Posted on August 23, 2012

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Executive Director

Reports To: Board of Directors
Location: San Francisco, CA

Organization Overview

The San Francisco Education Fund seeks a talented leader to spearhead and champion our next phase of growth and development as an organization. Having recently completed a strategic plan, the Education Fund is poised to deepen its partnerships with schools and communities and increase impact on behalf of our City’s most underserved students.

The San Francisco Education Fund is the oldest local education fund (LEF) in the U.S. and the oldest non-profit dedicated to strengthening San Francisco’s public schools. The Education Fund works to increase the number of students from San Francisco's highest need communities who graduate high school ready for college, career, and civic responsibility. The Education Fund catalyzes change at individual school sites while also contributing to district-wide reform in the San Francisco Unified School District in two powerful and interlocking ways:

• College Success in Schools – An intensive data informed approach in our targeted schools that aligns the resources available (including school resources, community-based organizations, and volunteers) to ensure that all students have the knowledge and support to graduate high school, enroll in and succeed in college.
• Public Engagement – Informed by our work in schools and with the District, the public is provided the information, guidance and training to participate in public school reform and improvement as volunteers, donors, advocates and voters.

Additional information can be found at www.sfedfund.org.

Qualifications

The Education Fund seeks a professional who has:

• An undergraduate degree
• Familiarity with current and emerging issues in urban public education, with an open-minded, solution-based approach to improving outcomes and closing the achievement gap
• Excellent relationship-building and fundraising skills
• Experience working with, leading and leveraging nonprofit boards
• Leadership presence and capabilities that inspire Board members, staff, clients, benefactors and partners in the community
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience within a nonprofit or progressive business
• An energetic, entrepreneurial nature that combines intellectual curiosity with analytical skills, innovative mindset and political savvy
• A communicative and collaborative management style, demonstrated through strong written and oral communication skills, as well as strong listening and public speaking skills
• A track record of building partnerships, coalitions and alliances in the public spotlight and across sectors and communities
• Strong integrity and a commitment to professional excellence
• Proven ability to develop and monitor organizational budgets and manage cash flow effectively
• Strong decision-making and prudence in deployment of financial resources

In addition, the successful candidate will likely have:

• An advanced degree in a related field
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible management experience
• An understanding of and appreciation for the mission and day-to-day work of teachers, principals, administrators and school district leaders

Position Overview

The Executive Director will be a results-oriented entrepreneurial thinker with strong interpersonal skills, who has a dynamic and inclusive approach to leadership. The ideal candidate will possess a balance of strength in both innovative and analytical thinking ability. Experience in leading broad-based community improvement initiatives would be valued, as the Education Fund seeks an engaging leader to build networks, inspire commitment, and catalyze action toward the ongoing improvement of public education in San Francisco.

The Executive Director will provide creative, dynamic, and forward-thinking leadership, promoting the fulfillment of the Education Fund’s vision and mission. The Executive Director is the public face of the organization and, as such, is a leading and highly visible ambassador for quality public schools in San Francisco. With the support of a 13 person Board of Directors, the Executive Director will oversee a talented staff of 21, including a seasoned Development Director and experienced Finance Director, and an annual budget of $2 million. Fundraising, marketing, financial management, infrastructure building, organizational development, strategic planning, Board development and staff management are all key areas the Executive Director will be expected to lead.

Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership and Management

• Serve as a compelling spokesperson for the Education Fund’s vision, strategy, and programmatic mix among the board, staff, key stakeholders and community at-large
• Foster an organizational culture of creativity, learning, risk taking, open dialogue, responsibility and accountability
• Oversee all programmatic, operational, financial and fundraising activities of the organization
• In partnership with the Development Director and Board, deepen and expand relationships with diverse funding sources, including foundations, corporations, individual donors and government

Community Relations and Partnership Development

• Elevate visibility of the Education Fund and San Francisco public schools through our services, communications, and personal appearances
• Develop strategic alliances with organizations that can advance the Education Fund’s mission

Board Relations and Development

• Encourage and develop board participation in the Education Fund’s strategic direction and identification of opportunities to fulfill the organization’s mission
• Assist Board Governance Committee to identify new board members from the community

Program Development and Delivery

• Understand current and emerging issues in public education and be able to respond effectively through the Education Fund’s portfolio of services
• Enhance and expand the Education Fund’s capacity to innovate by actively pursuing new ideas and approaches from a variety of sources, including other local education funds around the country

Financial Management

• In partnership with the Finance Director, develop, manage and monitor organizational budget, strategically linking revenues and resource allocation
• Prepare regular financial and organizational reports for the board

Compensation and Start Date

The Education Fund provides a competitive salary and benefits package, including generous vacation, medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, a 401(k) retirement plan and other fringe benefits. Compensation: commensurate with experience.
Preferred Start Date: November/December 2012 (or earlier as possible within the constraints of facilitating an effective transition)

NOTE: The Education Fund offices are temporarily located at 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94103 while our permanent office building is being retrofitted for earthquake safety. We anticipate moving to our newly renovated offices in September 2012.

This position will remain open until filled; complete applications will be reviewed as they are received. Interested applicants