Monday, January 4, 2010

Executive Director, Beginning with Books Center For Early Literacy - Pittsburgh, PA

Posted: 1/4/10

Organization: Beginning with Books Center For Early Literacy
Position: Executive Director
Reports To: Board of Directors
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Submission Date: No Later then January 31, 2010

Organizational Overview:

Founded in 1984, Beginning with Books has a 25-year history of significantly and successfully impacting the early childhood literacy needs of children throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. The mission of Beginning with Books is “to meaningfully increase the numbers of children who become capable and enthusiastic lifelong readers. This is accomplished through research-based programs respectfully offering the information, materials, skill development, and encouragement that enable parents and other adults to promote the literacy development of the children in their care”. Beginning with Books’ programs operate in partnership with other nonprofit organizations and school districts serving low-income families and communities.

The Executive Director must have a demonstrated commitment to children and families, a passion for reading and early literacy, and a proven record of successful fund development.

Major Responsibilities:

Prepare, oversee, and adhere to $1.7 million annual budget.
Supervise approximately 20 professional staff members.
In conjunction with the Director of Development, cultivate, develop, and grow a broad range of funding sources including foundation support, corporate sponsorship, Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit dollars, government grants, individual giving, contracted services, special events, and other initiatives to ensure the organization’s fiscal well-being.
Initiate, develop, and administer a wide variety of programs designed to provide quality books for children and equip parents, childcare professionals, and educators with the information, motivation, training, and skills they need to support and nurture the early literacy development of the children in their care.
Be a highly visible and effective voice within the community on behalf of early literacy and help to set strategic direction for early literacy programming in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Ensure the long-term viability and delivery of Beginning with Books’ programs and services through
strategic planning, new market development, merger and partnership opportunities, and other creative programming ventures.
Provide a clear sense of mission to the Board of Directors, staff, and community partners of Beginning with Books.
Evaluate all program components for specified early learning outcomes.
Hire staff and provide supervision, training, and support to staff and volunteers.
Oversee, with the Human Resources Committee and Controller, all personnel and administrative operations.
Communicate regularly with the Board of Directors to ensure that all members are engaged and involved in carrying out their fiduciary responsibilities as well as other programming oversight tasks.
Maintain positive and cooperative relations with a variety of local partners including the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, Carnegie Library, Allegheny County Library Association, Reading is FUNdamental, Pittsburgh Public Schools, United Way of Allegheny County, etc.
Participate in local, regional, and national conferences, meetings, workshops, and professional organizations in order to stay abreast of the latest research, trends, and best practices in the field of reading and early literacy.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Team-building skills and the ability to effectively and efficiently manage diverse employees with multiple tasks and responsibilities.
Understanding and experience in developing organizational budgets, reading and explaining financial reports, and managing a variety of financial resources. Meticulous attention to detail.
Demonstrated record of fundraising from individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources.
Experience writing, monitoring, and reporting major grants for private and public foundations as well as governmental agencies.
Experience in board development, management, and engagement.
Ability to network with and engage a broad range of constituents including foundation and corporate leaders, school administrators and educators, nonprofit leaders, community groups, volunteers, donors, and faith-based organizations.
Knowledge of strategic and long range planning tools for organizational development and the capability to lead an organization through the planning process.
Familiarity with personnel management and conflict resolution standards and techniques.
Comfort with new technologies and an openness to utilizing those technologies to advance and support early literacy initiatives and programs. Experience with Word, Excel, and database management and fundraising software.
Flexibility to work occasional weekend and evening hours.
Current Pennsylvania Act 33/34 clearances.

Professional Experience:

Demonstrated, progressive leadership experience in not-for-profit administration and fund development. Experience in the field of early literacy, early childhood education, or education preferred..

Education:

Minimum: bachelor’s degree. Advanced degree, or bachelor’s degree with commensurate nonprofit experience, preferred.

Compensation:

This position has a compensation and benefits package commensurate with the level of responsibility and
expected performance.

Learn more about our organization at www.beginningwithbooks.org

Beginning With Books is an Equal Opportunity Employer

TO APPLY: Qualified individuals may apply confidentially by submitting resume, cover letter and compensation requirements as MS Word attachments to: bwbsearch@gmail.com. Please reference the following in the subject line of your email: Executive Director. Please, no phone calls or postal mail.

Please mention that you heard about this opportunity from Dewey & Kaye Jobs Watch in your cover letter when applying for this position.

The Dewey & Kaye division of McCrory & McDowell LLC provides strategy development, planning, financial sustainability, facilitation, training and executive search services to help nonprofits, foundations, community collaboratives and government agencies address strategic, operational and administrative issues.

Founded in 1951, McCrory & McDowell LLC today ranks as one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the region, offering a wide range of services through distinct, but integrated groups that include Dewey & Kaye, Diversified Medical Management, Three Rivers Institute, and McCrory & McDowell's accounting, tax, and business consulting practices.