Executive Director, South Shore Stars

South Shore Stars Seeks Executive Director

Family and child poverty on the South Shore is the pervasive, seemingly intractable problem that South Shore Stars (Stars) founders courageously set out to solve over 50 years ago. They believed (and decades of research now supports) that the availability of affordable, quality childcare and high-quality educational programming was key in breaking the multigenerational cycle of poverty which too many families confront. They did not want any parent to have to choose between their dual responsibilities of breadwinner and caregiver and high-quality educational experiences as a path to successful futures. Since Stars’ first center opened in 1970, the agency has significantly contributed to positive, lasting change for thousands of South Shore families, as access to early childcare and educational opportunities is vital to obtain and maintain employment and to ultimately achieve economic self-sufficiency

About Stars

Stars cares for and supports over 1,200 children annually, making a long-term investment in its families, providing programs to a diverse population, concentrating on school readiness and academic achievement, promoting healthy development, and strengthening families. Many of its children grow up with Stars, becoming successful young adults. Stars is a unique organization in the communities it serves because of its focus on low-income families and at-risk children/youth, coupled with its ability to provide continuity of services from infancy to high school. Simply put, no other agency is doing this comprehensive work in Stars’ communities.

Stars has built a continuum of evidence-based services for families with children from birth through high school. Stars understands both the needs and resources of its families and the three distinct communities of Quincy, Randolph, and Weymouth that it primarily serves. Its most recent endeavor is Stars School and Learning Center, a 766 Department of Elementary Education provisionally approved special education school, serving elementary aged children with dyslexia and language-based learning needs. Stars conducts ongoing assessments of community and family needs through surveys, forums, and analysis of demographic, enrollment, and referral data. All programs intentionally address the multiple challenges children and families confront, and Stars supports its children to ultimately become contributing adults.

Principally funded through contracts with the Massachusetts Departments of Early Education and Care and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, and private foundations, Stars’ core programs include:

• Early Education – three nationally accredited Early Education centers providing high quality education and care.
• School Age – five out-of-school time centers, concentrating on social/emotional learning throughout the school year, and summer programming focused on reducing summer learning loss.
• 21st Century Learning – a grant funded program which targets academic enrichment and support to middle school students referred by school personnel because they are at risk of failing to ensure they ultimately graduate.
• Stars School and Learning Center – a 766 Department of Elementary Education provisionally approved special education school, serving elementary aged children with dyslexia and language-based learning needs.

Stars’ success is a result of many critical factors, including:

• Program design elements all children need to grow to their full potential, such as low staff to child ratios, specialized training, volunteer programs, and Family Support Team.
• Ongoing program evaluation and assessment of children’s progress to improve programs and to develop effective individual plans for children/youth.
• Continuity of care in several communities:
  • 1 year to fifth grade in Quincy
  • 3 years to high school in Randolph
  • Birth to fifth grade in Weymouth
  • DESE 766 Elementary School for students in grades 1-6 with Dyslexia in Weymouth
• Commitment to diversity and cultural competence:
  • Both staff and students represent the cultural diversity of the South Shore communities.
• A family support approach that includes four experienced, licensed social workers, who advocate for parents and help them access services and intentionally support their children’s development. Thirteen percent of Stars’ children are involved with the Department of Children and Families. The Family Support Team is crucial to alleviate social vulnerability and isolation of those served.

With its primary offices in a newly renovated 33,000 square foot mixed-use office and educational facility in Weymouth, MA, Stars employs approximately 150 staff, many with long-standing commitments to child care as well as substantial tenures at Stars. With a $13 million operating budget, Stars is overseen by a Board of Directors comprised of community and business leaders deeply committed to its mission. Stars has seen significant growth over the last four years and is looking for an innovative educational leader that will oversee all existing agency programs, increase philanthropy, and oversee the success of the newly founded Stars School and Learning Center.

