ExecDir

Position Opening: Executive Director – Part time Consultant
Arizona Technology in Education Alliance (AzTEA) Phoenix, Arizona

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Arizona Technology in Education Alliance (AzTEA), the State Affiliate of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), is a professional non-profit organization devoted to increasing student achievement through technology in teaching and learning. Our mission is to empower the educational community in Arizona to infuse technology as an integral part of the educational process. We do this by providing advocacy and leadership, promoting educational reform, and supporting technology based innovation through our services, activities, programs, and collaborative efforts.

Reporting to the Board of Directors via the President, the Executive Director has overall responsibility for the financial and managerial operations of the alliance. In partnership with the Board, s/he will provide leadership, vision and direction in designing effective program initiatives and implementing policies to enhance the alliance’s ability to achieve its unique mission. The ideal candidate will be a visionary thinker poised to lead AzTEA to the next organizational level; possess a deep understanding of the potential of technology to leverage 21st century learning; and combine strong business management skills and acumen with the compassion necessary to lead an alliance committed to improving the lives of students throughout Arizona. This is an outstanding opportunity for an entrepreneur with the determination, passion and sophistication to capitalize on AzTEA’s strong community reputation.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As AzTEA marks its 10th year of service to the education community, it seeks fresh leadership and new direction. The new Executive Director will capitalize on this positive time in the alliance’s history and will work closely with the staff and Board of Directors on strategic planning, financial management, staff and board development, fund raising, program development and implementation, marketing and community outreach. Within the first 12-18 months the new Executive Director will face the following opportunities and challenges:

__Strengthening internal organizational management structures to ensure maximum utilization of alliance resources.__

With an eye toward ensuring AzTEA’s long-term financial health, the Executive Director will develop and implement financial accounting, reporting and budgeting processes.

__Assessing and building the capacity of staff at all levels of the alliance.__

The Executive Director will implement best practices in human resources management, performance review, program management, evaluation and staff coaching for the Alliance’s part-time staff. S/he will promote and model a positive atmosphere of open communication, shared responsibility, integrity and trust.

__Spearheading fund raising efforts that capitalize upon AzTEA’s strong Board support and expertise.__

Working in partnership with the Board, the Executive Director will formulate and implement a development plan which effectively stewards existing individual and institutional donors while expanding development prospects. S/he will ensure that development efforts are aligned with strategic planning efforts, program needs and deliverables.

__Overseeing the design, implementation and evaluation of alliance programs.__

The new Executive Director will refine alliance priorities to adapt to the changing needs of its constituency. S/he will determine expansion, growth and collaborative opportunities and implement necessary steps to reach these goals, aligning program implementation with program budgets and development efforts. S/he will lead the Board and staff in implementing a program evaluation process that ensures the highest quality and effective delivery of programs through qualitative and quantitative analysis, which informs and shapes future programmatic efforts.

__Continuing to develop a strong board through effective governance policy and succession planning.__

Building on a strong foundation, the Executive Director will continue to develop the Board of Directors by ensuring their active engagement in the mission and governance of the alliance. S/he will strive to delineate and clarify board governance and staff operational roles to ensure AZTEA meets its fullest potential. S/he will work in partnership with the Board to cultivate new Board prospects and expansion plans ensuring strong future leadership to guide AzTEA’s long-term financial and governance health.

__Building brand identity and recognition among the community, stakeholders and supporters that will lead to new and effective collaborations.__

The Executive Director will serve as the public face of the alliance acting as the primary liaison between AZTEA and the community. S/he will lead collaborative efforts with state and local government, schools, colleges and universities, neighborhood organizations, community representatives, foundations, corporations and the media. S/he will oversee marketing and public relations efforts to raise AzTEA’s profile and brand position as the leader in providing support and professional development services to the educational community.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

This is an exceptional opportunity for an entrepreneurial and visionary leader with strong managerial and fundraising skills to guide a powerful and effective organization through its next stage of development. Responsible for all aspects of the operations, the new Executive Director will be a passionate and articulate advocate for the alliance and its diverse constituency. S/he will have a minimum of five years senior management experience, a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s level preferred), or the equivalent combination of training and expertise acquired in the course of a progressive career of outstanding accomplishment. While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes and experiences:


 * 1) Exceptional operational and managerial skills in key functional areas of financial management, human resources and work plan development. Demonstrated experience implementing policies, procedures and financial controls to strengthen nonprofit operations.
 * 2) Understanding of the potential for technology to enhance the development of 21st century skills in students of all ages and learning abilities.
 * 3) Knowledge and understanding of the educational community and diversity through demonstrated experience working within the educational community as well as other diversity issue.
 * 4) Proven ability to direct actions to achieve results. A model of integrity and hard work, which sets high expectations for self and others. Competence to command attention, respect and act as a catalyst for change and continuous improvement. Adeptness to clarify roles and responsibilities and provide clear direction and priorities.
 * 5) Demonstrated ability to build a culture of high performance and accountability while inspiring, motivating and empowering the Board and staff to reach their fullest potential in a manner that fosters a positive and productive team environment.
 * 6) Exceptional written and oral communication skills. Sophistication and confidence necessary to be the alliance’s public face.
 * 7) Ability to establish strong alliances and partnerships to achieve targeted results. Facility to organize people and resources for maximum productivity and the negotiation skills to forge positive alliances on AzTEA’s behalf. Possess an enterprising and entrepreneurial mindset that acts on opportunities that further the interests of the alliance.

SALARY: Dependent on Experience

TO APPLY Applications are due by 5:00 pm, Monday September 1, 2008. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

To apply, include a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history and where you learned of the position. Send this information to should be sent to: president@aztea.org. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type “[Last name], [First name] – AzTEA ED Search” as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

The Arizona Technology in Education Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Hiring Committee Christopher Johnson, President Rick Baker, President Elect Cathy Poplin, Treasurer Kim Thomas, Secretary Priscilla Lundberg, Past-President Ruth Catalano, President Emeritus Hank Stabler, President Emeritus