Executive Director

Department: Administration

Title: Executive Director

FLSA: Exempt

Reports to: Board of Directors

Accountable to: Member Districts & Internal CES Community

Organization Overview

The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) is a public nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational service agency. Since 1974, CES has worked with children, youth, and adult learners, families, and communities across New England to improve student outcomes. Our mission is to develop and foster lifelong learning and to provide opportunities for well-being for all of the communities we work with, through collaboration and leadership. We are committed to supporting all learners, especially historically marginalized and oppressed groups, in attaining their visions for their futures by creating equitable access to educational and career pathways, as well as health and wellness opportunities.

CES provides a wide range of grant-funded and contracted services to communities around the Commonwealth, including our partner school districts, schools, and communities. These services include direct support for children and youth, particularly those at risk, professional development and training for educators, and consulting in areas such as research and evaluation, public and community health, and youth mental health. Our efforts support instructional improvement, student learning, and broader organizational effectiveness.

Annual budget: $40 million

Number of staff: Over 600

Member districts: 37 districts in Hampshire and Franklin Counties (Massachusetts)

Purpose

The Executive Director provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for the overall administration of CES. This role ensures the organization's fiscal stability, program excellence, and equity-driven innovation. In alignment with our mission and values, the Executive Director leads the development and implementation of high-quality educational and public health initiatives intended to support the well-being of local communities in our region. The Executive Director works to pursue and nurture relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including public elected and appointed officials, state education leaders, member and non-member superintendents, public and private funders and donors, and community leaders from diverse backgrounds and communities. They are committed to expanding and stewarding organizational resources through a thoughtful and transparent budget planning and allocation process.

The Executive Director fosters a positive, inclusive, and equitable work environment by building strong, collaborative relationships with staff across the organization through transparent and solutions-oriented engagement. They also serve as a visible and engaged leader statewide, representing CES in key policy conversations and advancing the agency’s mission through strategic partnerships with educational and governmental stakeholders. This role is also responsible for positioning CES as both a state-contract provider and an innovative nonprofit, generating critical revenue and thought leadership across the Commonwealth.

Essential Responsibilities/Critical Functions

Educational Innovation and Equity

• Guides the organization to address emerging educational issues in a way which shapes and is shaped by effective practices in education.
• Maintains and demonstrates knowledge of current research, theory, and emerging education practices related to serving diverse student populations.
• Brings a demonstrated commitment to equity and belonging, ensuring CES is a safe, inclusive, and supportive workplace across all staff roles.
• Guides the agency in the development and implementation of solutions to systemic educational challenges.
• Guides the development and execution of a mission-focused strategic vision, working collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to drive organizational innovation and achieve key outcomes.
• Guides the ethical and inclusive use of digital tools to build connections, elevate historically excluded voices, and expand engagement across diverse identities and communities.

Strategic and Values Aligned Leadership

• Fosters an inclusive and equitable work environment by demonstrating a commitment to racial equity, disability justice, and belonging, ensuring CES is a safe, supportive workplace for all staff.
• Advances policies that expand educational access, opportunity, and success for historically underserved and marginalized communities.
• Advocates for transformational educational change through collaboration and partnership with educators, community members, legislators, state and federal agencies and governmental officials.
• Pursues innovation and opportunities to develop partnerships and programming, with an entrepreneurial energy to expand robust long-term sustainability.
• Promotes the organization's mission and vision with the support of both union and non-union staff and in response to educational trends and business needs.
• Works collaboratively with member school districts to identify and implement solutions to systemic regional and situational educational challenges.
• Regularly considers and guides the development of innovative and systemic approaches to organizational operations in close collaboration with the leadership team.
• Leads organizational strategy to align with, and adapt to, changes in educational standards and practices.

Relational Leadership & Communication

• Values reciprocity, with proven experience building and maintaining authentic partnerships and sustained relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Works cooperatively and positively with diverse groups including CES staff, administrators, Board members, School Committees, Steering Committees, educational and nonprofit partners, community agencies, foundations and legislative delegations.
• Fosters staff growth through relationship-centered leadership, and consistent, supportive engagement with CES staff, grounded in a shared commitment to our community of care.
• Ensures the transparent and timely communication of organizational decisions, challenges and strategies to all CES staff.
• Enhances relationships between member districts through collaboration, steering committees and supportive, value-added service delivery.
• Partners with state and federal agencies to support educational initiatives that develop and create pathways to success for all students.

Administration and Fiscal Management

• Administers CES's fiscal policies and procedures, including budget planning, resource allocation, and financial reporting, with a focus on transparent and equity-centered financial stewardship in close collaboration with the Director of Finance.
• Works effectively with the Board, implementing Board actions and recommendations and maintaining regular communication with the Board.
• High-level understanding of non-profit finance and operations, providing strategic leadership and direction to support the organization in developing and achieving short and long-term financial planning objectives, including the development of infrastructure and resource allocation.
• Works closely with the Director of Development to nurture strategic relationships and strengthen funding sources to promote the agency’s long term sustainability.
• Directly supervises senior management staff to ensure that an effective and collaborative management team is in place, one that broadly represents the work of the organization.

Essential Qualifications

We are seeking a values-driven individual with a proven record of highly developed personal and professional integrity, and a demonstrated ability to foster collaboration, manage complex operations and drive mission-focused initiatives. The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership experience in the public, nonprofit or educational sector, including experience in a public/charter school, private school, higher education, or another educational setting.

• A minimum of ten years of successful administrative experience in a senior leadership position, with a strong background in nonprofit leadership, adaptive leadership, fiscal sustainability, and equity practice.
• Superintendent or DESE Administrator licensure, or the ability to either procure such licensure or have demonstrable progress towards such licensure, within the first 12 months of employment.
• Proven fiscal management experience successfully leading an organization with diverse funding sources such as state and federal grants, contracts, fee-for-service models, and foundation support.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a mission-focused strategic vision and mission by working collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong and adaptive communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build trust, foster consensus and manage conflict with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership in building a diverse, inclusive and representative staff that reflects the identities and experiences of the communities we serve.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with or within a collaborative or educational service agency.
• An advanced degree in education, public administration or a related field.

Working Conditions

The Executive Director will serve as a visible and engaged leader across the Commonwealth, with particular emphasis on Hampshire and Franklin Counties.

• In-person, full-time position.
• Requires regular travel across the Commonwealth, with the goal of maintaining and strengthening relationships with community partners, funders, and other stakeholders, including state and federal officials.
• Requires regular attendance at early morning, evening and weekend community, partnership building and public events.
• Ability to multi-task and respond to demanding job duties with a positive mindset.
• Ability to navigate a dynamic work environment that includes both virtual and in-person meetings and extended screen time.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Terms of Employment

• Multi-year contract.
• Full benefits package as outlined in the CES Personnel Policy.

CES is an equal opportunity employer and is particularly interested in candidates from a diverse range of cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. We are especially interested in candidates whose backgrounds are well-suited to understanding and addressing the needs of the diverse student population we serve.