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President

Employer
Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina
Salary
Commensurate with Experience

Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) is a 501(c)(3) statewide organization that supports greater educational options through parental school choice. According to EdChoice, North Carolina and about 30 other states now offer families opportunities to participate in publicly-funded school choice programs―through private school tuition scholarship programs (vouchers), tax credit scholarship programs, individual tax credits or deductions for education expenses, grants for students with disabilities that offset the cost of tuition or other expenses or education savings accounts (ESAs).  Hundreds of thousands of students across the country benefit from these school choice programs.

Founded in 2005, PEFNC’s mission is to educate parents of the benefits of expanded educational options and empower them to exercise freedom in meeting their children’s needs, regardless of race, national origin, income or religion. PEFNC envisions an education system that maximizes parental choice because children have unique needs and parents should have the freedom to choose the best education to meet those needs.

Executive Transition

Since its founding, PEFNC has been exceptionally well-led by Darrell Allison, its former President who recently joined the American Federation for Children to become its National Director of State Teams and Political Strategy. Brian Jodice, PEFNC’s Executive Vice President, is serving as the Interim President, while a three-member Search Committee of the Board of Directors completes its search for a new leader.

Strategic Opportunities and Challenges

As it transitions to new executive leadership, PEFNC and its President will face the following opportunities and challenges:

  • Navigating PEFNC’s first leadership transition in its history, ensuring that existing external relationships are transitioned to the new President, so the leader is quickly identified as the public face of PEFNC and well-positioned to sustain the organization and grow its impact.
  • Working collaboratively with the Board of Directors and the staff to determine an expanded strategic vision for PEFNC, one which identifies new leadership opportunities in the education sector to complement PEFNC’s expertise and successes to date regarding school choice.
  • Expanding the organization’s fundraising base beyond a core of long-term national and local funders, many of which have supported PEFNC since its founding.
  • Maintaining PEFNC’s reputation as the most credible voice for school choice in North Carolina, and ensuring the organization maintains its commitment to nonpartisan advocacy on behalf of children and families.
  • Stewarding the board as it increases it membership and engagement, while also providing greater fundraising support to the professional staff than it has historically.
  • Managing effectively and efficiently the daily operations of a mission-driven, $1.7 million nonprofit, while empowering a team of dedicated and accomplished professionals committed to education reform and school choice.

PEFNC offers prospective candidates the opportunity to lead a very well-regarded, state-wide, mission-driven and influential nonprofit committed to school choice in North Carolina, one with a remarkable history of effective advocacy and legislative accomplishments.

Desired Credentials

  • Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
  • Minimum of five years of senior management experience
  • Knowledge of or prior commitment to education reform, school choice and/or school quality preferred

Skills and Experience

School Choice Champion and Advocate

As a mission-driven nonprofit committed to school choice, the President must be a relentless advocate on behalf of parents and families to ensure they have the freedom to choose the best educational options for their children. The President must be a compelling, poised, intelligent, influential and professional leader who can sustain PEFNC’s credibility as the most prominent voice for school choice in North Carolina. Deep knowledge of the school choice movement and/or the educational or political landscapes of North Carolina is desired.

Networker and Political Influencer

The President must be a consummate and politically astute networker, eager and able to build and sustain deep and purposeful relationships with parents, legislators, government officials, educational leaders, donors and the public. The President must connect equally well with diverse audiences, listen intently to their issues and concerns and work collaboratively to find common ground amongst constituencies with disparate opinions and political perspectives to build consensus, influence legislation and develop other champions of the movement.

Visionary Strategic Planner

Under new leadership for the first time since its founding, PEFNC seeks a President who is forward thinking and able to develop and articulate a clear, impactful and sustainable vision for the organization as it enters its next stage of development. The ability to honor past successes and practices while challenging the status quo; experience in inclusive, strategic planning processes; and a personal commitment to continuous institutional improvement are desired qualities in the next President.

Effective Fundraiser

The President must be able to lead and execute a broad-based fundraising program across a range of funders, including foundations, government agencies and individual donors. Working collaboratively with the Vice President of Development and Operations, expanding the donor base beyond long-term funders and engaging the Board of Directors more intentionally in fundraising are key priorities for the leader.

Skilled Communicator and Passionate Presenter

The ability to serve as the credible public face and vigorous spokesperson for PEFNC is a key quality sought in a President. In this capacity, the leader must listen intently, speak persuasively and passionately and respond effectively to promote school choice and PEFNC’s legislative agenda throughout the State and to all audiences.

Empowering Team Builder and Manager

The President must be committed to empowering, coaching, developing and supporting a strong and committed professional team within a collaborative and supportive institutional culture. The President must hold staff accountable to high expectations and encourage all to make bold and informed recommendations that will collectively contribute to achievement of PEFNC’s strategic vision. Experience in remote staff management is helpful.

Experienced Administrator

As the agency’s chief executive and administrative officer, the President will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s operations, finances and staff, working collaboratively with the Executive Vice President to efficiently align and maximize resources to achieve PEFNC’s strategic goals. The new leader will also serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors to engage all members in effective governance and to determine the strategic opportunities for PEFNC under new leadership and within the evolving education landscape.

Application Process

This search is being managed by John Tarvin of Claremont Consulting. Please submit your resume and a cover letter with salary requirements, where you learned of the position and a description of how your qualifications and experience match PEFNC’s needs.

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