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Executive Director

This job is no longer available

New York, New York, USA
Full-time

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York (ROR GNY) is seeking an Executive Director—an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader to join an organization with a unique model and operationalize ROR GNY’s mission. The ideal candidate should be an inspiring and results-driven leader with expertise in both early childhood literacy and healthcare. The ED will work closely with diverse stakeholders to develop and maintain collaborations for programming, funding, and with the national office.

Areas of Responsibility: 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • The Executive Director must be an inspiring and results-driven leader with a passion for ROR GNY’s mission and work. The Executive Director will provide the leadership and vision necessary to build upon the successes of ROR GNY and will have the opportunity to orchestrate the implementation of a new long-range strategic plan for the institution.
  • The Executive Director will work closely with the Board and staff to identify, attract and inspire new funders and generate new sources of revenue in support of ROR GNY’s long-term commitments and an ambitious agenda in the early childhood literacy arena in New York City and beyond.
  • The Executive Director will establish clearly defined annual goals and objectives and methods with which to measure successful outcomes; and in partnership with the Board and staff, ensure best practices, and focus on making changes as necessary while keeping the organization aligned with its mission and programmatic values.
  • The Executive Director will develop/maintain a sustainable business model and annual operating plan for the agency, manage the day-to-day operations and represent ROR GNY and its programs to outside constituents.

PRIORITIES

The Executive Director will be expected to contribute broadly to all aspects of the fulfillment of ROR GNY’s mission and growth with emphasis on the following areas:

  • Leadership
    • In partnership with Board and staff, develop and implement a vision and strategic plan for ROR GNY’s future;
    • Maintain internal focus and awareness on the relationship between the organization’s programmatic/service objectives and available resources;
    • Responsible for developing a productive and collaborative relationship with the national office;
    • Create an environment within the organization that both challenges and supports the staff to bring out the best in each person;
    • Commitment to working with and serving diverse populations;
    • Ability to demonstrate emotional intelligence and sensitivity to a wide range of constituents
  • Fundraising & Fiscal Oversight
    • Assume leadership of ROR GNY’s fundraising strategies;
    • Collaborate with the Board of Directors and Development Director, create and promote vehicles for individual, foundation, government, and corporate giving;
    • Engage current and prospective funding communities (including programming partners) to support ROR GNY’s initiatives;
    • Strengthen ROR GNY’s fiscal profile with a clear demonstration of effective business acumen;
    • In collaboration with Board and staff, set priorities related to the annual budget and program spending;
    • Increase book donations;
    • Build upon existing management practices and governance structure, ensuring proper operations, financial control, accountability, and transparency and adherence to established not-for-profit and fundraising best practices
  • Community Management/External Communications
    • Develop and nurture strategic relationships with partners and other organizations whose interests are in common with the agency’s;
    • Foster alliances with current constituencies (including individuals, corporations, foundations, government agencies and legislative officials), while proactively identifying, cultivating and creating new, diversified and innovative partnerships;
    • Serve as the principal spokesperson for ROR GNY;
    • Communicate clearly and persuasively to increase visibility and credibility of the organization, inspire support, and promote public awareness about the achievements and success of the agency;
    • Enhancing communication with program partners
  • Team Building & Staff Development
    • Manage, supervise and evaluate staff to ensure that they are well suited to addressing the challenges facing ROR GNY;
    • Ensure that well-defined goals, clear responsibilities and levels of accountability are in place;
    • Provide appropriate direction and oversight of all staff activities, overall systems and procedures;
    • Encourage creativity, initiative and an open exchange of ideas with the goal of maximizing the expertise and engagement of staff;
    • Listen to staff concerns and continue the process of building a team that will be focused on program quality, program expansion and program funding;
    • Ensure that there is clear and effective internal communication and coordination;
    • Recruit, motivate, educate, and mentor staff and volunteers for optimal performance, and promote a culture of enthusiasm, cooperation and passionate commitment to the mission;
    • Identify opportunities for advancement as appropriate
  • Programming
    • Create a solid understanding of existing programming, book sourcing process, and the broad constituency served in the over 233 programs geographically and culturally;
    • Support and strengthen existing programming model;
    • Identify new, innovative opportunities to expand programming and impact;
    • Operationalize vision through programming;
    • Develop programming that illustrates clear impact that aligns with the national research model;
    • Ensure effective collaboration with literacy program partners;
    • Facilitate relationships with industry publishers in a manner that promotes ROR GNY’s book supply programming goals
  • Board Relations
    • With the Board Chair, coordinate the efforts of various Board committees;
    • Strengthen lines of communication with and across board committees and functions;
    • Ensure that all committees achieve objectives;
    • Encourage Board members’ involvement in ROR GNY’s range of activities, particularly fundraising;
    • Provide ongoing communication to the Board on critical matters related to ROR GNY;
    • Work with the board to identify and recruit new Board members and diverse Board members, whose talents, backgrounds and commitment, and fundraising abilities are congruent with the needs and mission of ROR GNY;
    • Establish a solid working partnership with the Chair of the Board, and the Chairs of the Board Committees and other Board members at large, gaining their confidence and forging relationships that will continue to uphold good governance and bring forth their best ideas, efforts and contacts to support ROR GNY;
    • Strengthen the fundraising capabilities of the Board
Educational Background: 
Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field.
Skills/Experience: 

