Executive Director

ABOUT CoTA

CoTA (Collaborations: Teachers and Artists) is a San Diego-based nonprofit professional development program and learning laboratory that was founded in 1998 on a premise: weaving the arts – visual arts, dance, music, and drama –into core academic subjects, would propel elementary school students across all socio-economic groups to be more engaged, academically successful, and imbued with lasting skills.

Since then, CoTA teaching artists have collaborated with 2,500 teachers working in 46 schools in 8 school districts to design and deliver innovative instruction to more than 45,000 students. Most important, research has found that CoTA’s integrated instructional approach plays a significant role in developing students' critical thinking, creativity, capacity for empathy, and ability to problem solve, communicate and collaborate. Today COTA is a platform for professional development, research, and best practice dissemination. The goal is to sustain the practice of learning through the arts with teachers and students.

CoTA is an agile organization that has accomplished its work with 3 full-time staff members, 12 teaching artists, and a dedicated board of directors who believe equitable access to high-quality, hands-on, project-based learning experiences is one of today’s most critical social-justice issues. Entrepreneurial and strategic in its approach, CoTA is poised to forge ahead in the rapidly shifting terrain of public education. Find out more about us at https://cotaprogram.org/

OVERVIEW OF THE JOB:

The Executive Director is a change agent who thrives in a dynamic, collaborative environment and understands how to nurture a vision and maneuver effectively in the fast-changing and uncertain world of education. Grounded philosophically in generative, constructivist approaches to instruction, the Executive Director leads an innovative organization that is focused on professional development that equips teachers to deepen the learning of K-8 students through arts integration in instructional design and delivery. A passionate educational leader, the Executive Director champions the work of CoTA locally, throughout the state, and nation by engaging education leaders, teachers, researchers, philanthropists, and business leaders in strategic partnerships that advance the mission. CoTA has laid the groundwork for new ways to carry out its work and is looking for a leader to foster and expand that potential.

Among their many duties, the Executive Director will take responsibility for:

Strategic and Collaborative Leadership

• Advance the mission and goals of CoTA through scenario planning, strategic planning, visioning, and adaptation in collaboration with the staff and board.
• Develop strategic partnerships with education leaders, university researchers, allied organizations, and other champions of arts integration to build the network of individuals and organizations that advance the work of CoTA, draw upon its resources, and contribute to the advancement of K-8 education in and around San Diego, throughout California, and the nation.
• Facilitate conversations with key education stakeholders and researchers that result in innovative approaches to arts integration in instructional design and delivery.
• Team with board and staff members to develop strategic operating and revenue plans that are based on stakeholder feedback, creativity, financial analysis, and risk assessment.

Fundraising, Community Outreach, and Public Relations

• Attract, engage and secure commitments from all manner of public and private sources to support CoTA’s work.
• Further develop earned-income revenue for the organization.
• Actively engage community leaders, education leaders, teachers, parents, and organizations of all types throughout San Diego and beyond to explore opportunities for strengthening connections between the community and CoTA.
• Raise the visibility of CoTA and its brand to current and future stakeholders throughout the San Diego region, California, the nation and beyond.
• Champion the work of CoTA to education leaders, public agency officials, private funders, business leaders and foundation leaders.
• Promote CoTA through public events, public speaking, and social media.
• Present research on the impact of CoTA’s work at academic, practitioner and other forums.

Management

• Oversee all financial and operational activities.
• Build a cohesive team of staff and board members that engage the ideas of people with diverse skill-sets and backgrounds.
• Operate with transparency and accountability at the board and staff level.
• Understand both the flexibility and limitations of operating a small entrepreneurial nonprofit organization.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Knowledge of generative, constructivist approaches to education and arts integration instructional design. 
• Experience in high-level management within an educational setting or at a nonprofit organization. 
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. 
• Keen analytic, organizational, and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making. 
• Experience securing contracts and raising funds from a variety of public and private sources. 
• A passion for creating change and dedication to the mission. 

The ideal candidate has experience in the field of education with a background in arts integration and a successful track record in fundraising. 

Salary range: $125,000 – $140,000 plus health, sick leave, and vacation benefits. 

Posting Expiration Date: October 16, 2020 

How to Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter via email to: Search@patlibby.com (enter CoTA in the subject line) 

CoTA is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity and inclusion in its work and staff.