President and CEO | TownLift Works

Title: President and CEO 

Organization: Park City Education Foundation 

Reports to: Board of Directors 

Location: Park City, Utah 

Salary: $160,000 – $180,000 

The Position

Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) seeks a visionary, strategic, collaborative, and passionate leader as its next President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO will lead this impressive organization with a current annual budget of over $3 million and seven staff members dedicated exclusively to funding teacher-driven and student-centered initiatives in the Park City school district. They will serve as an organization and community leader who engages donors, community members, and key stakeholders to benefit the Park City Education Foundation’s mission. The CEO will have a passion for the mission, a strong history of management experience, and a record of proven success in relationship-building. 

The CEO will work closely with the Board, Executive Committee of the Board, and senior management to advance PCEF’s strategic direction and develop effective policies and programs that support the Foundation’s mission. The CEO ensures that PCEF’s programs, fundraising, finance, operations, and communication are effectively aligned and implemented across all areas of the organization. They will bring strong organizational management skills and strategic leadership ability. They will be an excellent communicator, an exceptional fundraiser, and a capable people manager while having an unwavering commitment to student-centered public education. The CEO will partner with an engaged board and committed staff to steer the Foundation toward increased impact, growth, and sustainability. In addition, the CEO will forge a productive working relationship with the Park City Schools and its Superintendent. In the most recent school year, PCEF infused more than $1.5 million into Park City schools.

The CEO will cultivate an environment consistent with PCEF’s mission and instill a culture committed to openness, transparency, and constructive dialogue. They will lead and support a dedicated and committed staff, guided by an organizational strategy, culture, and operational practices grounded in equity, asset framing, and an abundance mindset. 

Role & Responsibilities

Strategy and Visioning

• Provide thoughtful, innovative, and visionary executive leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering.
• Foster an environment of innovation and strategic thinking while leading long-range strategic planning in partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee mission implementation while ensuring necessary funds, staff, infrastructure, and resources are available to realize goals.
• Ensure effective systems to track progress and measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the Board, funders, and other constituents. 

Leadership and Mission Delivery

• Coach, inspire, motivate, and lead a staff of varied life experiences, identities, and backgrounds.
• Advance an inclusive culture that is transparent, respectful, and affirming of all backgrounds and identities, and be an accessible leader to all staff.
• Foster a culture that encourages collaboration between staff and that supports the professional growth of this capable and experienced staff.
• Stay current on issues, policies, and procedures regarding public education. Maintain the organization’s commitment to data-driven decision-making.
• Assess organizational capacity to identify gaps and lead PCEF toward implementing enhanced programs, administration, communication, and fundraising.
• Lead with a high level of self-awareness, celebrate successes and embrace failures, and drive the organization’s performance with a culture of continuous improvement. 

Fundraising and Communications

• Embrace the opportunity to be the face of the organization and engage in meaningful relationships with current and potential donors.
• With the Vice President of Advancement, expand the organization’s fundraising capacity to support long-term sustainability and meet the challenges and opportunities ahead for PCEF.
• Support the Campaign Director and Campaign Committee in completing the $9.5 million “Reaching New Heights” Campaign.
• Inspire donors, partners, and the community to action through impassioned and eloquent storytelling.
• Maintain a portfolio of major donors for cultivation, engagement, and moves management.
• Serve as lead spokesperson while also cultivating other spokespeople amongst Staff and Board.

Financial Management

• Work with the Finance Manager to develop long and short-range financial plans, ensuring sound financial controls and setting appropriate financial priorities to ensure growth and sustainability.
• Collaborate with the Finance Manager to develop and implement financial strategy by creating, approving, and implementing ambitious yet reasonable budgets.
• Work in partnership with the Board and staff to manage the budget and daily financial operations to ensure optimum utilization of resources and financial positioning for the organization.
• Ensure compliance with all funding and reporting requirements.

