Executive Director

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Latinx Education Collaborative

POSITION SUMMARY

The Executive Director will lead the Latinx Education Collaborative, to the next level of growth and scale of their mission. This leader will drive the vision and value of the LEC, making it financially sustainable while recognizing the dynamic growth and evolution of the Latinx community within Kansas City and the broader Midwest community. They will lead a nimble and highly dedicated team that centers community-informed action and evidence-based solutions to address the most pressing needs for Latinx educators and students.

Reporting Relationships

The Executive Director will report directly to the Board of Directors. Direct reports include: Senior Director, Programs & Senior Director, Communication and Development.

Goals and Objectives

The following goals and objectives have been identified as priorities for the position:

• Strategic Vision: Work with key stakeholders to develop a 3–5-year strategic plan with clear strategies, goals, an implementation plan, and performance measures.
• Programs: Identify and consistently monitor community needs to guide new and align existing programming for maximum impact.
• Fundraising/Fund Development: Drive fund development efforts that seek to secure existing, as well as build and diversify funding sources to support the short and long-term needs of the organization.
• Measuring Impact: Drive organizational performance by setting and monitoring performance against measurable financial, operational and program goals.
• Communications: Drive efforts to elevate the visibility and awareness of the organization by clearly articulating and promoting its mission and vision, while enlisting and equipping key stakeholders (e.g., board members, staff, funders, donors, volunteers, partners, etc.) to do the same.
• Organization Culture: Cultivate a collaborative work environment that promotes open and transparent communication, boards, staff, and key stakeholder engagement, and attracts, retains, and develops top performing staff.

Responsibilities

The successful Executive Director will:

• Serves as primary liaison to the Board of Directors and support board committees to include meeting agenda development, assigning staff to support committee work and reporting practices. Works in partnership with each Board to develop policies and procedures, and strategic direction to include periodic review of the mission and vision of the organizations. Engages the board in planning short and long-term goals.
• Leads the staff and manages the operations of the organization aligned with strategic priorities. Promotes a culture that reflects LEC values, encourages outstanding performance and recognition of achievements. Supports the professional development of staff. Ensures the quality and effectiveness of programs and services to achieve desired outcomes and impacts.
• Exercises responsible financial stewardship by making sound financial decisions within parameters established by the board (budget and financial policies and procedures). Works with the leadership team to plan and review the organization budget. Ensures the board of directors receives accurate financial information in a timely manner.
• Leads and manages fundraising/fund development. Ensures LEC has diversified funding. Builds relationships with key individual and institutional donors (foundations and corporations) and ensures board involvement in fundraising, as needed. Ensures activities are aligned with strategic plan.
• Plays active role in board recruitment, developing board leadership and succession for key roles. Actively participates in board nominating committee processes.
• Develops future leadership and bench strength for key leadership and staff roles. Hires staff that has the potential for an increased leadership role. Provides opportunities for all staff to develop their skills.
• Works effectively with a variety of constituents and stakeholders to include senior leadership, staff members, external partners, directors, donors, and vendors.
• Builds external relationships and serves as an advocate and public face and primary spokesperson of LEC.
• Ensures quality and effectiveness of programs, services, and operations. Monitors programs, services, and operations through established or new reporting mechanisms. Periodically evaluates and assesses.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge and Experience

Formal education to include under and postgraduate work is valued and will be included in the assessment of candidates; however, the knowledge and experience of candidates in the noted areas will weigh most heavily in the organization’s assessment of candidates. Specifically, seven to ten years of successful senior leadership experience within a business or nonprofit organization; thorough understanding of operations, programs, finance, and human resources; direct and indirect profit and loss management. Attitudes, knowledge, and skills to deliver culturally competent services. Bilingual English/Spanish Preferred.

Leadership Skills and Competencies

• Drives Mission and Strategy: Creates a compelling vision for the future and the implementation of strategies necessary for success.
• Vision: Anticipates large-scale and local changes that will affect the organization and its environment; able to project the organization into the future and envision multiple potential scenarios/outcomes; able to design compelling strategies and plans based on future possibilities.
• Innovation: Creates new and better ways for the organization to achieve success; establishes an environment that encourages innovation, transformation, and calculated risk-taking; demonstrates an unwavering commitment to improvement
• Culturally Competent: Recognizes and promotes the value that different perspectives, experiences, and cultures bring to the organization
• Communicates effectively: Develops and presents information and ideas to meet the needs of different and diverse audiences. Drives consistent messaging across all communication channels to elevate understanding of the organization's mission, vision, and impact.
• Drives Organizational Results: Shows passion, commitment, and ability to focus on and execute results across the organization.
• Coaches and develops teams: The ability to assign responsibilities and authority to the right employees, taking their interests, ambitions, development, and skills into account.
• Business and financial acumen: Uses economic, financial, market, and industry data to understand and improve results, drive impact and accountability.
• Social Consciousness: Is committed to social responsibility, stresses responsibilities to the public, and exhibits ethical behavior; will have a record of being highly visible within his/her community and is able to represent the organization locally and regionally.
• Impeccable reputation: Has integrity, credibility, the capacity to build trusting relationships and a management style that seeks to share information and welcomes input into the decision-making process; is a respected leader who possesses the relevant interpersonal, communication and listening skills to advance the organization’s culture.
• Community Relationship Acumen: Orchestrates, optimizes, and constructively balances the interests of several different constituencies or stakeholders.

Salary and Benefits

The Latinx Education Collaborative offers a competitive salary and benefits package within a collaborative, mission-driven environment grounded in community, integrity, authenticity, and impact. We are committed to investing in our people through ongoing professional growth and leadership development opportunities. Our culture prioritizes learning, reflection, and shared accountability, supporting staff to grow alongside the communities we serve.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Latinx Education Collaborative is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects and represents the communities we serve.

We encourage candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every listed qualification and may come from nontraditional pathways. We value an equivalent combination of lived experience, professional expertise, and community connection.

If you are passionate about advancing Latino youth and believe your skills and experiences align with this role, we encourage you to apply.

About the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC)

The Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating the conditions for the advancement of Latino youth. LEC works alongside Latino educators, families, students, and allies to increase representation in education and address systemic barriers to ensure that Latino students have access to high-quality, educational experiences.

leckc.org

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.