Executive Director

Washington Alliance for Better Schools

Bothell, Washington

(Posted 7/27/10)

The Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) is seeking an accomplished, action-oriented leader to serve as its next Executive Director.  WABS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with the mission to improve student achievement in Washington state’s public schools.  The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to increase the Alliance’s positive impact on the student academic success in its member districts. 

The Alliance’s top priority is maintaining, and finding new ways to expand upon, the creative synergy between grant makers’ objectives and the collective needs of the member districts.  The new Executive Director’s primary focus will to find the common needs and interests among member districts that are fundable by grant makers, and then to implement these grants through the districts’ coordinators.

 Overview of the Organization

The Washington Alliance is a partnership of 12 Puget Sound school districts, serving over 286,000 students.  The Alliance partnership was formed in 1995 to assist its member school districts in their quest to improve academic achievement.  Member districts include: Clover Park, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Lake Washington, Marysville, Monroe, Mukilteo, Northshore, Shoreline, and Tukwila.  The University of Washington, College of Education is also a member of the Alliance.  Its Board of Directors consists of district superintendents of these school districts plus a representative of the University of Washington.

The Alliance helps its member districts share resources, expertise and technical assistance as they strive to:

  • Implement standards for what students should know and be able to do, and design assessments that accurately measure students’ progress toward meeting these standards;
  • Integrate new learning and communication technologies that support and accelerate learning, and prepare students for the 21st century;
  • Engage parent and community participation in the decision-making that each school must undertake to improve students’ academic performance; and
  • Assist students and families to come to school ready and eager to learn.

The Alliance currently has an annual budget of $1.2 million. 

Responsibilities

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors of WABS and has general responsibility for leading and managing the operations of WABS.

The Executive Director:

  • Advises and implements decisions of the Board of Directors.
  • Participates fully with the District Coordinators in implementing the strategies aimed at reaching the goals of WABS.
  • Develops an Annual Work Plan and Annual Budget for approval by the Board and District Coordinators.
  • Manages the day-to-day operations of the organization (i.e., scheduling quarterly Board meetings, administering contracts, preparing grant evaluation reports).
  • Develops plans, proposals and strategies for Board review.
  • Facilitates meetings, work sessions and planning retreats.
  • Coordinates the activities of individuals and groups within the partner organizations and/or grant obligations.
  • Demonstrates a high work ethic and recognizes, utilizes and respects individual talents of staff members of partner school districts.
  • Monitors progress on WABS goals and objectives.
  • Conducts fund-raising and grant writing activities.
  • Communicates information throughout the partner districts to increase the awareness and capacity of individuals and schools to improve student performance.
  • Serves as a clearinghouse for information contributing to improving student performance.
  • Represents the interests of the Board to external organizations and groups within the region, state and nation.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for the position is commensurate with qualifications and experience.  A very attractive employee benefits package is available.  The position is currently covered under the Washington teacher's retirement system.

Candidate Requirements

 

A Masters degree in related field or equivalent experience is preferred; a doctorate or other professional degree is a plus.

The position requires demonstrated skill, experience and success in/with the following areas: 

  • Securing grants from corporate, foundation and government sources (grant writing for educational programs, a plus)
  • Building and sustaining positive relationships and collaborations with key individuals, constituencies and partner organizations
  • Leadership in the public education field, combined with private sector experience, a plus
  • Project/program development, implementation, and management (of educational programs and curriculum development, a plus)
  • Building and sustaining successful coalitions
  • Understanding of school funding, school district operations, and state and national education reform initiatives, but also speaks the “corporate language”
  • Well-networked in a variety of different sectors, skilled at finding key information
  • Business savvy/perspective; fiscally responsible
  • An understanding of the Washington State political and educational landscape and culture
  • As an ED of an education-related nonprofit organization, a plus
  • Maintaining focus on organization's mission
  • Organizing talent, based on customer needs
  • Providing high quality customer service
  • Translating complex issues into language that parties from multiple sectors can understand
  • Working with elected and appointed government officials at all levels

 

The successful candidate will possess the following personal attributes and competencies:

  • Able to work well independently, proactive, results-oriented
  • Accountable (holds self and others accountable for performance); sets high expectations for self and others; follows through on commitments
  • Excellent communications skills – oral, written, listening and public speaking; articulate, direct and concise, good at translating between different groups
  • Exemplary interpersonal skills; personable; engaging; comfortable dealing with wide variety of people, cultures and constituencies,
  • Decisive decision maker, while remaining open-minded and considerate of other’s views; actively seeks input on key decisions; evaluates potential positive and negative consequences of various options; demonstrates consistency and fairness in decisions
  • Energetic, enthusiastic, strong work ethic
  • Excellent convener, facilitator, moderator, negotiator and bridge-builder
  • Out of the box thinker, creative problem solver; resourceful, innovative, entrepreneurial, yet well-grounded
  • Skilled at seeing connections between differing points of view, and synthesizing diverse interests into a common direction
  • Well-organized and efficient; effectively sets and follows mission-driven priorities
  • Assertive and self confident, but balanced with humility; has ego in check; recognizes and accounts for own weaknesses; highly "self-evolved"
  • Engenders credibility, trust and respect from all sectors
  • Positive attitude, inspires optimism, enthusiastic, but has a great “sense of the possible,” - the ability to turn ideas into actionable plans

Application Timing

BEFORE APPLYING, PLEASE GO TO http://www.hagelsearch.com/jobs.html AND READ THE FULL POSITION PROFILE FOR APPLICATION DETAILS.  The position is open until filled.  However, interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume as soon as possible.  Full consideration is assured if letters and resumes are received by 8:00 a.m. PDT, August 19, 2010.  All applications will be held in strict confidence and will be acknowledged. 

                                                                                                      

WABS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and desires a highly diverse candidate group.