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Executive Director

Location Houston, TX 77027
Date Posted April 09, 2024
Job ID 10950
Employment Type Retained
Scion Executive Search has been retained to conduct a search for the incoming Executive Director on behalf of our incredible client, Atlas Scholars; an innovative organization dedicated to providing high school students with mentorship, scholarship, and exposure to performance-based, professional environments. The work of Atlas Scholars is undertaken with the aim of filling gaps in the public education system, particularly around applied professional industry experience and the inherent, collective disparities that exist in college-ready high school students across the board. This transformative opportunity is full-time and located in the organization’s headquarters in Houston, TX!

POSITION OVERVIEW:
Atlas Scholars seeks a dynamic Executive Director who will (i) lead the organization, (ii) expand its programs and impact and engage the community, (iii) lead efforts to establish resources for its programs and expansions, (iv) build organizational awareness, and (v) lead strategic planning and program creation efforts to achieve maximum impact and ensure a stable and sustainable financial future for the organization. 

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will adeptly represent the organization to the community, overseeing daily operations of the organization and fostering the organizational scope and impact by proactively identifying new opportunities and avenues to support strategic growth. As the face of Atlas Scholars, the Executive Director will embody the organization’s commitment to creating an environment in which students’ motivation, drive, and desire to invest in themselves — as well as their resulting performance in the program — is the determinant of their success.

ABOUT ATLAS SCHOLARS:
Atlas Scholars was founded in 2012 by Craig Taylor and Tejpal Singh to address the lack of competitive, performance-based environments providing real-world experiences for students before they enter the university and workforce landscapes. The program ultimately hopes to address the disparity in opportunities and exposure between students from different backgrounds and schools.

Each year, a group of high school students from across Houston come together to learn in a competitive and collaborative environment that pushes students to create their own success.  Students actively participate in an energy and finance-focused professional development program that creates a holistic ecosystem for success through curriculum, college preparation, mentorship, scholarships, guest speakers, and field trips that would not otherwise be available in traditional public high schools.

Atlas Scholars gives students the opportunity to further their education and build their resumes in a competitive, professional environment in which they are provided the tools to achieve their success. Students join for three consecutive summer programs each June after their sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school, and also participate in year-round programming, mentorship, and college / career prep. Students operate in a problem-based learning structure with direct access, exposure to, and mentorship from industry leaders from a variety of backgrounds and sectors. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
  • Lead the organization in a manner that supports and guides the organizational mission as defined by the Board of Directors.
  • Act as Atlas Scholars’ primary motivational team leader, inspiring the staff, Board, and volunteers.
  • Identify, plan, and make meaningful organizational strategic plan suggestions for programmatic expansion to the Board of Directors.
  • Work as a true partner with the Board of Directors to leverage the experience, knowledge, abilities, and connections of the group to guide the organization to wise and thoughtful strategic decision making on behalf of the organization.
  • Execute the strategic plan and establish and implement administrative and operating policies and procedures.
  • Direct and manage the development, implementation, and analysis of organization goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for programming; allocate resources accordingly.
  • Provide general oversight of specific programs, services, and activities which support the goals and objectives of the organization.

FUNDRAISING & PARTNERSHIPS
  • Drive development and fundraising efforts, in collaboration with the Board, to meet organizational goals and objectives.
  • Identify and build relationships with corporate, institutional, and individual partners for student programming, donations, and other partnership opportunities.
  • Advise Board on prospective fundraising/development opportunities and executive related initiatives via direct hands-on fundraising initiatives.
  • Review the organizational fundraising history and define current and future capabilities.
  • Develop organizational strategy and infrastructure implementation to best support growth and effectively meet the needs of future funding challenges. 
  • Adapt to changing community needs and create new funding sources, including grant applications.

STRATEGIC PLANNING
  • Lead the organization with an entrepreneurial outlook and spirit while balancing the need to make educated smart business decisions.
  • Develop and execute strategy within the context of the city, state, and national landscape as to Atlas Scholars’ programs and funding source creation.
  • Foster new ideas and initiatives; apply innovative thinking and performance measurements to analyze and support strategic decision-making.
  • Inspire and gain Board approval, participation, and support of strategic plans.
  • Work with the Board of Directors to ensure that the organization’s strategic plan advances the organization’s mission, establishes goals and objectives, and develops metrics to measure progress.
  • Lead strategic discussions as needed for Board approval and propose refined, actionable items (plans) that should be voted on, adopted, and/or embraced by the Board.
  • Stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public and nonprofit organization administration.

FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT
  • Supervise the build and administration of the annual budget, with Board approval, to ensure maximum utilization of resources and optimum financial positioning for the organization.
  • Prudently assist in managing all financials and other resources within established budget guidelines (and in compliance with current laws and regulations).
  • Provide data, analysis, and background for the Board to use in its budgetary review and approval process.
  • Negotiate contracts and solutions for a variety of administrative, fiscal, and special projects.
  • Analyze and prepare recommendations on special contract requests, monitor contract budgets, and effectively allocate limited resources.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PUBLIC SPEAKING
  • Lead outreach and community relations efforts at events, panels, and in the local and national community in a concerted effort to promote the organization’s mission, and programs in a consistent and positive manner.
  • Promote public awareness of Atlas Scholars’ programs while identifying and leveraging new potential funding opportunities.
  • Ensure the development and implementation of effective public relations efforts; oversee the preparation of news releases and public statements.

BOARD RELATIONS
  • Maintain regular and ongoing communication and relationships with the entire Board.
  • Attend all Board meetings and provide reports and updates on staff as well as all current work, project timelines, and project and organizational progress.
  • Drive organizational growth by creating a consensus among Board members, volunteers, and staff for needed projects, strategic plans, and/or organizational changes.
  • Analyze operations and program development to evaluate performance through assessments and communicate strategic vision for identified evolution opportunities to the Board.
  • Promote a congenial, communicative atmosphere amongst Board members to foster approval on needed projects, strategic plans, or organizational changes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in related field required, Master’s degree highly preferred.
  • At least three to five years in business administration, management, education, or experience related to the organization’s industry required with supervisory and leadership experience preferred.
  • Experience in fundraising, grant writing, and donor cultivation to support the financial health of the organization.
  • Knowledge of budgetary oversight and financial management.
  • Prior successful experience working directly with and/or reporting to a Board of Directors.
  • Exceptional business acumen with experience in making sound and educated business decisions.
  • The ability to establish and maintain positive partnerships.
  • Change management experience with proven track record of professional success as a business or nonprofit leader growing organizational capacity.
  • Experience utilizing technology to improve organizational processes.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills.
  • Prior experience and/or exposure to the principles and practices of nonprofit administration.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
This full-time, hybrid opportunity is responsible for making a significant impact in the Houston, TX area and far beyond. In addition to a competitive base salary, this role provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, EAP, Basis Life and Short Term/Long Term Disability, as well as paid time off and paid holidays. Other ancillary benefits include Supplemental Life, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity plans. This is an opportunity, position, and mission which will inspire you daily!
 
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:
Atlas Scholars has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/10950

Please address applications to:

Sydney Burnham, Executive Search Principal
Scion Executive Search
sydney@scionexecutivesearch.com
512-387-6841

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

ABOUT OUR FIRM:
Scion Executive Search is an award-winning retained executive search firm.  Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the United States. Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.

We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online.
Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent. 
For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.

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