. They are as follows:
- Communication: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others and ensures that information is shared with others who should be informed. Able to sell vision to donors to generate revenue.
- Cultural Competence: Seeks to understand, appreciate, and work effectively with people who have different cultural backgrounds or belief systems. Demonstrates personal and professional commitment to furthering equity, inclusion, access and belonging.
- Leadership around DEI: Fosters a diverse, equitable, and inclusion environment, and people, that reflect and respond to the diverse needs and cultures of our community (internal and external). Puts DEI values into action.
- Mission Aligned: Passionate about equity, inclusion, & college access and its importance to the work of College Possible.
- Relationship Builder: Able to build relationships at all levels of the organization and with external partners, donors, and stakeholders. Build trust through relationships and be transparent where appropriate.
- Results Orientation: Focuses on providing a best in class experience through work outcomes by meeting personal and organizational work objectives.
- Strategic Acumen: Understands the environment, identifies trends, and drives the organization to create comprehensive, competitive and breakthrough strategies. Strategic thinker who can communicate and implement the vision/plan for growth of the local organization.
COMPENSATION
The annual salary range for this role will start at $115,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience. In addition, College Possible offers excellent benefits including complete health, dental, life, short-term, and long-term insurance. College Possible also offers a 401(k)-retirement plan, encouraged sustainability through a generous paid time off program, personalized professional development and growth opportunities, and an opportunity to have a tremendous impact both internally and across the country
CONTACT
David Edgerton Jr. of The DEJ Group has been exclusively retained for this search. To express your interest in this role, please submit your cover letter and resume via email to [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
College Possible is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status about public assistance. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals and conduct all possible activities in fully accessible settings. Alternative application formats are available upon request by contacting [email protected].