Executive Director (part-time)

About A Child’s Notebook 

A Child’s Notebook’s partners with local communities, investing in the lives of children in Southeast Asia. Our vision is that all children have access to quality education. In collaboration with local villagers, we have provided local materials for them to build schools, dormitories, and latrines. In addition, in response to community input, we have also developed scholarship and after-school programs.  

During a visit to Laos in 2016, our founder, Ducksoon Hwang saw that schools in rural villages were battered buildings without water. She knew the children there could thrive in their education if they had the proper resources. Inspired by their notebook drawings, she founded A Child’s Notebook in April 2018.  

A Child’s Notebook now supports over 100 schools and 10,000 children in Laos.  

This is an exciting time for A Child’s Notebook. In January 2024, we hired an interim executive director to help develop the infrastructure to support hiring paid staff for the first time. With the board no longer responsible for the day-to-day administration of the organization, they now have more time for fundraising activities.  

The annual budget for 2024 is close to $300,000. Currently, most of our revenue comes from a successful annual event held in the fall. We are just beginning to expand our fundraising activities and diversify our donor base and would like the Executive Director to continue to evolve this work. 

In addition to the Executive Director, we have contract administrative workers and a full-time in-country manager in Laos. In January, the board voted in three new members with a wealth of skills to help raise funds and guide our growth. This increased our board to 14 members. 

A Child’s Notebook is looking for an experienced leader with a passion for our mission to help grow the organization so we can serve more students and provide the opportunity for them to reach their dreams through education.  

Executive Director Job Description 

The Executive Director (ED) reports to the board of directors and is responsible for A Child’s Notebook’s fundraising, operations, programs, and implementation of its mission. This position is 20 hours per week, mainly remote, and the candidate will ideally be in Seattle. The number of hours worked may increase as we increase our fundraising and serve more children. 

Responsibilities 

Fundraising & Communications: 

• In collaboration with the board, diversify donors and expand fundraising activities to support existing program operations and growth.  
• Raise A Child’s Notebook’s visibility and broaden its base of support as the primary ambassador of the organization. 
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communications—from web presence to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger brand and increasing visibility 

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Growth 

• Serve as the first paid Executive Director of A Child’s Notebook and help define and evolve the role, including its relationship with the board 
• Serve as an external spokesperson for the organization who communicates program results with passion and data 
• Lead the organization through a strategic planning process  
• Foster a board culture where all members are actively engaged, supported, and equipped to fulfill their responsibilities and serve as ambassadors of A Child’s Network’s work. 

Management & Operations: 

• Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence and consistent quality of finance and administration, programs, fundraising, communications, and systems  
• Develop effective systems to track program accomplishments, and regularly evaluate program components to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the board, donors, and other constituents. 
• Develop and present an annual budget to be approved by the Board of Directors.   
• Actively engage and energize contractors, volunteers, board members, committees, partnering organizations, and funders 
• Develop, maintain, and support a strong and diverse Board of Directors; serve as ex-officio of select committees 

The ED must be committed to A Child’s Notebook’s mission. Candidates will be considered based on the range of their lived and learned experiences, professional background, and direct and transferable skills. A Child’s Notebook seeks candidates with a compelling combination of demonstrated experience and skills.  

Required Qualifications include: 

• Track record of effective nonprofit leadership; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth and impact 
• Demonstrated fundraising experience including strategy, a track record of having achieved increased financial support, donor stewardship and retention, and major donor solicitation  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal skills 
• Experience in providing financial administration including developing and monitoring a budget  
• Willingness and ability to travel to SE Asia 

Preferred Qualifications include: 

• Appreciation and understanding of different cultures internationally and a commitment to access to education 
• Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships 
• Strong marketing and public relations experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures 

Our ideal candidate will be: 

• Inspirational, action-oriented, collaborative, adaptable, and resilient  
• Passionate, positive, mission-driven, and self-directed 

Compensation and Benefits: 

This is a half-time position. The salary range is $45,000 - $55,000 plus benefits.  

Benefits include health insurance stipend, paid time off, 10 paid holidays, and a flexible work schedule. 

To Apply: 

Submit a cover letter and resume to Barbara@achildsnotebook.com. The position is open until filled with a priority deadline of May 6, 2024. 

A Child’s Notebook is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital or military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, the presence or perception of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, genetic information, actual or perceived status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law. This position is subject to reference checks and background check completion.