Posted on October 3, 2012

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Executive Director

Worcester, Mass. is home to 13,000 Southeast Asians, one of the largest and most diverse immigrant communities in New England. Established in 2001 to provide cultural and linguistic support services to immigrants from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, the Southeast Asian Coalition’s mission has since expanded to meet additional support needs of the Southeast Asian community as a whole. The Southeast Asian Coalition (SEAC) works with new immigrants who need help navigating the system or improving language skills; young people who need a place to learn and grow; small business owners building their capacity to be profitable; and other people of Southeast Asian heritage seeking to realize their full potential as citizens.

SEAC’s primary services relate to health, education, civic engagement and cultural expression. Programs include The Youth Effect Program, The ESL Program, Civic Engagement, and the annual Asian Festival.

The Opportunity

SEAC is a small, nimble organization ready to move to the next stage of nonprofit development. Our previous executive grew SEAC into a trusted organization of first resort among Southeast Asians, as well as local nonprofit and government partners. The Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts seeks a dynamic, passionate and culturally sensitive executive director to shepherd our organization through the next critical period of its growth, broadening our impact and ensuring our sustainability in the Worcester, Mass. area.

At this point in our organizational development, the board is interested in deepening SEAC’s impact even further through rigorous evaluation and refinement. Another key goal for the near future is establishing a permanent cultural center that can serve both as a home for SEAC and a vibrant meeting place for all Southeast Asians in Worcester County.

The Executive Director of SEAC will report to the board of directors and is responsible for programmatic, fundraising, financial and administrative management of the agency. SEAC’s new leader will be expected to play a strong, visible and strategic role in developing and implementing plans to promote growth, agency impact and long-term sustainability. Effective fundraising, especially within the Asian community and among corporate sponsors, is an essential part of this job, as is development and management of a talented staff of seven full- and part-time professionals.

The executive director will be expected to work closely and productively with the 12-member board of directors and with committees actively working on fund development and governance.

SEAC’s operating budget is $290,000. The largest part of SEAC’s funding is generated from city and foundation grants, and corporate support, with a small percentage from individual donations. The board engages with staff in one major fundraising event per year that nets approximately $5,000. Revenue has declined somewhat in the past year for a variety of reasons.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate must be a dynamic, energetic leader who is:

• Passionate about SEAC’s mission, culture and values.
• A strong communicator who can articulate a vision for SEAC’s future in a way that connects powerfully with the interests of diverse revenue sources, community groups and partners.
• Appreciative of the cultures of Southeast Asia and able to work effectively across the spectrum of the Southeast Asian community.
• Entrepreneurial in his or her approach to meeting the needs of the Southeast Asian community, and eager to take initiative and capitalize on opportunities.
• Experienced in effective nonprofit or for-profit business management, particularly as it relates to solid fiscal and operational practices.
• Skilled in developing and using outcome measurements for program assessment, development and grant writing.
• Effective at working with the volunteer board and can grow their potential.
• Experienced and successful in fundraising program development.
• A high-integrity individual who can lead an organizational culture that empowers people, welcomes diversity and promotes individual and team responsibility.

Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred with three years of leadership experience necessary.

Application Instructions

A salary and benefits package commensurate to the size of the organization is offered.

This search is being conducted by Third Sector New England’s Executive Transitions Program with Transition Consultant Nancy Jackson. To apply, please visit http://www.tsne.org/jobs/seac

Applications will be reviewed until a candidate is hired, with a final deadline of October 24, 2012.

The Southeast Asian Coalition is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates.