Executive Director

Public Assets Institute; Town of Vermont (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Public Assets Institute in Vermont seeks an Executive Director to advance its mission to improve well-being and promote equity through rigorous tax and budget policy analysis. The ED will lead strategy, operations, personnel, and finances, reporting to the Board and guiding a small research team and partners.

The role demands clear communication with policymakers, funders, and communities, building relationships and navigating complex policy environments to translate data into actionable policy.

Responsibilities

• Solidify Public Assets’ data and analysis to advance policies esp. tax, budget, equity.
• Articulate policy insights to policymakers, funders, media, and public; focus on education funding and economic policy.
• Set organizational vision and strategy with the Board and staff; adapt to shifting political landscapes.
• Strengthen financial sustainability via donor relations and new funding opportunities.
• Lead a capable team and Board; enhance internal comms, reporting, performance reviews, and development.

Job description

The next Executive Director (ED) will continue to champion Public Assets Institute's mission to improve the well-being of all people in Vermont, advance racial, social, and economic justice, and promote policies that the state government can enact. Reporting to and serving on the Board of Directors, the ED will spearhead the development and implementation of strategies and will provide leadership and oversight of Public Assets’ strategy, operations, personnel, and finances. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives at the intersection of research and policy, can navigate complex policy environments and communicate complicated tax and budget policy issues clearly, and can build meaningful relationships with funders, partners, policymakers, and communities. We envision the new ED can expect to lead in the following areas:

• Continue to solidify Public Assets’ sound and accessible tax, budget, and economic data and analysis to advance policies that further racial, social, and economic equity. This is the foundation of its reputation and policy impact. Working with a small team, the ED will ensure Public Assets continues to produce trusted, nonpartisan data, analysis, and testimony that legislators, coalition partners, and the public rely on.
• Carry a vision for how sound data and analysis reach Vermonters where they actually are to make the case for tax, budget, and economic policies that work for all. The ED will articulate policy insights and data to policymakers, funders, the media, and the public to reflect the priorities and needs of people living in Vermont. They will focus on budget, tax, and economic policies, including education funding policy, which are essential for effecting equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity. They will modernize how Public Assets tells its story, ensuring its rigorous research informs policy.
• Set organizational vision and strategy that explores current and new opportunities together with the Board and staff. Leading in a generative and inclusive manner, the ED will think about the shifting political landscape in Vermont to keep the organization’s strategy nimble and responsive to external trends, developments, and opportunities. In addition, the ED will ensure that the various parts of the organization are in alignment and that key projects and campaigns are on target and aligned with the organizational strategy.
• Strengthen the financial sustainability of the organization by building and maintaining sustained relationships with existing individual donors, Vermont funders, and national foundations and partners. In addition, the ED will seek out new opportunities for expanding the organization’s funding sources and steward all supporters of the organization through regular interactions and communications.
• Lead a dedicated and passionate team of staff and Board members who care deeply about the issues at hand and are effective implementers and ambassadors of Public Assets. To build upon the current organizational culture, the ED will continue to strengthen internal communication, reporting structures, performance review and professional development, project management, and benefits to support Public Assets’ healthy, high-trust culture and effectively grow leaders and delegation within the organization.