Executive Director

Job Description

Our client, The Children’s Storefront, an organization designed to help parents spark healthy growth in the most critical period of their children’s lives: the first 1,000 days, is hiring an Executive Director. The Children’s Storefront has retained an Executive Search firm, Tal Healthcare, to collaborate on this search. The Executive Director (ED) has the unique opportunity to shape all aspects of growing and positioning this evolving organization. The Executive Director will have a commitment to early childhood development, with a particular focus on underserved and under-represented communities. The Executive Director must be committed to the science behind the programmatic work, and able to build a broad range of partnerships to further The Children’s Storefront mission. The Executive Director will be a respected professional who advocates passionately and successfully on behalf of the people The Executive Director serve and the organization in the local community, across all sectors, and within philanthropy.

The Executive Director will be an intelligent and mission-driven self-starter. Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills are critical, along with patience and compassion. The Executive Director will be diplomatic, of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment.

The Executive Director will be entrepreneurial and practical, creative and analytical in their approach to programming. The Executive Director will understand that while programs are improving the life trajectories of children, the target clients are the parents. The Executive Director will be sensitive to and respectful of parents’ needs and will be comfortable communicating with families who participate in their programs.

The Executive Director reports to a very engaged Board of Directors and should be experienced and flexible in dealing with Board priorities. The Executive Director will manage and develop a team of ten committed professionals. The Executive Director will work with the Board and team transparently, promoting inclusiveness, equity, cooperation, and teamwork.

Primary Responsibilities (In Addition To Other Projects, As Required)

• Development: In partnership with the Development Manager and the Board’s Development Committee, set the annual fundraising strategy (this year, raising $1M ) and establish plans to achieve it. Identify and cultivate individual, foundation, and corporate funders. Develop a plan to scaffold annual fundraising events into a consistent revenue stream.
• External Affairs & Communications: Serve as the public face of the organization and point person for the media. Develop and maintain beneficial relationships with non- profits, community and civic organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholder groups. Regularly engage in writing and public speaking opportunities to raise the organization’s profile. Work to define and execute communication, marketing, press, and social media priorities. Develop collateral material and targeted presentations to achieve goals.
• Program: Work with the team to develop, market, and evaluate community- responsive programs. Develop strategies to scale the program across New York City in the coming years. Build relationships within the local community and beyond that will support recruitment, elevate program visibility, expand TCS’ connection to the community, and improve program effectiveness.
• Team: Directly supervise the Operations Manager, Development Manager, Program Director, and a part-time Controller, along with other consultants and vendors, and support the broader team of ten. Lead annual employee evaluations, compensation, and team learning. Maintain a positive, passionate, and productive organizational culture.
• Administration & Finance: Work with the team to manage day-to-day operations. Participate in annual audit and financial filing process. Collaborate in annual budget process, involving team department heads and the Board’s Finance Committee. Develop regular financial presentations for the Board. Work with the Controller to develop and review monthly financial statements.
• Board of Trustees: Work with the Board to regularly update the strategic plan and set annual goals. Support the board in their role as fundraisers and ambassadors. Continually support the board’s oversight of finances, annual audits, and development.
  
  

Key Skills Successful candidates will possess most, if not all, of the skills and attributes below:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to plan long-term while not losing sight of the day-to-day operational details.
• Business Planning: Experience developing and advising others on multi-year plans for scaling and financial growth.
• Communication: Exceptional written and oral communication skills; ability to present to a variety of audiences and convey ideas in an effective and timely fashion.
• Board Relations: Experience working with and supporting a board of directors; a healthy understanding of board vs. ED roles.
• Relational Leadership: Leadership of team, partnerships, and community work that is grounded in relationships, trust, and respect.
• Program and Evaluation: Ability to serve as a thought partner on ongoing program design; acuity with data analysis and evaluation implementation.
• Early Childhood Expertise: Enough knowledge of early childhood development to advocate for the organization and speak authoritatively.
• DEIB: Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias
• Development: Experience in fundraising $1M in foundation, corporate, government, and individual gifts; donor cultivation; leading fundraising strategy.
• Flexibility: Capacity to adapt and comfort with ambiguity; experience working with start-ups; willingness to step in to support on a variety of projects.
  
  

Qualifications And Requirements

• Significant experience delivering solid leadership, management, and fundraising results is required.
• An undergraduate degree is required, with an advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in education, child development, social work, nonprofit management, or related fields is highly desirable.
• Adept at learning and adapting to new technology.
• Experience with the following platforms is a plus: Google Suites (Sheets, Docs, Slides, etc.), Neon (fundraising), Adobe Suite and Canva (design), QuickBooks and Bill.com (finance), and WordPress and Elementor (web development).
• Onsite and/or within the local community at large, with flexibility for occasional hybrid work.
• Ability to effectively represent the organization with funders, community members, peer organizations, and in other public settings
• Excellent communication skills and be an expert relationship builder.
• Possess outstanding organizational skills and prioritizing skills.
• Comfortable working both independently as well as in collaboration with an active board and team.
• Creative problem-solver, adaptive and flexible, and a strategic systems-thinker who will enjoy bringing the organization to the next level.
  
  

The Children’s Storefront serves a diverse and evolving neighborhood. The Executive Director should view this as a source of strength, and should enjoy building authentic, trusting

relationships with those who may hold identities or have lived experiences that differ from their own. Because this is an organization centering justice and racial equity, candidates must be committed to the ongoing individual work that an inclusive and anti-racist practice requires of us.

The Children’s Storefront recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes team members without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants should include a current resume. The Children’s Storefront has a strong commitment to diversity and encourages applications and nominations from traditionally underrepresented groups.