Executive Director

Steps to Success Inc. (STS) promotes equity for students from low-income families by expanding their horizons, building on their skills, and supporting their educational journey to maximize life choices. Focusing on closing the opportunity gap for students in Brookline from 3rd grade through college graduation, STS prepares an average of 300 students annually to succeed through after-school and summer enrichment, career readiness, and college preparation and persistence programs.

Steps to Success is seeking a dynamic new Executive Director who is tenacious and committed to maintaining the quality of current programming, while also exploring opportunities for program expansion; adding personnel in key roles; increasing its fundraising capacity; and enhancing its reputation as a model program and leader in educational equity. This is an ideal opportunity for a passionate, collaborative leader with a track record of working in partnerships and managing organizational excellence.

STS seeks a values-driven leader with a passion for the mission and the ability to inspire others. The ideal candidate for this role will embrace and embody the values and mission of STS, with a commitment to working on behalf of and in partnership with those who are low income. This person will be a/an:

Entrepreneurial self-starter with the drive to collaboratively set and achieve strategic growth for the organization. The Executive Director must be a creative and confident risk-taker, with the ability to identify opportunities to innovate and expand STS’s impact. An adaptive leader, the Executive Director’s focus on student and family centered success is informed by lived personal and professional experiences that reflect the communities STS serves.

Strategic fundraiser with experience activating government, corporate, individual, and foundation support. The Executive Director will cultivate relationships to achieve STS’s mission, reflecting present needs and widening the circle for future opportunities. They will continue to build STS’s visibility and reputation as a vital community resource, forging and maintaining strong relationships with current and potential donors and funders.

Organizational leader with financial and business acumen with a track record in nonprofit, public sector, academic, and/or business leadership roles, demonstrating the ability to set and implement a strategic vision and achieve goals. The Executive Director will have a working knowledge of nonprofit monetary management and budgeting and demonstrate sound financial decision-making skills. In addition, the Executive Director shall utilize a creative and resourceful approach to drive the organization’s financial growth and sustainability. A track record of successfully partnering with an active and participative governing board will be essential.

Team builder with a commitment to developing and sustaining high performing collaborative teams. The Executive Director will be a relationship builder and will be skilled at guiding the team to shared success. The candidate must have a record of success as a facilitative and inclusive leader within multicultural settings. Guided by a deep respect for others, the Executive Director will be a grounded, flexible, and focused leader.

Champion for a positive, equitable and inclusive culture, both within STS as well as among the organization’s partners, that is grounded in a shared vision, vibrant in teamwork, and supported by a mutual respect and an unrelenting pursuit of equity. The Executive Director will use these principles to guide program development, community engagement and outreach, family and student support, and all other organizational strategic initiatives.

Collaborator and partner who understands the challenges and opportunities of community partnerships that include schools, other community-based organizations, students, and families. The Executive Director will bring strong listening and collaboration skills as well as an approachable and transparent style in order to engender trust in community relationships. Candidates will have demonstrated experience in structuring and growing partnerships that meet the needs of clients. They will be guided by a deep level of respect for others in working with constituents from all walks of life. This next leader will maintain and strengthen the organization’s partnerships with Brookline Public Schools and Brookline Housing Authority.

Advocate and communicator with an understanding of policy and advocacy efforts aligned with STS’s mission. The Executive Director will be able to effectively position STS as an educational model and represent STS at the local, regional, and state levels with school administration, government officials, and policy and advocacy partners. They should exhibit strong written and presentation skills. The Executive Director will be a sought after thought leader on issues related to educational equity, social emotional learning and/or college prep/access.

The ideal candidate will have increasing responsibilities within the nonprofit sector, particularly serving diverse and low-income families/experience in school partnerships and out of school time activities. A Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university is encouraged.

Steps to Success is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates.

To apply, submit a current resume and letter of introduction to Kittleman & Associates, LLC at https://bit.ly/3XmunRX (click on the Apply button at the bottom of the page).

For more information about Steps to Success, visit https://www.stepstosuccessbrookline.org/ .