Position Profile

Executive Director

Smart Start of Forsyth County

www.smartstart-fc.org

Winston-Salem, NC

THE ORGANIZATION

Founded in December 1994 as the Forsyth Early Education Partnership, Inc., Smart Start of Forsyth County, Inc. (SSFC) serves the birth-to-five population by supporting children, parents, educators, centers, and policy makers through collaborative programs, funding, consumer education, and advocacy. As a partnering organization with the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina, SSFC is the only organization in Forsyth County, charged by statute, to care about the quality and progress of the community early-learning system.

THE CANDIDATE

The Executive Director must be a motivational leader, effective communicator, innovative problem solver, and community-oriented catalyst. A seasoned nonprofit professional with strong experience working with a Board, the Executive Director will represent the organization, serving as an accessible, encouraging partner in the community, identifying and leveraging opportunities, and leading fundraising and advocacy efforts. The Executive Director will value authenticity, accountability, partnership, collaboration, and equity. The Executive Director will build an engaging and inclusive culture through exceptional relationship skills, open integrity, and clear strategic vision.

THE POSITION

The Executive Director functions as the Chief Executive Officer of the organization and works at the discretion of the Board to achieve the mission, long-range strategy and allocation plan. The Executive Director provides professional leadership for the SSFC activities including program coordination, personnel management, project evaluation and compliance with all state and federal rules and regulations regarding the organization’s financial and programmatic activities. The ED must exercise initiative and sound judgment in decision-making and delegation of responsibilities, and must prioritize and manage multiple tasks requiring follow-up and timely completion. The ED must be able to relate to employees and relevant members of the community in a manner that wins confidence, support and understanding in the mission and programs of SSFC. The ED must be a problem solver and must be self-motivated. The ED must exhibit sensitivity to the diverse population of Forsyth County. The ED must be able to prepare, review, analyze, interpret and communicate large amounts of written information (on computer, printed and hand-written). The ED is hired and evaluated by the Board of Directors and serves at its pleasure.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Manage all programmatic, financial and personnel functions of SSFC.
    1. Assure compliance with applicable governing authority as well as applicable policies of the North Carolina Partnership for Children and any other funders
    2. Work with the staff, the Board and its Audit and Finance Committee to develop and maintain the budget
    3. Support the Measurements Allocations and Learning Committee and Board in developing an allocations plan aligned with the mission and strategy and then direct implementation of the Measurements Allocations and Learning Committee-recommended and Board-approved plan. Ensure effective utilization of all NCPC funds and funds from other sources to assure maximum outcomes
    4. Direct the efficient allocation and utilization of available funds to assure maximum outcomes toward the mission, long-range strategy and allocation plan
    5. Monitor and evaluate internal programs and externally-operated direct service providers to assure compliance with policies
    6. Establish, consistent with Board policies, appropriate policies and procedures for hiring, compensating, evaluating and disciplining staff
    7. Recruit and retain a diverse staff consistent with maintaining excellence in services provided by SSFC
    8. Maintain rapport with and respect of staff, the Board, the North Carolina Partnership for Children and other funders
    9. Provides oversight and supports SSFC’s administration of the NC Pre-K Program in Forsyth County
  • Assure the organization has a long-range strategy and an annual allocation plan consistent with its mission (as defined by the Board), and monitor and evaluate the progress toward achieving the long-range strategy and allocation plan
  • Build consensus and develop collaboration by establishing relationships with diverse groups in the community that also have interests consistent with the mission
  • Demonstrate the ability to develop partnerships and collaborate with external partners and community leaders for collective action
  • Work with the Board and its Development Committee to develop realistic resource development plans to assure adequate funding and other resources to promote the mission, and actively participate in the implementation of these plans
  • Work effectively with the Board, provide support to its committees and keep the Board informed of the organization’s condition and programs to enable it to perform its oversight function
  • Serve as an effective spokesperson representing SSFC’s interests with the public, the press and the Forsyth County business, foundation, non-profit and faith communities
  • Maintain a working knowledge of developments and trends relevant to the mission

Supervisory Responsibilities:

  • This position has supervisory responsibilities for all other paid staff and volunteers (not including Board members).
  • Consistent with the essential duties and responsibilities listed above, the ED determines the organizational structure of all other paid staff and determines which staff shall directly report to and be supervised by the ED.

Position Requirements:

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related business field, Public Administration, Public Policy, Education or human services-related field
  • Masters degree is preferred

Experience

  • Minimum of five years of professional business experience, including financial administration, preferably in the management of a nonprofit human services organization
  • Minimum of five years of supervisory experience with responsibility for staff management and evaluation
  • Nonprofit board experience is preferred
  • Fundraising and/or grant writing experience is required

Skills and Abilities

  • Ability to articulate ideas clearly (both written and orally), listen accurately, and establish personal rapport with people from a variety of backgrounds
  • Understands and accepts regional psycho-social, cultural, religious, and economic differences
  • Maintains dignity and self-control in stressful situations
  • Objective about personal strengths and limitations
  • Proven logical, systematic, integrative, conceptualizing thought process
  • Computer proficiency and technical aptitude with knowledge of MS Office applications

Physical Requirements

  • Be able to travel as required to represent the Partnership, including on short notice, in a variety of settings which may involve stairs or other physical barriers
  • Be able to perform basic office-related functions such as moving documents, files, notebooks and occasionally heavier items; working at a desk for long periods of time; working in close proximity to others; and operating a computer terminal for the receipt, drafting, editing, analysis and distribution of written information
  • Be able to speak and hear so as to communicate effectively with others in a variety of settings
  • Be able to perform basic life operational skills

TO APPLY

Please send cover letter, resume, target salary requirements, and contact information for three references to: ForsythED@CapabilityCompany.com. Only applications received through this address will be considered.

Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2019.