Jeffco Schools Foundation Executive Director - Position Description
Apply below!
WHO WE ARE -
Every Jeffco Student Thrives. This is the vision of our foundation and what we stand for and work towards every day. We enable our vision through our mission to connect community and resources to students and classrooms.
Jeffco Schools Foundation plays a very unique role in Jeffco. We are positioned as a trusted partner in K-12 education and have a forty-year-long track record of partnering with our core partner, Jeffco Public Schools, to support academic and enrichment for Jeffco students. We have become a trusted convener across community and county partners in advancing solutions for our students, schools, and communities. We are uniquely poised to set a collaborative learning agenda anchored in what is needed for our students to thrive, to facilitate community engagement in supporting their local schools, to disseminate learning to affect policy and systems shifts, to invest deeply in our highest need areas in what works, and to seed effective practices across Jeffco for transformation at scale.
Jeffco Public Schools includes over 150 public schools, over 69.,000 students, nearly 14,000 district and school staff, and spans a vast geography. One in three students are low income.
We are in the business of working with partners who share our goal of giving all students the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. We believe that with a community-wide effort we can improve the academic success of our children, support them in reaching their full potential and effectively address the challenges faced by our students and families.
Jeffco Schools Foundation plays a very unique role in Jeffco. We are positioned as a trusted partner in K-12 education and have a forty-year-long track record of partnering with our core partner, Jeffco Public Schools, to support academic and enrichment for Jeffco students. We have become a trusted convener across community and county partners in advancing solutions for our students, schools, and communities. We are uniquely poised to set a collaborative learning agenda anchored in what is needed for our students to thrive, to facilitate community engagement in supporting their local schools, to disseminate learning to affect policy and systems shifts, to invest deeply in our highest need areas in what works, and to seed effective practices across Jeffco for transformation at scale.
Jeffco Public Schools includes over 150 public schools, over 69.,000 students, nearly 14,000 district and school staff, and spans a vast geography. One in three students are low income.
We are in the business of working with partners who share our goal of giving all students the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. We believe that with a community-wide effort we can improve the academic success of our children, support them in reaching their full potential and effectively address the challenges faced by our students and families.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR -
We are looking for an Executive Director to build upon the 40 year old success of the Jeffco Schools Foundation and lead us into a new chapter. The Executive Director works in close partnership with the Jeffco Schools Foundation Board of Directors and Jeffco Schools District leadership to ensure strategic priorities are aligned and the necessary resources are found to fulfill our critical mission. The ED will lead the development of a fundraising strategy that enables scalable and sustainable growth and will oversee the successful implementation of all Foundation programs. We are seeking a leader who will be a prominent and passionate advocate in our community for Jeffco students and who shares our values of:
The ideal candidate will be a natural leader with excellent verbal/communications skills and a thoughtful, persuasive personal style. Self-starters who are comfortable in a fast paced project-oriented environment tend to be successful in this role.
- Students First, always
- Equitable supports matter more than equal supports
- Community and Family Engagement are essential
- Educators and schools are valuable partners and leaders
- Measuring success is critical to achieving success
- Honoring our past is critical to securing our future
- Quality education is the right of every Jeffco student
The ideal candidate will be a natural leader with excellent verbal/communications skills and a thoughtful, persuasive personal style. Self-starters who are comfortable in a fast paced project-oriented environment tend to be successful in this role.
KEY SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES -
- Strategic Vision and Agility – Ability to think strategically, identify and take full advantage of available trends and opportunities in the funding world; build solid relationships with funders by engaging them in the projects they will be funding. Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
- Powerful Communicator - Ensures effective stakeholder engagement and communications. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships.
- Connector - Understands the importance of community engagement and works to make connections across stakeholder groups and align efforts in a strategic manner.
- Action Oriented – Enjoys working hard and looks for challenges; able to act and react as necessary, even if limited information is available; not afraid to take charge of a situation and reach out for answers.
- Proven winner with high accountability - Experience in driving and delivering results. Creates Key Performance Indicators to measure progress against goals.
- Innovation - Possess a spirit of innovation and a love for learning new ways of working with a variety of communities.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US -
- To be part of a dynamic team committed to continual learning and growing through understanding how we use our strengths to better serve Jeffco students and community.
- Join an organization that has all of the necessary ingredients for growth and success: a timely mission, a 40 -year track record, an excellent reputation, a committed and active Board of Directors, and deep partnership with the Jeffco School District.
- A competitive salary and benefits package.
- Flexible work environment.
- Opportunity to build a team to support the strategic vision and plan implementation.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES -
- Strategic Planning -
- Build upon the existing strategic plan that will include short and long term goals and the tactical actions to achieve those goals which should align with Jeffco Public Schools’ strategic plan.
- Define and communicate to the Board and other stakeholders as appropriate rationales for strategic and tactical decisions.
- Fundraising -
- Develop a robust, sustainable fundraising strategy with an emphasis on new donor development including identifying, solidifying and growing new and recurring major donor relationships. This should include individual and corporate donors and foundation grants.
- Coordinate recurring fundraising activities, including the annual Gala and Love Our Schools Luncheon, ensuring revenue goals for each event are met or exceeded.
- Be an engaged and passionate advocate for Jeffco schools, students and faculty with the greater donor community, developing lasting donor relationships and managing a donor database that includes effective messaging and follow-up.
- Program Management -
- Oversee the effective implementation of Foundation programs, including but not limited to assessing the alignment with organization and District goals, and measuring impact based on established and measurable baselines and goals.
- Identify as appropriate viable potential partners from the public, private and nonprofit sectors who can bring critical financial and other resources to maximize Foundation managed programs.
- Financial and Operational Reporting -
- Coordinate with Foundation and District staff, grantees and grantors, as appropriate, concerning all aspects of financial and operational data.
- Report all financial and operational data clearly and accurately to the Board at recurring (quarterly or bi- monthly) board meetings or as requested by individual Board committees, i.e., Executive, Finance, Governance, Strategy, and/or Communications.
- Communications Management -
- Develop and implement a robust and strategic communications plan that will include proactive social media presence, using platforms such as the Foundation website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others as appropriate.
- Serve as the official representative and spokesperson for the Foundation and its internal and external public relations strategy.
- Provide a plan for updating the Foundation’s website, including information accuracy, user-friendliness and functionality.
- Board, District, Community and Partner Engagement -
- Serve as the Foundation’s liaison to the Board of Directors, District personnel, donors, grantees, grantors, and other Foundation partners.
- Encourage Board members to participate as “ambassadors” in Foundation-related activities, including donor- focused events and program activities.
- Identify opportunities to represent the Foundation in communities that include new prospective donors, grantors, community partners and District-sponsored events.
- Team Management -
- Effectively manage the Foundation staff in fulfilling the Strategic Plan and all other operational activities.
- Provide effective and supportive oversight of program implementation teams.
- Effectively integrate and support Board engagement in Foundation-supported activities.
- Post for, interview, and hire additional staff to support the work of the Foundation
OTHER SKILLS & EXPERIENCE -
- Minimum of 5 years’ of senior management experience within a nonprofit organization(s); executive management experience with demonstrated successes (fundraising and program) preferred.
- Minimum of 3-5 years’ of experience with large-scale organizational and program fundraising with proven success in new individual and corporate donors; ongoing donor relations management experience needed.
- Understanding of the challenges faced by public school districts, including financial and program restrictions.
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, with an emphasis on keen listening and concise and clear expression.
- Exceptional emotional intelligence which supports strong relationship building and management skills internally and externally.
- Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives
EDUCATION & TRAINING -
- Bachelor’s Degree
COMPENSATION -
The Jeffco Schools Foundation offers a salary between $100,000-$110,000 and a generous benefits package.
TO APPLY -
Please send a cover letter, resume, and your salary requirements to lnorvelle@gforcestrategies.net
OR
Fill out the form below and attach your cover letter & resume.
The Jefferson County School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, pregnancy, or gender.
