Executive Director, National Coalition of Girls' Schools

The NCGS Board of Trustees seeks a new Executive Director who believes in the commanding impact of a girls’ school education and has the vision and vitality to be a world leader in understanding girls’ development and, through research, best practices for their education; to generate and communicate new ideas for member schools to embrace; and to mentor those schools in guiding their students to “advance confidently in the direction of their dreams” (Thoreau).

NCGS
Since its inception in 1991, the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS), supported by an annual operating budget of $600,000, has built a strong foundation. Its membership, totaling 158 private, public, and international schools, has nearly tripled; its membership services have expanded; and a national and international visibility has been achieved. NCGS also enjoys a partnership with affiliate girls’ school organizations in Asia, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

A full-time team of four pursues the NCGS mission with the oversight of a Board of 13 representatives from member schools, selected for their experience, variety of perspectives, and commitment to girls’ schools, shaping the mission and supporting the NCGS leadership.

Informed by a new vision statement and strategic plan, NCGS has launched its next chapter with a new logo and website, and a celebration of its 20th anniversary, its founders and leaders, followed by a STEM symposium attended by a record number of registrants from both member and non-member schools, as well as mission-aligned organizations. The first National Conference on Girls’ Education, a groundbreaking initiative bringing together girls’ private and public schools under the joint sponsorship of NGCS and the Young Women’s Leadership Network, will be in Washington DC, February 10-12, 2012, and two significant research studies are under way (Penn, Harvard), both in partnership with NCGS, which will yield further insights into how girls can be best served with their cognitive and character development.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The new Executive Director will be charged with the ongoing innovative implementation of the NCGS 2013 Strategic Way Forward goals: to establish NCGS and its member schools as thought leaders in educating girls, to build a financially robust model for fulfilling the NCGS mission, and to deepen relationships and collaboration with member schools in order to engage, inspire and sustain membership.  The position requires a strong grasp of operational practicalities balanced with a creative approach to developing programs and services. As collaboration is an NCGS core value, the Executive Director must excel in working in active partnership with the team, Board, member schools, the media, funding sources, and partners both national and international.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Coalition’s leadership will require meeting a range of internal and external expectations and needs which include:

Internal
• Inventive, strategic, disciplined, and collaborative approaches to leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving;
• Partnership with the Board President on matters of strategic planning, financial oversight, Board membership, meeting management, and committee staffing;
• Direction for the NCGS team in the implementation of Board priorities with a keen eye to mission, member services, marketing, publications, communication imperatives, budget and audit, and optimal use of staff time and talent;
• Support and supervision of the team including weekly staff meetings, retreats, annual reviews, and professional development opportunities; and ;
• Guidance in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting financial sponsorship and in-kind donations from corporations, foundations, other non-profits.

External
• Continued development and deepening of relationships with member schools;
• Initiative and maintenance of national and international alliances and partnerships with companies, organizations and associations which reflect NCGS’ core focus on girls, girls’ education, and girls’ schools;
• Oversight of regional and national conferences for members and non-members;
• Leadership on research projects aligned with NCGS goals and values;
• Promotion of NCGS, as spokesperson with the media, advocating and articulating the case for girls’ schools, responding to public dialog, ongoing website development, providing public relations guidance to member schools; and
• Representation of NCGS at national and international conferences.

DESIRED SKILLS AND QUALITIES
• Leadership experience and abilities in working with Boards, staff management, organizational development, financial oversight, and strategic planning;
• Knowledge of girls’ education, including challenges, research, trends, and opportunities for new initiatives and services;
• Enthusiasm for working with membership-based organizations, managing the needs and expectations of current members while growing the membership base;
• Strong communications skills through public speaking, well-honed listening, writing, technology, and social media; 
• Appreciation of both vision and the details essential to its implementation;
• Advocacy and an ability to provide clarity and direction for all partners;
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple program initiatives, and to attract the required resources to ensure sustainability;
• Discipline with a demonstrated high regard for transparency and accountability; and
• Advanced degree preferable.

APPLICATION 
Candidates should submit* electronically:
• A cover letter expressing interest
• A current resume
• The names, email addresses, and phone number of five references

Process and Timeline:
• Application deadline: December 1, 2011
• Preliminary and Finalist Interviews: January
• Appointment: February
• Orientation visits: April and May
• Starting date: July 1, 2012

*To: Burch Ford, President
National Coalition of Girls’ Schools    
 50 Leonard Street
Belmont, MA 02478
bford@ncgs.org
617-489-1819

Interested individuals are invited to visit the NCGS website at www.ncgs.org.