Beyondmedia Education Executive Director (Chicago, IL)
Search Opens 3.15.11; Closes 5.15.11
OBJECTIVE
Beyondmedia Education seeks a dynamic and committed leader with an excellent track record to join a successful nonprofit media arts and social justice organization/production center as it enters its second decade. The executive director reports directly to Beyondmedia’s board of directors, and will work closely with the founding and current leadership and other colleagues in setting the strategic direction and priorities of Beyondmedia in the years ahead. This high-profile position will lead the organization during an exciting time of growth and creative innovation.
JOB DESCRIPTION/RESPONSIBILITIES
Beyondmedia Education uses a teamwork model and places great value on collaboration, both internally and with our external partners. The organizational ethic encourages creativity, shared ownership and a sense of play. The executive director (ED) brings energy and vision, balancing strong leadership with the ability to work as part of the team of committed staff, board members, interns, volunteers, and youth leaders. The ED will be responsible both for providing overall direction and support of the Beyondmedia mission as well as specific oversight of the organization’s development/fundraising and outreach activities. The ED is also a senior professional representative for Beyondmedia in the community and therefore has a primary responsibility, with support from the board, for obtaining and sustaining financial support and visibility for the organization.
Some key responsibilities include:
MISSION: Give direction and leadership supporting the organization’s philosophy, mission, vision, strategy, and its annual goals and objectives.
STRATEGIC PLANNING: With Beyondmedia staff and board, lead appropriate short-term and long-term strategic planning, including financial initiatives, to ensure Beyondmedia’s capacity to thrive in line with its mission.
FUNDRAISING: The ED will be significantly involved in the ongoing fundraising efforts of Beyondmedia Education, both directly and in conjunction with the staff and board. The ED will oversee fundraising planning and implementation, including identifying resource requirements, providing funding sources, and establishing strategies to approach funders and individual donors. The ED will work with the development manager in writing grants. The ED will recommend the yearly budget for board approval and manage the organization's resources within those budget guidelines.
REVENUE: Target and negotiate with clients for Beyondmedia’s production services, workshop services, video sales and other revenue sources.
ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH: Develop collaborative relationships in the field and participate in negotiations involving organizational matters.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Supervise and manage all financial aspects of the organization. The ED will be responsible for and collaborate with the associate director on all financial matters pertaining to Beyondmedia operations. These specifically include planning and budgeting, reporting, audit coordination, cash management, expense control, insurance, tax filings and ensuring non-profit legal compliance.
COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: Maintain relationships with partner organizations and facilitate contract negotiations. Promote PUBLIC awareness of Beyondmedia’s mission, history and aims. Participate in networking and community relations activities, both locally and nationally, on behalf of the organization. Collaborate with staff to publicize Beyondmedia’s work on the local and global levels. Assure the organization and its mission, programs, products and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive image to relevant stakeholders. Represent Beyondmedia on the 11-member Chicago Youth Voices Network.
PROGRAMMING: The ED will support the efforts of the artistic director and the program director in promoting Beyondmedia’s programs and projects.
OPERATIONS: The ED will support the associate director, who is responsible for all aspects of Beyondmedia’s general operations.
STAFF MANAGEMENT: The ED, with the assistance of the associate director, will supervise the organization’s human resources requirements. This includes identifying proper staffing levels; developing job descriptions; recruiting, hiring, training and managing a diverse staff; directing existing employees; providing feedback on individual performance; and supporting professional development opportunities for a full- and part-time team oriented staff. The ED will supervise all current and to-be-hired consultants and staff of Beyondmedia Education.
BOARD RELATIONS: The ED will maintain an open and professional relationship and communication channel with members of the board, support the board’s governance of the organization and interface between board and staff.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will be an experienced professional with the following qualifications:
· Demonstrated past successes in building and sustaining effective collaborative inter-institutional relationships as well as demonstrated ability to fundraise commensurate with Beyondmedia Education’s goals from a variety of sources including: foundations, government grants, corporate sponsorships and individual donors.
· Proven experience in strategic planning and financial management in organizations with $300K+ annual operating budgets. Can fiscally manage the organization over various budget cycles.
· Background in board relations and development.
· College degree required, graduate degree preferred.
· A significant range of contacts, both related to fundraising and otherwise, which would be meaningful to Beyondmedia, across the country and particularly in the Midwest and Chicago.
· A minimum of five years experience in non-profit management, development and fundraising, marketing and fiscal oversight (arts and culture or social justice organizational background preferred).
· Previous experience managing full time staff, volunteers, freelancers and consultants.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
· Thinks creatively and can implement change and evaluate outcomes.
· Has an engaging and persuasive personality, a sense of humor and the diplomacy to manage a family atmosphere with a history and a wide range of established relationships. Demonstrated people management and motivation skills.
· Possesses the ability to multitask and meet deadlines.
· Exhibits excellent oral and written communications skills, including public speaking before a wide range of audiences.
· Strong knowledge and understanding of new technologies, media production and distribution.
· Proficiency with a computer including software for email, web applications, word processing, spreadsheet analysis and fundraising/marketing database management.
COMPENSATION
Competitive salary, vacation, and benefits package, commensurate with experience. Beyondmedia Education is an equal opportunity employer.
To apply:
Please email the following by May 15, 2011, with EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH in the subject line, to :
· Cover letter with salary requirements
· Resume
· Names and contact information for three professional references
Beyondmedia Education Search Committee
Email:
Website www.beyondmedia.org
No telephone calls or faxes please.
ABOUT BEYONDMEDIA EDUCATION
Beyondmedia Education's mission is to collaborate with under-served and under-represented women, youth and communities to tell their stories, connect their stories to the world around us, and organize for social justice through the creation and distribution of media arts.
Beyondmedia Education is an award-winning, nonprofit media production and education organization located in Chicago. Beyondmedia specializes in collaborative media literacy and production workshops that equip marginalized people to explore their lives, amplify their voices and advocate for their communities. Our work addresses social issues that are overlooked or misrepresented in the media, such as girls’ leadership, youth anti-violence activism, women’s incarceration, disability rights and LGBTQ youth organizing. Since establishing as a nonprofit in 2000, we have partnered with over 150 community organizations and schools across Chicago. Films produced in our workshops have been recognized in international film festivals and screened in schools, universities, theatres, galleries and cultural centers across the U.S. and internationally as well as on television and the internet. Beyondmedia documentaries are supported by civic engagement strategies that train workshop participants in media activism and aim to foster understanding, influence public policy, and build support for social change.
The core staff currently consists of 4 full-time and 4 regular part-time positions. In addition, Beyondmedia employs a rotating team of interns and supports its six-member Youth Leadership Council. Beyondmedia is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It is governed by a board of directors, which currently has 5 members. Beyondmedia is an active member of Chicago Youth Voices Network.
For a complete list of programs, projects and events, see Beyondmedia.org.