Executive Director, The Literacy Project

 The Literacy Project Seeks an Executive Director

 

The Literacy Project is an independent, educational nonprofit based in Greenfield, Massachusetts, founded in 1984.  We are the only Adult Basic Education provider in Franklin and Hampshire Counties, a rural region of Western Massachusetts that stretches over 1500 square miles.  At our five classroom centers in Greenfield, Orange, Northampton, Amherst, Ware, and online, we provide the educational opportunities our adult students need to build a better future for themselves and their families. 

 

Over 200 adult and out-of-school youth enroll in The Literacy Project each year, seeking to complete their high school education and prepare for college and careers.  In warm and welcoming classes, students work with our staff Instructors and volunteer tutors to build basic skills, explore career options, and develop the confidence they need to take their next steps.  In the words of one graduate, “The teachers at The Literacy Project believed in me until I could begin to believe in myself.”  

 

Community partnerships are central to our mission: The Literacy Project works closely with local human services to provide the wrap-around support many students need, such as stable housing, reliable childcare, or individual counseling.  We collaborate extensively with the workforce development system (the MassHire Career Center and Workforce Investment Opportunity Act partners) to help students find a pathway to a living wage.  We coordinate with the local public schools and the community college network to ensure that students who need an alternative path can get back on track with their education and career goals.  

 

The Literacy Project is a fiscally robust nonprofit with a budget of $1.2 million.  We are funded in part through a 5-year competitive grant from Adult and Community Learning Services, a division of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  We also receive Community Development Block Grants and grants from other public and private sources, and conduct community fundraising events and direct appeals to our community of supporters.         

 

The Literacy Project attracts high-quality educators who are united in our dedication to student success, and our employee retention is excellent. We strive to provide competitive wages and benefits, a flexible and supportive workplace, family-friendly policies, and a positive work/life balance.  The majority of our 18 employees have full time positions and our educational staff are unionized through UE, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.  

 

A Board of Directors, composed of 11 community members, oversees the operations of the nonprofit.  The Literacy Project’s Administrative Office is in Greenfield, MA.  

 

The Opportunity

The Literacy Project’s Executive Director (ED) stands at the helm of a dynamic, innovative, resilient agency.  They are the primary representative of The Literacy Project in the greater community, building public support and partnerships to benefit our students.  They raise funds to invest in programming and our educators and provide desirable jobs at a competitive wage.  The ED serves as the collaborative leader of a team of professional educators, cultivating a workplace culture of inclusion, transparency, compassion, creativity, and continual growth.  And, they carefully oversee the fiscal and administrative systems that support the life-changing mission of The Literacy Project. 

 

The next ED will assume responsibility for a thriving, well-run, and beloved organization with deep roots in each of the communities we serve.  Some of the agency’s ongoing priorities and challenges include:

 

 

The ED works out of the Greenfield Administrative Office and oversees a staff of 17, who work at 5 classroom sites. The ED reports to the Board of Directors. The work year is 45 weeks from the end of August through the second week of July. The ED travels regularly throughout the Pioneer Valley, with occasional travel to Boston and eastern Massachusetts. There is flexibility daily in working remotely, but we do expect that the ED will reside in our region. 

Our current Executive Director, Judith Roberts, joined the organization in 2007. After a highly-successful 16-year tenure, she will retire from TLP at the end of June 2023. We plan for the new hire to start on June 1, 2023, to allow for a one-month overlap with Judith.

 

The Literacy Project’s next ED will be a seasoned organizational leader with a passionate commitment to the transformative power of education and a deep respect for our adult learners. 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate their ability to be: 

 

 

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of TLP. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Send required documents to: https://eostransitions.applicantpool.com/jobs/ 

 

The salary being offered is a range of $80,000-$100,000 for a 45 weeks work-year, with benefits extending through the summer.  The benefits package includes health insurance (80% covered), a Flexible Spending Plan for Medical, a 401 b TIAA retirement fund, generous time off policies, cell phone allowance, and life insurance.

TLP does not discriminate in its programs, activities, facilities, employment, or educational opportunities based on race, color, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity, religious beliefs, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, or military status and does not tolerate any form of discrimination, intimidation, threat, coercion, and/or harassment that insults the dignity of others by interfering with their freedom to learn and work.

 

This executive search is being conducted by Eos Transition Partners consultant Nancy Jackson. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential, and any questions must be emailed to Nancy at njackson@eostransitions.com.