Submitted by: Trang Tu, Former Board Member
Passages Northwest is seeking a dynamic and compassionate executive to bring dramatic growth to the organization. This opportunity represents a unique challenge to work in an environment dedicated to the values of cultural competency and personal courage, one that facilitates personal exploration through participant engagement in the arts and outdoors activities. PASSAGES NORTHWEST seeks a leader who will apply her/his passion for the mission to yield growth, while preserving and enhancing the high professional standards and reputation of this 12-year old nonprofit organization.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Passages Northwest is a nonprofit organization that inspires inquisitive, creative and physical forms of courage and leadership in girls through experiences in the outdoors and the arts, and through mentorship, adventure and fun. Inquisitive courage involves widening one’s perspective about the world and learning to be unafraid to ask questions. Creative courage involves learning to freely express one’s voice through the arts. Physical courage involves trying challenging new physical activities in a safe environment. Activities such as rock climbing, backpacking, sea kayaking and camping are used to teach conflict resolution, respect for self and others, community building and activism. Our programs are based on developing young women’s self-confidence, while fostering compassion for community.
Currently, Passages Northwest serves approximately 700 girls a year through year-round wilderness programs, afterschool programs, parent/daughter activities and partnership programs with local schools and organizations. We have a core commitment to serving girls from a wide range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Last year, approximately one-half of our students were girls of color, while more than two-thirds received full or partial scholarships to participate in our programs. Passages Northwest has been in existence for 12 years, is financially stable and has a diversified donor base.
OPERATING MISSION (2009-2011): Over the next three years, Passages Northwest will be recognized as the Greater Seattle Area expert in providing high quality, experiential education programs for girls. In addition, Passages Northwest will continue to assert itself as a leader in approaching this work with a multicultural focus. By 2011, we will serve 975 girls, parents and educators a year, representing an increase of almost 40% from 2008 service levels.
VISION: Passages Northwest envisions and works for a world that values girls from all backgrounds and identities equally, offers opportunities to change lives and communities for the better and provides support toward realizing individual dreams.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: The Passages Northwest Board of Directors recently approved a set of strategic priorities designed to substantially grow existing program participation rates, thereby increasing local, regional and national awareness of our expert status in experiential programming. To that end, Passages Northwest will address and focus on the following areas:
1. Program content: Deepen subject matter expertise by evaluating and modifying existing program content so it improves opportunities for alumnae and strengthens relationships with constituent families
2. Program impact: Dramatically increase the number of girls served and develop models that can be widely replicated
3. Program partnerships: Broaden partner relationships through both improved and new programs to inculcate served communities with Passages Northwest’s experiential education expertise
4. Program marketing: Increase organizational visibility through specific, robust, integrated marketing and communications campaigns
PROGRAMS: The vision and mission of Passages Northwest come to life in its programs, which include:
Girls Rock! This signature, trademarked program includes ten weeks of after-school climbing and mentoring activities. The challenges intrinsic to these activities educate and empower middle school girls to express themselves, gain leadership skills and build community through the physical challenge of rock climbing.
Girls’ Wilderness Programs. This part of our program lineup provides two- to fourteen-day backpacking, rock climbing and sea kayaking adventures. Participants build self-esteem and leadership skills, while integrating the arts during these outings. Girls’ Wilderness programs include winter, spring and summer expeditions, as well as parent/daughter trips.
Alumnae Activities. Program graduates can meaningfully stay connected to the Passages Northwest community, gain additional leadership skills and bolster the positive changes they experienced while participating in ongoing Passages Northwest programs, including indoor climbing nights, special wilderness programs focused on developing leadership, our new Girls Rock On! program and the Girls’ Advisory Board, made up of alumnae who take on leadership roles within Passages Northwest through governance, fundraising and other special projects.
Partnership Programs. At every turn, Passages Northwest strives to create positive change for girls at the institutional level. We work with a wide range of schools, community programs and parent groups to increase these institutions’ ability to meet the unique needs of the girls they serve and demonstrate a capacity to ignite lasting change in their lives. Our services vary in content, but often include curriculum development, teacher and parent education and outdoor education programs.
POSITION NATURE AND SCOPE: The Executive Director has the primary responsibility for leading Passages Northwest in the fulfillment of its mission and vision, including financial and administrative management, fundraising, staff and Board development and building, and integrating strategic connections throughout the community.