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

  • Industry Experience
    • Minimum 5 years experience as an executive with a nonprofit organization with a budget of at least $1 million and a staff of 6;
    • Experience working with an organization serving a diverse population;
    • Experience in the fields of healthcare, human services, or education, preferably in early childhood literacy and/or development;
    • A demonstrated passion for ROR GNY’s mission and culture
  • Fundraising
    • Minimum 2 years experience in $250,000+ fundraising
    • Proven experience as a fundraiser with the ability to secure revenue and financial support from new and diverse sources;
    • Ability to identify revenue-generating opportunities, e.g. through potential partnerships;
    • Demonstrated success in creating effective development systems which engage individual donors, foundations, corporations and government;
    • A history of building and maintaining strong donor and funder relationships, creating an environment in which everyone is a fundraiser
  • Nonprofit Management
    • Proven leadership, managerial, problem-solving and strategic planning capability and commensurate fiscal literacy;
    • A record of success in having managed an organization or program in excess of $1 million with the ability to balance multiple agendas, be persuasive and persuadable, and conceptualize as well as implement;
    • Demonstrated ability to interact professionally with dedicated Board and staff members who have diverse professional skills and  perspectives;
    • Experience working with nonprofit Boards;
    • Familiarity with data collection and metrics, with the ability to demonstrate impact;
    • Ability to foster effective communications, collaboration, and dialogue between staff and ROR GNY Board members;
    • Ability to foster relationships with other ROR National affiliates
  • Fiscal Oversight
    • Demonstrated business acumen, and experience in developing a sustainable business model with secure diverse revenue streams;
    • Strong skills in budget development, oversight and reporting;
    • Entrepreneurial skills and mindset to work with a small team in a resource restrained environment
  • Program Development
    • An understanding of setting and implementing organizational strategy and managing through growth and change;
    • Experience in program management, preferably within an affiliate national model;
    • Experience with developing and launching innovative, culturally competent, new business and program activities;
    • Experience institutionalizing program models and systems;
    • Appreciation of the role of research and the use of data to inform and support an effective outcome model that measures and communicates the vision, mission, success and impact of the organization
  • Community Management
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including excellent public speaking skills in order to represent ROR GNY to a broad public;
    • Experience with marketing and building effective communications strategies;
    • Understands relationship between affiliate and national organizations;
    • Experience developing a strong collaborative community with program partners;
    • Ability to speak to a variety of constituents and diverse parties, particularly within the healthcare space;
    • Experience as a spokesperson
  • Human Resources
    • Demonstrated success in cultivating a transparent, highly motivated, and collaborative workplace environment, working with a mix of full-time and part-time staff, interns and volunteers;
    • Actively promote growth and development opportunities for staff including conducting annual performance and compensation reviews;
    • Demonstrated success in effective hiring practices and ability to build a strong team
  • Technological Capacity
    • Understanding the role of technology in effectively and efficiently executing internal data tracking systems and organizational outcomes;
    • Knowledge of and established capability with online marketing and fundraising platforms, social media, and web-based communication and productivity tools.
    • Experience using innovative technologies to advance an organization’s strategy, mission, and success.
Compensation/Benefits: 

The successful candidate will be offered a competitive compensation package.

How to Apply: 

Applicants should reply with a resume and cover letter that references their experience in relation to the qualifications listed in the job description. No phone inquiries will be accepted, all inquiries and resumes should be submitted via email to  [email protected].

ROR GNY provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable equal employment opportunity affirmative action laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies or agencies thereof. ROR GNY will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, age, or marital status.

Visit ROR GNY’s website at www.reachoutandreadnyc.org to learn more.

Organization Info

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York

Overview
Headquarters: 
New York, New York, USA
About Us
Areas of Focus: 
Mission: 

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York’s (ROR GNY) mission is to prepare children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. In the Greater New York region, ROR GNY provides new, age-appropriate books and literacy guidance to over a quarter of a million children in New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

HISTORY
Pediatricians and early childhood specialists founded Reach Out and Read in 1989 at Boston City Hospital, now a part of Boston Medical Center. Reach Out and Read of Greater New York (ROR GNY) was later launched as a separate agency in New York City in 1997 (incorporated in 1999). Initially formed as a coalition of 35-member program sites, ROR GNY has grown incrementally over the years.

The coalition of member sites now numbers 233 ROR programs region wide. ROR GNY is an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms and clinics, building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, from 0 to 5 years of age. The 250,000 families served annually by ROR GNY read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies, with stronger language skills, and better prepared to succeed.

Programs: 

Pediatric healthcare providers (including pediatricians, family physicians, and pediatric nurse practitioners) are trained in the three-part ROR model to promote early literacy and school readiness

  • In the exam room, doctors and nurses speak with parents about the importance of reading aloud to their young children every day, and offer age-appropriate tips and encouragement.
  • The pediatric primary care provider gives every child 6 months through 5 years old a new, developmentally-appropriate children's book to take home and keep.
  • In the waiting room, displays, information, and books create a literacy-rich environment. When possible, volunteer readers entertain the children, modeling for parents the pleasures - and techniques - of reading aloud. Additional information about ROR GNY’s programs can be found at: www.reachoutandreadnyc.org.
Connect With Us

Listing Stats

Post Date: 
Aug 2 2019
Active Until: 
Sep 2 2019
Hiring Organization: 
Reach Out and Read of Greater New York
industry: 
Nonprofit