Literacy Trust
Executive Director
Background:
Literacy Trust believes that education is a basic human right and access to high-quality literacy instruction is a cornerstone of democracy. The organization’s mission is to leverage existing resources in school communities to create fluent, motivated, self-confident readers. Literacy Trust’s signature program focuses on fostering empowerment for educators, by providing additional resources and support, and by providing more students with the opportunity to become fluent readers. As a result, the work of Literacy Trust serves to increase educational capacity by promoting events, ideas, thinking, programs and communities that inspire action in pursuit of universal access to literacy.
Literacy Trust has a staff of 18 and a budget of $2 million. Their signature program, Reading Rescue, is currently utilized in 122 New York City schools throughout the five boroughs, reaching over 900 educators and 1500 students. Literacy Trust staff provides professional development and ongoing support for teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school community members to ensure that attendees of that training can provide students with literacy intervention. Students in Literacy Trust partner schools are overwhelmingly students of color in underserved, high poverty neighborhoods, and Literacy Trust prioritizes partnering with schools that need this kind of support most. Literacy Trust strives to implement sustainable intervention models that eventually become a core component of the school’s literacy ecosystem, thus leveling the playing field for students in New York City.
Literacy Trust is an organization that values diversity, equity and inclusion. They demonstrate this by ensuring that services reflect their values and the belief that the ability to read is a key component in exercising our basic civil rights.
Position:
Literacy Trust is seeking a new Executive Director who will continue to expand their efforts in NYC public schools. The Executive Director will be a skilled leader who is experienced in working with urban school populations, as well as an exceptional and progressive manager. This person must be highly intelligent, an entrepreneurial self-starter who shares the board’s vision of the opportunity and commitment to Literacy Trust’s core mission. They will have substantial experience in the not-for-profit environment - especially in education - and have experience with staff and program development, as well as communications. The successful candidate must be capable of monitoring the organization’s effectiveness and building upon its influence. In addition, they must be a skilled fundraiser, a hands-on manager, a strategic thinker and planner, a problem solver. The Executive Director will be of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment as well as a sense of humor and compassion.
Specific Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning and Management
External Relations Management
Program Oversight
Business Operations
Qualifications:
Literacy Trust is an equal opportunity employer. They celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Benefits
To Apply:
Literacy Trust has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Dr. Jane Herzog
Director, Educational Leadership
Harris Rand Lusk
122 E. 42nd Street, Suite 3605
New York, NY 10168
groose@harrisrand.com
Please put ‘Literacy Trust’ in the subject line of your emailed application
Executive Director
Background:
Literacy Trust believes that education is a basic human right and access to high-quality literacy instruction is a cornerstone of democracy. The organization’s mission is to leverage existing resources in school communities to create fluent, motivated, self-confident readers. Literacy Trust’s signature program focuses on fostering empowerment for educators, by providing additional resources and support, and by providing more students with the opportunity to become fluent readers. As a result, the work of Literacy Trust serves to increase educational capacity by promoting events, ideas, thinking, programs and communities that inspire action in pursuit of universal access to literacy.
Literacy Trust has a staff of 18 and a budget of $2 million. Their signature program, Reading Rescue, is currently utilized in 122 New York City schools throughout the five boroughs, reaching over 900 educators and 1500 students. Literacy Trust staff provides professional development and ongoing support for teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school community members to ensure that attendees of that training can provide students with literacy intervention. Students in Literacy Trust partner schools are overwhelmingly students of color in underserved, high poverty neighborhoods, and Literacy Trust prioritizes partnering with schools that need this kind of support most. Literacy Trust strives to implement sustainable intervention models that eventually become a core component of the school’s literacy ecosystem, thus leveling the playing field for students in New York City.
Literacy Trust is an organization that values diversity, equity and inclusion. They demonstrate this by ensuring that services reflect their values and the belief that the ability to read is a key component in exercising our basic civil rights.