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS: The successful Executive Director will:
1. Exhibit strong leadership, financial and management skills;
2. Reflect a deep and abiding passion for the mission of Passages Northwest;
3. Value cultural competency and be a proponent for undoing racism and sexism;
4. Demonstrate an ability to access resources to financially and strategically strengthen the organization;
5. Aggressively leverage technology and other resources to develop and implement cohesive marketing strategies and tactics to grow the organization; and
6. Understand the internal and external workings of a 501(c)(3) organization.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to a 10-15 member Board of Directors, the Executive Director’s role and responsibilities include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
1. Leads staff members, volunteers and other key stakeholders in fulfilling the organization’s mission and at least meeting, but preferably exceeding the goals and objectives outlined in its strategic plan
Fulfills mission by ensuring that organizational vision is reflected in its programsResponsible for creation and execution of strategic and annual operating plans to meet or exceed targets thereinProvides leadership in moving Passages Northwest toward increased cultural competency
2. Ensures financial and administrative effectiveness of the organization
Owns and implements annual budgeting process and regular budget reviewManages cash flow and expenses according to budget; produces monthly reportsSupervises all accounting processesIdentifies and retains external vendors, as needed, to ensure smooth business operationsReviews, abides by and renews insurance policies and city, state and federal licenses and regulations
3. Responsible for implementing effective fundraising strategies and is the “goal owner” for organization-wide fundraising
Forges and cultivates successful and significant relationships with new foundations, individual donors and partnersDevelops and implements marketing/sales strategies and tactics for program fees/earned income expansion and partnershipsSeeks and nurtures corporate partnerships to yield donations and/or grantsAssists with planning of special eventsSupports and encourages Board’s fundraising effortsSupports Development Director
4. Supervises, motivates, develops and inspires staff
Initiates annual staff member performance review processLeads staff meetings and invokes a sense of team to achieve higher outcomesSupervises leadership team (Development Director and Program Director)Plans and delivers opportunities for reflection and team building, including retreatsOversees all employment processes
5. Supports and engages Board of Directors
Proactively notifies the Board of key issues and opportunities; provides valuable input to processes and institutes forward-looking discussionsProvides materials and informational resources to the BoardServes on Executive Committee and supports other committees, as neededProduces monthly “outcomes against plan” reports for Board that illustrate operational and financial progressDevelops positive, fruitful relationships with potential and current Board membersPartners with the Board president to create an annual board calendar and “rhythm” and prepares each monthly agenda in support of same
6. Represents Passages Northwest in community
Secures public speaking engagements and participates in community meetings to raise awareness of Passages NorthwestNetworks with other organizations through coalitions/committeesServes as primary media contact and spokesperson for the organization
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE: In addition to the Critical Success Factors outlined above, the qualifications of the successful candidate include a proven track record spanning at least 7 years of increasingly responsible leadership positions, preferably though not necessarily in the not-for-profit arena. An advanced degree in an education-related field or nonprofit management plus significant experience in fundraising and program development are highly desired. Knowledge of the field of experiential education as it relates to youth development is desired, but not essential.
COMPENSATION: Passages Northwest offers a competitive pay and benefits program, a generous vacation and holiday package and a flexible work environment.
TO APPLY: Anyone interested in and qualified for this unique and exciting position should email a resume and cover letter to: Mike Wagner, HR Consultant and Search Manager, at mj_wagner@comcast.net
For additional information about the organization, please visit our website at www.passagesnw.org.
PASSAGES NORTHWEST strives to build a supportive and diverse community. We welcome and respect diversity of background, experience, identity, and opinion in our participants, staff and volunteers. We embrace people of any race, color, national origin, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, family make-up, religion, age, ability, sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
Skills & Qualifications
The successful Executive Director will:
1. Exhibit strong leadership, financial and management skills;
2. Reflect a deep and abiding passion for the mission of Passages Northwest;
3. Value cultural competency and be a proponent for undoing racism and sexism;
4. Demonstrate an ability to access resources to financially and strategically strengthen the organization;
5. Aggressively leverage technology and other resources to develop and implement cohesive marketing strategies and tactics to grow the organization; and
6. Understand the internal and external workings of a 501(c)(3) organization.
Organizational Description & Mission
Passages Northwest is a nonprofit organization that inspires inquisitive, creative and physical forms of courage and leadership in girls through experiences in the outdoors and the arts, and through mentorship, adventure and fun.
Website: www.passagesnw.org
How to Apply
Anyone interested in and qualified for this unique and exciting position should email a resume and cover letter to: Mike Wagner, HR Consultant and Search Manager, at mj_wagner@comcast.net
Filed under: Jobs, Training and Volunteer Opportunities
