League of Education Voters is looking for a new CEO to lead us into our third decade.

Apply by Aug. 23, 2019

The Opportunity

League of Education Voters (LEV) seeks a visionary and collaborative leader who will champion equitable education and student success across Washington state. The successful candidate will build on LEV’s accomplishments in leading the charge on many landmark funding and policy efforts that are improving educational equity.

Our next CEO will have: a passion for equitable public education; experience leading vision, strategy, and policy campaigns; knowledge of education policy including historic and systemic inequities; a track record of working effectively with diverse communities; and a proven ability to lead fundraising.

Reporting to a community-based Board of Directors, the CEO will lead and partner with a capable Senior Management Team, with responsibility for a mission-focused staff of 10, and an annual budget of approximately $2M.

About LEV

LEV is a statewide organization with headquarters in Seattle and offices in Spokane and Pasco. Since 2001, we have been working to improve opportunities for every public school student in the state, especially students and families who are systemically underserved and disproportionately affected by failing systems.

Our Approach and Accomplishments: With strength in policy research, analysis, and advocacy, LEV’s work includes lobbying in the Washington state capitol as well as organizing ballot initiatives and field campaigns to support the public policy engagement of students and families. Our work has included: increasing state investment in early childhood, K12 and post-secondary education; advocating for a more equitable, statewide, student-focused funding system; enhancing the rigor of the high school diploma; and supporting charter public schools.

Our Next Chapter: LEV is committed to a reimagined education system that meets the needs of every student—addressing systemic barriers to student engagement, achievement, and access to a high-quality education. As an education thought leader, innovator, and collaborator, we will expand our community-engaged advocacy by developing community-informed, targeted policy solutions to benefit students impacted by racism, poverty, disability discrimination, and other forms of oppression.

CEO Profile: Required Experience and Knowledge

LEV’s next CEO will lead us on a journey to reimagine and work towards an educational system in which every student has the opportunity to achieve success.

The following experience, knowledge and capabilities are required:

Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead strategy and bring people together around a shared vision. Experience with public policy campaigns and ability to navigate politically challenging policy environments.
Fundraising: Experience developing resources through a combination of individual gifts, grants, events, and contracts.
Management: Minimum 6 years executive management experience or equivalent, including strategic planning, financial oversight, staff mentoring, and working with a nonprofit board of directors. Demonstrated ability to manage organizational change and lead/support teams in a dynamic environment.
Education Policy: Political acumen and knowledge of education policy landscape and stakeholders. Understanding and experience with educational and political systems in Washington State is preferred.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Cultural self-awareness and understanding of historical and systemic inequities. Demonstrated ability to work across differences and lead diversity-equity-inclusion (DEI) efforts — including operationalizing DEI within organizational culture, practices and policies.
Communications and Relationship Building: Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, including listening. Humility and proven ability to establish relationships with diverse stakeholders, from grassroots to grasstips, including community leaders and partners, elected officials, educators, donors, and other government contacts.

Compensation

Salary range is $160,000 to $185,000, depending on experience, plus generous benefits.

Position Description

Status: Regular Full-time, Exempt (salaried)

Reports to: Board Chair, on behalf of the Board of Directors

Summary: The CEO is responsible for leading LEV in implementing its mission and priorities. Key areas of responsibility are: vision and strategic planning; communications and advocacy; fund development; team leadership and management; Board relations; financial and risk management; and programs and operations. The CEO works closely with the Senior Management Team to manage LEV’s programs and establish a healthy organizational culture.

Essential Functions:

Vision and Strategic Planning

Lead LEV’s vision and strategic development in partnership with the Board of Directors, staff and key stakeholders.
Build alignment around LEV’s shared vision and priorities. Lead strategy implementation, including opportunities to celebrate accomplishments, reflect on lessons learned, and adapt plans as conditions change.
Remain abreast of the competitive and collaborative landscape, and trends that are shaping LEV’s operating environment such as developments in schools, education funding, public policy, philanthropy, and demographics.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders. Identify opportunities to collaborate on shared goals.

Communications and Advocacy

Provide leadership for the creation of LEV’s legislative agenda and policy campaigns. Engage in advocacy at the local and state levels to advance legislative priorities and work for systemic change.
Ensure the development of an overall LEV communications strategy.
Serve as LEV’s primary external spokesperson. Build / maintain relationships with lawmakers and with community, education, government, and private sector leaders.
Cultivate excellent relationships with local, regional and state media.

Fund Development

Ensure a diversified fund development strategy in partnership with the Senior Management Team and the Board; participate in fundraising including developing proposals, donor cultivation and solicitation activities, and events.
Develop and maintain relationships with key funders including foundations and individual donors.

Team Leadership and Management

Foster an organizational culture that reflects LEV’s values and commitment to operationalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Hire, develop, support, and retain staff, ensuring opportunities for performance feedback and professional development; advance a culture of continuous learning.
Ensure compliance with personnel policies and establish a productive, healthy and safe work environment in accordance with appropriate laws and regulations.

Board Relations

Assist with Board recruitment to advance LEV’s mission and priorities; work in partnership with Board officers to ensure effective Board member orientation and engagement.
In cooperation with Board leadership, plan and implement effective Board meetings and planning sessions; ensure that committees have adequate staff support to fulfill their responsibilities.
Ensure that the Board is well informed on critical issues relating to LEV.
Foster productive relationships, communication and teamwork between the Board and staff.

Financial and Risk Management

Ensure an appropriate accounting system and financial management practices based on Board-approved financial policies.
With the Finance Committee, develop an annual budget for Board approval; monitor and prudently manage resources based on the budget.
Ensure the development of financial statements for regular review by the Finance Committee and the Board; ensure an annual audit of financial statements.
Ensure that LEV remains in compliance with funder requirements and applicable laws.
Identify, evaluate and manage the risks to LEV’s people (staff, management, and Board of Directors), property, finances, goodwill and image.

Programs and Operations

In partnership with the Senior Management Team, assure effective planning, implementation and evaluation of LEV’s programs and services.
Assure adequate facilities and technology resources for LEV’s administration and smooth operation.

Work Conditions:

Some evening and weekend work is required, e.g., for Board meetings, community events, networking, and planning workshops. LEV is a statewide organization. Out-of-town travel is required, including visits to Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Olympia.

How to Apply: Application review will begin Aug. 23, 2019

Please submit the following:

1) A cover letter that reflects how your experience qualifies you to become LEV’s CEO

2) A statement about your DEI experience (up to 450 words), and

3) A complete chronological resume.

Send via email as a PDF to CEOSearch@educationvoters.org / Subject Line: CEO Search

All inquiries will be handled confidentially. Please use this email to request an accommodation.

LEV’s Structure and Activities

League of Education Voters is made up of three separate organizations with overlapping boards:

League of Education Voters Foundation (LEV Foundation) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that provides strategic, accurate, and timely information about research-driven education policies and practices to citizens, educators, policymakers, and the media. We work in partnership with community-based organizations to support and elevate the voices of parents and community members as they seek to improve public education systems in their communities and across the state.
League of Education Voters (LEV) is a non-partisan 501(c)4 organization that partners with parents, students, and civic leaders to advocate for a high-quality public education system in Washington state. We engage in the political process by lobbying for and supporting and organizing others to lobby for legislation and policies that support an education system to improve public education from early learning through higher education, and to ensure ample, equitable, and stable funding. Our work is primarily targeted to the state level.
Education Voters Political Action Fund is the nonpartisan political arm of the League of Education Voters. We endorse and support candidates who will be partners in improving public education for all students in Washington state, from cradle to career.