Governance and Board Relations

• Tap into past experience working with and/or serving on governing boards and understand how to engage board members in the organization’s strategic work.
• Collaborate with and support the Board in fulfilling its governance and fiduciary duties, including nominating processes, board onboarding and offboarding, and maintaining relationships with long-standing departing board members.
• Partner with the Board to implement the strategic plan and identify growth areas.
• Work in partnership with the Board to identify, solicit, and acquire new funding sources.
• Report regularly and transparently to the Board on all operational, financial, and programmatic progress and challenges.
• Advocate for and support effective board evaluation and training.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access

• Bring deep personal commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all aspects of their work and leadership.
• Seek to build an organization grounded in equity and reflective of the diversity of the Park City community.
• Demonstrate the ability to listen to individuals with varying life experiences and create open and inclusive spaces and platforms for those voices.
• Continuously open lines of communication with historically underrepresented communities to broaden access to and engagement with PCEF.

Initiatives and Programs

• Familiarity with PCEF initiatives and programs and how their impact helps achieve PCEF’s vision.
• Believe in the power of trust-based philanthropy and participatory/proximity grantmaking principles.
• Collaborate with PCSD Leadership, PCEF Staff, and PCEF Board on program strategy to ensure initiatives and programs align with mission and scope of work.
• Knowledge of public education systems and how to navigate to achieve success for students.

Who Are You?

• You are passionate. You care deeply about the transformational possibilities of public education and access. That passion energizes you.
• You are a relationship builder. You are a good listener, skilled communicator, and storyteller who is energized by connecting with others and building relationships. You are comfortable in a room full of strangers or speaking to crowds. You enjoy making asks and know how to win hearts and minds by connecting people to mission.
• You inspire trust. You are viewed as a leader with a high degree of integrity. You give credit where due and don’t lead with ego; you recognize you are part of a whole and always consider what is best for the organization.
• You are a true collaborator. You realize broad engagement in process trumps fast results. You learn from others, enjoy coaching those around you, and genuinely care about the people you work with.
• You are an equity champion. You do the hard work, look inward, and ask the important questions. You are not afraid to say “no” to money not aligned with organizational values. You lean in even when it’s uncomfortable. You learn from others and advocate for the people you work with.
• You have strong emotional intelligence. You lead with powerful charisma based on quiet confidence, compassion, and humility. You can read a room, have high self-awareness, and accept responsibility and criticism.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years of successful leadership and management experience in nonprofit organizations and proven ability to effectively manage and lead in an evolving landscape.
• High sense of responsibility and commitment to the Park City Education Foundation mission.
• Ability and passion for fundraising, with a proven track record in major gifts.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing relationships with donors, board members, corporate supporters, and community members.
• Experience mentoring teams and refining structures and systems to support an organization’s operating results.
• Experience building and managing budgets and making sound financial decisions.
• Ability to serve as a public education champion within the community.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and experience engaging with people from diverse backgrounds and willingness to participate in shared learning activities at PCEF.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to articulate and align mission, vision, and values to donors and donor prospects.
• The maturity, integrity, professionalism, and experience to earn the trust and confidence of your team, other staff, donors, board leadership, teachers, district administrative staff, and community partners.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance and experience working with or on boards.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to delegate, meet deadlines, and follow through.
• Proficiency with Google Suite, including Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

TO APPLY

Pathway Associates has been retained to lead this search effort on behalf of Park City Education Foundation. To apply, email your cover letter and resume to Lia@pathwayassoc.com with “PCEF – CEO Opportunity” in the subject line. We are pleased to answer any questions or supply further information as needed. All inquiries or referrals will be held in strict confidence.

Diversity and Inclusion

Park City Education Foundation opposes discrimination and injustice in all forms. Research shows that members of underrepresented groups – including women, LGBTQIA+ identified people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) – tend to apply for jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed. Here at Park City Education Foundation, we want the best candidate for the job, and that candidate might not always meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you are passionate about our work and joining our team, we encourage you to apply – especially if you are a member of a structurally marginalized group. We look forward to your application.

The Park City Education Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit. All employment decisions and personnel actions are administered without regard to age, disability, race, color, sex, veteran status, religion, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, or belief. These employment practices include all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, working conditions, benefits, compensation, training, promotion or transfer, and termination of employment.

The selection process shall be uniform for all applicants. Applicants with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations during the hiring process may contact lia@pathwayassoc.com.