Opportunity Going Forward

The Executive Director will have the opportunity to lead a well-established, well-run, much respected, and highly effective child care agency (a leader in the state) with a deep commitment to providing comprehensive early education and youth development programs to enhance the optimal growth of children from economically and culturally diverse families. High priorities for the Executive Director include:

• Managing effectively and efficiently the daily operations and directing and empowering a team of 150 early education, school-age, and elementary education professionals of a mission-driven, nonprofit with a $13 million budget that serves over 1,200 children annually.
• Guiding a newly developed DESE 766 Elementary Education School to success and increased enrollment in its inaugural year.
• Transitioning relationships from current leadership and building new ones with political, government, community, agency, legislative, and business leaders, ensuring that Stars is a present, engaged, and trusted collaborator and partner.
• Implementing and refining Stars current strategic plan while supplementing that plan with short- and long-term strategies.
• Serving as the public spokesperson for Stars to advocate for its mission, families, and children, while leading the agency’s revenue efforts to secure and sustain contracts, raise private grant funds, and engage private donors.
• Developing and supporting a strong and committed senior leadership team and sustaining a work culture that values a passionate commitment to mission, supports employees and their families, seeks and considers staff opinions, and promotes staff development and advancement.
• Adapting communications and systems to eliminate program silos, improve program transitions, and streamline processes.
• Improving and utilizing technology to better support Stars’ families, increase agency efficiency, and support remote programming and work, as needed.
• Working collaboratively with the Board of Directors, expanding public awareness of Stars, and maximizing the agency’s fundraising potential.

Desired Credentials/Profile of the Ideal Candidate

• A minimum of eight years of senior leadership, or equivalent experience in the education field
• Knowledge of and commitment to early education, special education programming, literacy development, child development, out of school time programming, youth development, and/or family engagement.
• Experience with and commitment to the diverse communities and people reflective of those served by Stars.
• Massachusetts Department of Education Special Education Administrator License or ability to gain this licensure within the first six months.

Skills and Experience

Passionate, and Mission-Aligned Leader

• Deep passion for children and youth
• Knowledgeable of and demonstrated experience in high quality educational programs/schools, childcare, youth development, educational leadership, and/or family engagement
• Respect for and commitment to research-based best practices within programs
• Knowledge of education regulations, particularly those of the Department of Early Education and Care and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Understanding of diverse populations and families with a commitment to meeting the unique needs of clients
• Leader with humility, compassion, and grace who is personable, authentic, and approachable
• Teaching and educational leadership experience

Experienced, Innovative, and Accountable Administrator

• Proven leadership at an organization of Stars’ scale and size
• Commitment to high quality, rigorous accountability, and accurate reporting
• Nonprofit experience with strong financial acumen and budget management skills
• Ability to oversee programs and operations while not micromanaging
• Innovator who fosters and nurtures growth opportunities
• Ability to grow, steward and nurture a Board to maximize its potential and impact on the agency
• Ability to anticipate and manage change in reaction to the pandemic to ensure long-term agency sustainability

Savvy Revenue Generator

• Aware of and able to sustain a diverse mix of public and private funds
• Commitment to growing and diversifying Stars’ revenue sources
• Ability to secure, maximize, and manage government contracts from a variety of state and federal funding sources
• Knowledge of public funding, childcare subsidies, enrollment policies, and reporting requirements
• Fundraising experience, with the ability to cultivate funder relationships, prospect for and write grants

Supportive Leader and Developer of Staff

• Sustain a positive, warm, welcoming, and compassionate culture and climate
• Be a present and accessible leader of staff
• Provide fair leadership, where voice and opinions are respected, and the strengths of all are recognized and rewarded
• Lead, inspire, motivate, and delegate, striking a balance between leading and delegating
• Set high standards, lead by example, and pitch in when needed
• Recruit, support, grow, and promote talent
• Employ professional management practices and oversight

Politically Savvy Networker and Collaborator

• Proven networker, skilled at positioning Stars as a sector leader and a go-to organization
• Political skill and knowledge with the ability to promote and advocate for Stars with the EEC, DESE, other agencies, and legislators
• Ability to understand and navigate government operations and funding
• A collaborator with humility and grace who can create and hold mutually beneficial community connections and partnerships
• Visible in and available to the community
• Able to represent Stars in the community and throughout the state as its primary and articulate spokesperson
• Proven strength in verbal and written communications
• Able to communicate effectively with all constituencies

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with a starting salary range of $170,000 to $190,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Stars also offers a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes health, dental, vision, group life and disability insurances, health savings accounts, a retirement plan, and generous time off. Stars will consider some hybrid work scenarios.

Application Guidelines

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of Stars. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. Upload required documents to: https://eostransitions.applicantpool.com/jobs/.

Stars is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer which encourages applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly candidates of color and/or candidates who know and/or represent the communities Stars serves.

This executive search is being conducted by Eos Transition Partners consultant John Tarvin. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential, and any questions must be submitted to John at: jtarvin@eostransitions.com.