Executive Director – Dominican Literacy Center
Department: N/A
Reports to: Board of Directors
FLSA status: Exempt
Email resume to: careers@dlcliteracy.org
Position Overview
The Dominican Literacy Center (or DLC or the Center) offers adult literacy programs to provide opportunities for Detroit-area adults to succeed and improve their lives. The Director is responsible for managing the operations and community relations of the Center, fundraising/writing grants, and reporting to the Board of Directors. S/He will serve as spokesperson for the Center, enthusiastically representing its mission and programs.
Mission
The Dominican Literacy Center enables learners to transform their lives by acquiring skills to become successful parents, productive workers, and responsible citizens. This mutual collaboration in adult literacy is a contemporary expression of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ commitment to education.
High-Priority Goals
- Increase the educational functioning level of the Center’s students.
- Increase the number of GED graduates.
- Increase the number of donors and volunteer tutors who are residents of the City of Detroit to more closely represent the community in which DLC is located.
- With particular focus on the representation of African Americans, expand the demographic diversity of the Center’s board members, donors, and volunteer tutors to represent more closely the community in which DLC is located.
- Update and maintain the Center’s website so that it is an effective communication device for students, volunteers, donors, and others.
General Responsibilities
- Manage the overall administration and operations of the Center.
- Oversee annual events:
- Tutor appreciation dinner
- Graduation and National Adult Education Honor Society event
- Spelling Bee fundraiser
- Oversee more frequent events:
- Quarterly tutor training workshops
- Newsletter (twice per year)
- Other regular programming
- Understand the demands and needs of a voluntary organization and the partnership that must exist between the board, staff, volunteers, and students.
- Prepare all documentation needed for, and participate in, meetings of the board of directors.
- Maintain effective relationships with the state, county, and city literacy organizations.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with organizations in the community (ex., Job Corps, Capuchin Soup Kitchen) that will enhance literacy efforts as driven by the DLC mission statement.
- Manage human resources to fulfill the Center’s mission.
- Hire, supervise, and coach staff.
- Provide opportunities for professional development.
- Establish, and update as necessary from time to time, policies and procedures.
- Maintain a program that is fiscally sound.
- Work with development staff to solicit grants and funding.
- Prepare periodic grant requests and progress reports as required by grantors.
- Prepare the annual budget for board approval, and manage finances.
- Maintain policies and procedures to ensure integrity.
Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred
- Transparent and high-integrity servant leadership
- Five or more years of senior nonprofit management experience
- Experience working in adult education is a plus
- Grant writing experience is also a plus
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Skills
- Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation
- Ability to convey vision of the Center’s strategic future to staff, board, volunteers, and donors
- Knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor relations unique to the nonprofit sector
- Skills to collaborate with and motivate board members and other volunteers
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Ability to interface with and engage diverse volunteer and donor groups
- Ability to oversee and collaborate with staff
- Strong public speaking ability
Please apply by November 3, 2023.
Dominican Literacy Center is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.