Executive Director Job Posting
About the Maker Education Initiative:
The mission of “Maker Ed” is to create more opportunities for young people to make, and, by making, build confidence, foster creativity, and spark interest in science, technology, engineering, math, the arts—and learning as a whole. When children make things with their hands — whether it is a piece of art, craft, electronic gadget, robot, software, clothing, chemical concoction, or food — they are engaged in active learning while also having fun. To enrich student learning, Maker Ed provides professional development and training, Young Makers Clubs, Maker Corps, Micro Maker Grants, afterschool and summer camp models, and a common educational framework for making in informal and formal learning environments.
The Maker Movement’s true power lies in that it can be leveraged to invigorate teaching and learning, as well as attract and inspire young people to engage in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, the arts and learning as a whole. Maker Ed partners with schools, museums, libraries, and youth serving organizations in twelve communities across the country and expects to build this national network in 50 states by 2015. The organization was founded in June 2012 and has a $1M annual budget in 2013, which is projected to grow significantly. Maker Ed is incubated by the Tides Center with plans to spin off as an independent charity. Maker Ed’s founding sponsors include Maker Media, Cognizant, Pixar Animation Studios, and Intel, in addition to support from The MacArthur Foundation.
About the Executive Director:
The Maker Education Initiative seeks to hire an executive director responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission, program, outcomes, administration, and financial objectives. The Executive Director is an exempt position and reports to the Board of Directors, engages Advisory Board members, and supervises the organization’s staff and volunteers. The position is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Duties:
- Assure that the organization has a long-range strategy which achieves its mission, and toward which it makes consistent and timely progress
- Leads fundraising efforts to raise the annual revenue goal
- Develops and executes a business plan
- Creates and monitors program and organizational budgets with ease and experience
- Provide leadership in developing program, organizational and financial plans with the Advisory Board and staff, and carry out plans and policies authorized by its board and Tides board
- Interact with the Maker Ed advisory board, staff, Maker community, educators, school administrators, and leaders of community based organizations & institutions
- Responsible for the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, paid and volunteer
- Responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices
- Executes a comprehensive development strategy
- Establish sound working relationships and arrangements with community organizations
- Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field
- Builds a network of organizations, including federal agencies, institutions of higher education, museums, libraries, informal and formal education spaces, community/national youth serving agencies, maker spaces, and other related entities
- Executes an effective communications strategy to promote mission and achieve outcomes
- Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25% time (3-5 days per month), sometimes more
Qualities/Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required, graduate degree preferred
- 5 years job experience in an educational nonprofit organization
- 5 years management and supervisory experience
- 3 years’ fundraising success; specific experience soliciting individuals and large funders
- Ability to create and interpret project and organizational budgets;
- Strong writing skills and demonstrated financial acumen;
- Ability to work on a deadline;
- Resourcefulness, flexibility, detail-orientation, and a range of quantitative and qualitative skills;
- Skilled at donor stewardship and solicitation;
- Strong time-management skills and ability to multi-task;
- Excellent communication skills; including effective use of social media
- Understanding of and experience with STEM education field
- Proficient in MS Office
- Ability to manage, analyze and organize data;
- Demonstrated belief in Maker Ed’s mission and values
- Acts as spokesperson for organization
Salary range is commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits package.
Please email resume and cover letter to Paloma Garcia-Lopez, Director of Operations & Development, at paloma@MakerEd.org by Feb. 28, 2013.
No phone calls please