Position:
Literacy Trust is seeking a new Executive Director who will continue to expand their efforts in NYC public schools. The Executive Director will be a skilled leader who is experienced in working with urban school populations, as well as an exceptional and progressive manager. This person must be highly intelligent, an entrepreneurial self-starter who shares the board’s vision of the opportunity and commitment to Literacy Trust’s core mission. They will have substantial experience in the not-for-profit environment - especially in education - and have experience with staff and program development, as well as communications. The successful candidate must be capable of monitoring the organization’s effectiveness and building upon its influence. In addition, they must be a skilled fundraiser, a hands-on manager, a strategic thinker and planner, a problem solver. The Executive Director will be of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment as well as a sense of humor and compassion.
Specific Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning and Management
- Oversee and partner with board on growth and regional expansion strategy
- Set and achieve programmatic, fundraising, and other goals aligned with regional plans
- Build organizational infrastructure and capacity to support future growth
- Create staffing structures to meet growth needs
- Maintain a positive team culture that is mission focused
- Manage Literacy Trust’s Leadership Team including Director of Talent, Operations, and Culture; Director of External Relations; and Director of Program
- Provide regular check ins, 90 day and yearly performance reviews for all direct reports
External Relations Management
- Serve as the public face of the organization and the primary local spokesperson
- Lead fundraising with a plan that diversifies revenue streams, especially foundation grants and individual donors
- Partner with NYC Department of Education, NYC Mayor’s office, and other city agencies to drive resources to the region
- Develop and manage the regional board to provide effective local leadership and ambassadorship
- Work closely with the Director of External Relations to:
- Drive all external relation activities in the region to grow and scale the program’s regional impact
- Build and grow relationships with district-level leaders to ensure Reading Rescue’s success as a best in class literacy intervention
- Increase organization visibility and profile in local media markets through successful creation and implementation of a regional communications plan
Program Oversight
- Provide executive oversight of all program operations: compliance, quality assurance, and program efficacy
- Recommit current schools and recruit new schools to ensure Reading Rescue makes a significant impact in New York City literacy
- Consult with Academic Advisor and Director of Program on key programmatic decisions
Business Operations
- Oversee all business functions (accounting, HR, IT, legal, health care, benefits, etc.), with significant support from the Director of Operations, Talent and Culture and an external accountant
- Oversee organization budget and provide accurate financial reporting to the board of directors
- Ensure policies and procedures are maintained and enforced for proper financial controls and reporting
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred
- Minimum of 8-10 years of proven leadership, fundraising, and management experience
- Demonstrated organizational leadership ability, which includes effectively managing and motivating a team to achieve program goals
- Outstanding organizational skills; capacity to prioritize multiple and varied responsibilities
- Able to work both independently as well as in collaboration with staff and board in a supportive and direct manner with a minimum of ego
- Demonstrated ability to represent Literacy Trust with funders in public settings and with other organizations in the New York area
- Strong strategic thinking, problem solving, and implementation skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and networking skills
- Ability to source, attract and retain institutional and individual donors
- Thrive in an achievement-oriented, entrepreneurial, and fast-paced environment
- Commitment to Literacy Trust’s mission and vision
Literacy Trust is an equal opportunity employer. They celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Benefits
- Literacy Trust offers a very competitive salary, commensurate with experience and an excellent benefits package.They provide employees with 100% coverage for medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, in addition to partial coverage for family members. They also provide retirement accounts with a 3% employer match.
- Professional Development: They provide employees with a professional development budget after the first year of service because they want to see employees grow in a way that's meaningful to them.
- Vacation: They offer employees 18 personal paid days off for vacation and personal use. Additionally, they offer 12 sick days to promote a healthy workplace environment. Employees also receive the Department of Education winter break and the first week of July (Literacy Trust’s summer closure) as paid time off.
- Work-life balance: They pride themselves on supporting staff to have a healthy work-life balance, which is why they have summer Fridays! Employees are offered the opportunity to work remotely, when appropriate, on average 1.5 days per week.
- Fun work environment: They love to celebrate accomplishments, birthdays and more.
To Apply:
Literacy Trust has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Dr. Jane Herzog
Director, Educational Leadership
Harris Rand Lusk
122 E. 42nd Street, Suite 3605
New York, NY 10168
groose@harrisrand.com
Please put ‘Literacy Trust’ in the subject line of your emailed application
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