Executive Director

At Baltimore Collegetown Network, we bring the Baltimore region's many diverse colleges and universities together to attract, engage, and retain students and raise the profile of Baltimore as a great college town. We're seeking a new Executive Director to lead our organization and further our mission to build partnerships among area colleges and market Baltimore as a vibrant place to live and learn! To learn more about us, check us out: Baltimore Collegetown Network

If you are a dynamic, innovative, strategic, and forward-thinking leader with a passion for higher education in Baltimore, we invite you to keep reading to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Position Summary:

The Governing Board is searching for a new Executive Director to provide leadership, vision, and direction to support the growth and development of Baltimore Collegetown Network. The Executive Director leads the organization’s programs, services, and outreach and ensures smooth and efficient operations. This person also represents Collegetown to the public, leads organizational development and strategic planning, builds partner relationships, and leads a staff of three people and a budget of $1 million.

The Executive Director will lead exciting initiatives around academic partnerships, transportation, marketing, internships, communities of practices, research studies, engagement programs, and fellowships - all designed to recruit students to study at our member institutions and to become involved as civic leaders in our region.

The Executive Director is appointed by the Governing Board of Directors and serves as a non-voting member of the Board and ensures that the organization is run with integrity and transparency.

Successful candidates for the position will need to demonstrate the following:

• Ability to forge strategic partnerships with member institutions, community stakeholders, and volunteers around our key program areas.
• Ability to articulate the vision for Collegetown and creates strategies to achieve this vision.
• Experience working with boards, universities/colleges, government officials, staff, community leaders, and volunteers.
• Superb communication skills.
• Personal commitment to a collaborative and team approach to work.
• Innovative approaches to Collegetown's mission and programs, with financial sustainability in mind.
• Commitment to building programs to benefit students and member institutions in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Distinguished and appropriate credentials and experience in nonprofit management, preferably in the higher education sector.

Does this sound like you? Please keep reading and apply today!

Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be responsible for the following areas:

Collegetown Operations:

• Plans, organizes, and directs programs that carry out the organization's mission and goals.
• Provide day-to-day management of current programs and staff.
• Maintain appropriate staff structure; oversee recruiting, training, development, mentorship, and evaluation of team members; create and maintain a working environment that fosters collaboration.
• Leads and motivates a staff of 3 employees and provides them with the tools and resources necessary to successfully operate BCN
• Maintain business systems to ensure effective and efficient operation of the organization

Program & Event Management:

• Manages civic leadership initiatives to help students connect with and serve the community.
• Provides strategic leadership for the Collegetown Shuttle and high-level transit authority.
• Provides strategic guidance for event management for constituencies, including a week-long tour for college counselors, a welcome event for graduate and professional students, and other events throughout the year.
• Manages internship resources including an online internship board and employer events.
• Ensures sound program management and recommends improvements.
• Plans the development and implementation of community events.
• Coordinates activities with and directs vendors, contractors and consultants to assure performance under their agreements in compliance with budget and operational considerations.

Marketing, Community, and Public Relations:

• Serves as the chief spokesperson for BCN and represent BCN at relevant events and meetings.
• Leads the marketing strategies and implementation to promote Baltimore and its colleges to prospective students and encourage current students to get engaged in the region through web, print, video, email, and social media.
• Develops innovative partnerships and projects that support the mission and enhance between colleges and universities.
• Assures that Collegetown and its mission, programs, and services are consistently presenting a strong, positive image to relevant stakeholders, including leaders in our member institutions, government, business, civic groups, the community, and the media.

Fundraising, Grant Management, and Event Management:

• Oversees fundraising including sponsorships, partnerships, grants, special events, and individual giving.
• Develops new and diverse sources of sponsorships for program management.
• Creates a comprehensive sponsorship program including annual and long-term development plans, in consultation with the Governing Board of Directors.

Advocacy and Government Relations:

• Represents the organization to elected officials and advocate for mission-aligned programs and priorities.
• Collaborates with other local governmental, community, and nonprofit organizations on areas of mutual interest.
• Works closely with and meets elected officials and others to advance the cause of higher education in the Baltimore region and at the State level.
• Meets and deals with the public in a tactful and diplomatic manner, provides transparency, communicates effectively and objectively evaluates problems and recommends appropriate action.
• Acts as liaison to member institutions.

Board Leadership and Support:

• Convene Governing Board and Executive Committee, and develop draft agendas and briefing materials for members.
• In cooperation with the Governing Board, ensure effective financial management, reporting, and compliance of the organization, and prepare and oversee the annual budget.
• Guide strategic planning with the Governing Board, staff, and stakeholders and oversees effective design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and initiatives.

Financial, Tax, and Risk Management:

• Creates and recommends yearly budget for board approval, and manages organization's resources within those budget guidelines according to laws and regulations
• Ensures the overall financial vitality of the organization
• Ensures data reporting and statistics are prepared for member institutions as required.
• Oversees and authorizes all expenditures within the limits of the approved budget
• Informs the Board periodically of the organization's financial position.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in non-profit management, higher education administration, educational leadership, student personnel administration, or related field OR equivalent in work experience, strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in non-profit management, specifically in a leadership role. Experience working in higher education or a nonprofit related to higher education a plus.
• Demonstrated aptitude for building and cultivating solid relationships with key stakeholders, and the ability to engage and work effectively with diverse groups of people and cultures.
• Excellent leadership, relationship-building, team-building, and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated grant writing, fundraising, marketing, and advocacy skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of higher education trends, challenges, and opportunities.
• Understanding of Baltimore and/or higher education consortiums desirable.
• The selected candidate must either live in the Baltimore region or be willing to relocate to the Baltimore region within 3 months of employment. 

Total Compensation & Benefits:

Baltimore Collegetown offices are located on the beautiful campus of Notre Dame of Maryland University.

The salary range for this position is commensurate with experience ($85,000 to $115,000).

Additional outstanding benefits include:

• 20 days of vacation, 20 days of sick leave accrued annually, plus 18 holidays
• 403(b) options with a generous employer contribution and healthcare plan options
• Flexible scheduling and remote work options
• Company provided laptop
• Full benefits can be found here: Benefits Summary

About Us:
Baltimore Collegetown Network is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to attracting, engaging, and retaining students, raises the profile of Baltimore as a college destination, and help colleges share resources. To learn more about us, check us out: Baltimore Collegetown Network

TO APPLY:

The Search Committee, under the direction of the Vice Chair of the Governing Board of Directors, will begin a confidential review of applications immediately and will continue its work until an appointment of an Executive Director is made (with a desired start date of February 1, 2023). For full consideration, applicants MUST submit the following in a Word Document:

• Letter of interest: Please address how you can lead Collegetown as Executive Director in achieving its mission and strategic initiatives.
• Professional Resume.

Please click “APPLY” to submit this information in one document (MS Word Format, NOT PDF). For additional information about Baltimore Collegetown Network, please consult Baltimore Collegetown Network.

Baltimore Collegetown Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. Applicants of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.