Executive Director

Summary

The School seeks a visionary and experienced nonprofit leader for the full-time position of Executive Director. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Leadership: Guide the School to long-term financial sustainability. You will develop a strong, long-term revenue plan and craft the annual budget. You are skilled at fundraising and grant writing.
• Educational Leadership: Support the School’s progressive educational practices. You will help instructors and staff strengthen our tradition of student-centered instruction in a safe learning environment.
• Team Building: Attract, develop, and retain talented people from diverse backgrounds. You are skilled at recruiting, engaging, motivating, and empowering instructors, staff and students.
• Community Building: Build and maintain strategic partnerships with alumni, the board, donors, related organizations, and the local and regional communities.
• Innovation: Embrace innovative approaches to the School’s programming. You are responsive to new developments in organizing and funding craft education and to student suggestions.

Desired Qualifications

1. Experience in a dynamic leadership role, ideally in a non-profit, craft, or educational institution.
2. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in education, business administration, or nonprofit management.
3. Experience in non-profit finances and budgeting with a proven track record of fundraising, grant writing, and community engagement.
4. Deep commitment to equity and social justice work.
5. Passion for woodworking and the value of a craft education.

Core Competencies

• Listening: As an active listener, you will be responsive to students, faculty, staff, community needs and trends in education.
• Consensus building: Develop trust, commitment and alignment with a diversity of voices. Maintain and grow momentum in service of our mission. You will help us ensure that participants feel valued and heard.
• Communicating: With excellent interpersonal and communication skills, you will help us deepen relationships with alumni, students, staff and instructors, and community partners.
• Strengthening our workplace culture: Identify and help us avoid systemic inequities by promoting a workplace based on inclusive practices and empowering historically marginalized voices. You will be responsible for further developing a culture of professionalism, humility, transparency, and equity.

Compensation

• Salary range: $80-92K per annum.
• Benefits: 20 days paid vacation per year, sick pay, health, vision and dental insurance.
• Start Date: September 2025

We expect that this salary will increase over time, commensurate with program growth, greater philanthropic support and the financial stability of the School.

How to Apply

Candidates of all backgrounds who think they can be successful in this role should consider applying, even if you don’t meet all the Desired Qualifications and Core competencies. We encourage members of communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the woodworking education field, such as women, 2SLGBTQ+ and people of color, to apply.

Please send a brief letter of interest and a resume to claudia@full-circlehr.com. Your letter should tell us about your background, experience, skills, and especially why you think your passion and expertise align with the School’s vision.

Questions about the position? Please email the Search Committee Chair, Tim Lawson (lawson.tim@gmail.com), to arrange a time and date for a call or a visit.

Find us online at www.ptwoodschool.org or on Instagram at @ptwoodschool.