Executive Director

Center for Nonprofit Excellence; Virginia, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office stipend

Monthly telecom reimbursement

Job summary

The Trades + Tech Education Foundation (TTEF) seeks a mission-driven, strategic leader to serve as its first executive director. This part-time, remote role entails guiding strategy, operations, fundraising, program development, and community engagement across the organization’s work in workforce development and skilled trades education.

The executive director will partner with the board of directors, lead fundraising and grant writing, oversee staff and financial management, and build strong

Qualifications

• Commitment to equity and creating pathways for underserved populations
• 3–5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit management, workforce development, education, or related fields
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and resource development, including donor cultivation, grant writing, and corporate/municipal partnerships
• Strong administrative skills, experience building organizational infrastructure, and proficiency managing operations with limited resources
• Track record of working effectively with boards of directors
• Proven ability to build and maintain diverse partnerships and stakeholder relationships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to inspire varied audiences
• Financial management experience including budgeting, financial reporting, and fiscal oversight
• Strategic thinker combined with an entrepreneurial and hands-on approach

Responsibilities

• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson and public face.
• Advocate for skilled trades and technical education as vital career options.
• Develop and execute cohesive communications strategy inclusive of website, social media, newsletters, press releases, and stakeholder engagement materials.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, community partners, municipalities, and other stakeholders to drive mission success.
• Represent TTEF on regional workforce development coalitions.
• Attend events and give presentations to raise awareness of TTEF programs and services.
• Recruit, train, and mobilize TTEF ambassadors and volunteers as needed.
• Design and oversee annual budget in collaboration with TTEF’s finance committee.
• Manage financial systems and reporting.
• Supervise part-time bookkeeper.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant nonprofit laws, regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Design and execute a fundraising strategy to ensure long-term financial stability.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective funders.
• Manage and leverage TTEF board of directors to support solicitations.
• Lead grant writing and reporting efforts.
• Plan and execute fundraising events and campaigns.
• Ensure timely acknowledgment of contributions.
• Partner with the TTEF board of directors to ensure effective governance and oversight.
• Provide regular fiscal, fundraising, and programmatic reports.
• Support board development, recruitment, and engagement.
• Prepare board meeting materials and facilitate productive conversations in collaboration with board leadership.
• Oversee vendor procurement, contracts, and relationships.
• Lead recruitment, supervision, and development of staff.
• Ensure well-functioning IT systems and products that integrate and support communication, record keeping, and day-to-day operations.
• Build and nurture relationships with regional school districts and other training providers.
• Develop and maintain relationships with regional employers and industry associations.
• Collaborate with other regional workforce initiatives.
• Oversee scholarship programs.
• Monitor program participation, outcomes, and stakeholder feedback through the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan in collaboration with the TTEF board of directors.
• Stay current on workforce development needs and trends, as well as leading practices in technical education.

Skills

Fundraising

Nonprofit leadership

Board governance

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Financial management

Grant writing

Communication skills

Job description

The Trades + Tech Education Foundation (TTEF) envisions a trained and educated workforce achieved through skilled trade and technical careers and empowers the next generation of skilled professionals through scholarships, mentorship, and partnerships.

TTEF seeks a mission-driven, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its first executive director. This newly created position represents a pivotal moment in TTEF’s growth and impact. The executive director will partner closely with the board of directors and have overall responsibility for leading the organization’s strategic direction, operations, fundraising, program development, and community engagement.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about workforce development and skilled trades education, possess strong entrepreneurial skills to build organizational capacity, and excel at connecting with diverse stakeholders including students, educators, employers, donors, etc. This role requires a balance of visionary thinking with hands‑on execution during this formative stage of organizational development. To view the full job description please visit www.tradesandtech.org.

Job Duties

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy & Community Engagement

• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson and public face.
• Advocate for skilled trades and technical education as vital career options.
• Develop and execute cohesive communications strategy inclusive of website, social media, newsletters, press releases, and stakeholder engagement materials.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, community partners, municipalities, and other stakeholders to drive mission success.
• Represent TTEF on regional workforce development coalitions.
• Attend events and give presentations to raise awareness of TTEF programs and services.
• Recruit, train, and mobilize TTEF ambassadors and volunteers as needed.

• Develop and oversee annual budget in collaboration with TTEF’s finance committee.
• Manage financial systems and reporting.
• Supervise part-time bookkeeper.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant nonprofit laws, regulations, and reporting requirements.

• Design and execute a fundraising strategy to ensure long‑term financial stability.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective funders.
• Manage and leverage TTEF board of directors to support solicitations.
• Lead grant writing and reporting efforts.
• Plan and execute fundraising events and campaigns.
• Ensure timely acknowledgment of contributions.

Governance & Board Relations

• Partner with the TTEF board of directors to ensure effective governance and oversight.
• Provide regular fiscal, fundraising, and programmatic reports.
• Support board development, recruitment, and engagement.
• Prepare board meeting materials and facilitate productive conversations in collaboration with board leadership.

Operations

• Oversee vendor procurement, contracts, and relationships.
• Lead recruitment, supervision, and development of staff.
• Ensure well-functioning IT systems and products that integrate and support communication, record keeping, and day‑to‑day operations.

Program Development, Evaluation, & Management

• Build and nurture relationships with regional school districts and other training providers.
• Develop and maintain relationships with regional employers and industry associations.
• Collaborate with other regional workforce initiatives.
• Oversee scholarship programs.
• Monitor program participation, outcomes, and stakeholder feedback through the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data.

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Develop and execute a strategic plan in collaboration with the TTEF board of directors.
• Stay current on workforce development needs and trends, as well as leading practices in technical education.

Skills Required

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Commitment to equity and creating pathways for underserved populations
• Minimum 3-5 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit management, workforce development, education, or related fields
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and resource development, including donor cultivation, grant writing, and corporate/municipal partnerships
• Strong administrative skills, experience building organizational infrastructure, and proficiency managing operations with limited resources
• Track record of working effectively with boards of directors
• Proven ability to build and maintain diverse partnerships and stakeholder relationships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to inspire varied audiences
• Financial management experience including budgeting, financial reporting, and fiscal oversight
• Strategic thinker combined with an entrepreneurial and hands‑on approach

Preferred

• Experience in career and technical education programs, apprenticeship programs, community colleges, or workforce development organizations
• Strong understanding of workforce development, career and technical education, skilled trades industry, or related fields
• Established relationships within the Central Virgina region
• Startup or early‑stage organizational development experience
• Familiarity with Central Virginia’s education system and workforce development landscape

Work Schedule

TTEF does not have a physical office. Work is primarily remote, with regular in‑person expectations in support of governing board and committee meetings, as well as stakeholder engagement best achieved onsite (e.g. community events, partner meetings, etc.). Reliable high-speed internet and a quiet space for virtual meetings is a must.

Additional Info

COMPENSATION & HOURS

This is a salaried, part‑time position with a 20-hour work week and a salary range of $30,000 – $40,000; outside of meetings, hours are flexible. No benefits are provided at this time, however there will be consideration for a one‑time home office allowance and monthly telecommunications reimbursement. There is potential for the role to grow relative to hours, compensation, and benefits as the organization and supporting resources expand.

The board of directors acknowledges the ambitious scope of this role relative to its hours. While the executive director will hold responsibility for the full scope, prioritization of projects and responsibilities will be supported by the board of directors.

The Trades + Tech Education Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and professional training.