School: Ashley Hall
Location: Charleston, SC
Posted: 21 Oct 2024

Horizons at Ashley Hall

Executive Director Job Description

Opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and visionary individual to lead the Horizons

program at Ashley Hall (AH) in Charleston, SC. The Executive Director will set the strategic vision for Horizons at AH’s work, build and lead a high-performing team of two year round employees and a summer staff of over 30, and engage with a wide array of stakeholders (students, families, teachers, board members, alumni, donors, and national and local partners). Horizons at AH is a part of Ashley Hall School and, as such, the program benefits from the resources (physical, human, financial, community) that exist at AH. This critical role reports to the AH Head of School, in partnership with the Horizons at AH Board Chair. The Executive Director is uniquely positioned to advance the organization’s mission of transforming the lives of underserved children and youth through year-round academic and enrichment programs to inspire learning, encourage success, and close the opportunity gap.

 

About the Organization

Horizons at Ashley Hall is a community-centered education program serving 135 students from the Charleston area. Horizons builds long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. The main component of Horizons is a six-week summer program located on the campus of Ashley Hall, where students participate in academic, cultural, and recreational enrichment activities. The six-week program is supplemented by a growing school-year program, where students participate in after school tutoring, community service, and cultural and celebratory events. Horizons at Ashley Hall operates a proven model and is part of an affiliated network with over 70 Horizons sites serving students across the country.

 

Qualifications/Skills

• Relevant experience, including demonstrated success in leadership roles, ideally in a nonprofit setting, preferably in an organization with a focus on education, out-of-school time programming, or youth
• Strong project management and organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to set and meet deadlines with competing priorities
• Experience setting strategic vision and bringing vision to fruition through clear and actionable planning and execution
• Strong people management skills, with the ability to build high-performing teams, create strong and positive team culture, and coach and develop skills in others
• Proven track record in successful fundraising and donor relations, including grant writing experience
• The ability to develop and manage budgets
• Competent in G-suite, Google docs, sheets, slides, etc

Major Responsibilities

 

Program Management and Administration

• Provides clear vision and direction to maintain and improve current programs and services
• Ensures development of Instructional plan
• Strategically focuses Horizons resources to yield the greatest impact to students
• Develops and maintains effective working collaborations with stakeholders
• Oversees evaluation in conjunction with Horizons National
• Communicates regularly with Horizons parents and students
• Interviews, hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates staff and teachers
• Maintains a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse top quality staff
• Oversees the process for recruiting, scheduling, and training volunteers
• Oversees year round program for Ashley Hall upper school student interns (HATs) volunteering with Horizons program
• Oversees the process for recruiting, selecting, and enrolling students
• Works with Ashley Hall Operations team to support the process of Horizons daily food service and bus transportation
• Works with Ashley Hall’s Director of Operations and Horizons Aquatics Director to support the Horizons swimming process, communicating with swim instructors regarding any issues with the pools
• Ensures compliance with all state licensing requirements
• Completes all required state reports and all reports due to Horizons National
• Develops and oversees the year-round Saturday academy and family support
• Coordinates with teachers special/seasonal event for the students
• Establishes and maintains adequate fiscal systems and controls
• Oversees all operational, business, and fiscal matters, including accounting and insurance in coordination with Ashley Hall CFO and business office

Budget

• Works with Horizons Board Chair or Treasurer and members of the Governance Committee to develop annual budget and to manage monthly expenses
• Manages resources within the budget and oversees that Horizons operates within budget guidelines

Fundraising 

 

Oversees the Director of Development and Marketing on the following responsibilities:

o   Develops and implements a fundraising strategy with the Director of Development and Marketing

• Identifies and solicits prospective funding sources across diverse channels
• Writes grants and reports to foundations and other sources of funding
• Maintains up-to-date donor database and tracking system
• Oversees recording and acknowledgment of all gifts in a timely manner and sends all necessary tax information to donors
• Stewards relationships with donors
• Stays informed about trends in foundation and corporate fundraising, governmental law, and regulations applicable to fundraising
• Enlists the board’s assistance in building a volunteer base

• Plans and creates solicitation schedule and strategy in tandem with Ashley Hall’s Institutional Advancement team
• Meet monthly with Ashley Hall’s Institutional Advancement team to provide updates on fundraising results

 

Board Support

• Attends all meetings of the Horizons at Ashley Hall Board, in ex-officio capacity
• Works with the Horizons at AH Board of Directors in developing/expanding new programs, consults regularly with the board on significant operational and programmatic matters
• Serves as liaison between staff and Horizons at AH Board
• Helps to develop, execute and update the Strategic Plan
• Works with the Horizons at AH Board to identify and develop strategies to expand donor base and increase fundraising income
• Assists the Horizons at AH Board in identifying and cultivating prospective board and committee members
• Meets regularly with Horizons at AH board chair to maintain strong communications and report on individual committee progress
• Attends and actively contributes to all committee meetings
• Provides administrative support to the Horizons at AH board and its committees
• Attends all full Horizons at AH board meetings and provides the necessary reports and updates in advance so all Horizons at AH board members can review in preparation for discussion

Public/Community Relations

 

Oversees the Director of Development and Marketing on the following responsibilities:

• Promotes community awareness of Horizons at Ashley Hall by serving as spokesperson
• Coordinates media relations with Ashley Hall’s Marketing and Communications department
• Coordinates visitor days during the Summer Program and Saturday academies
• Works with Ashley Hall’s Marketing and Communications department and designated Horizons at AH board representative in preparation of brochures, reports, newsletters and other marketing materials to showcase the program
• Establishes sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community groups and organizations that can support Horizons at AH program and participants

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The Executive Director position is a .75 FTE salaried position with medical and dental benefits; life and

disability insurance; 403(b); PTO time; professional development support; and access to the tuition remission policy for children of Ashley Hall employees  enrolled at the School. The salary range is dependent on relevant qualifications and experience.

The Executive Director is expected to work a mix of on-site and remote hours.  Attendance at the Horizons National Annual Conference is expected.

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should send a resume that showcases their skills and experiences, as well as a compelling cover letter describing their interest and how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of Horizons at AH.

All cover letters and resumes should be sent as ONE PDF DOCUMENT titled “Last Name Cover

Letter and Resume” to strickle@ashleyhall.org Please title emails as HORIZONS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH in the Subject Line. Resumes will be accepted until the position is

filled.

Ashley Hall is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.