Executive Director

What You'll Do

The Executive Director (ED) will lead READ 718 into its next phase of growth and impact – one grounded in deep community connection, operational excellence, thoughtful growth, and continued impact on the children and families we serve. The Executive Director role blends strategic leadership with hands-on operational management. The ED will serve as the organization's external ambassador, lead fundraising and partnerships, inspire volunteers and donors, cultivate an inclusive culture, and ensure program excellence that preserves the "magic" of READ 718's learning spaces.

The ideal candidate brings a joy for working with children, empathy for families, cultural humility, strong storytelling abilities, and comfort toggling between vision and execution.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Organizational Leadership and Management

• Provide visionary leadership to the READ 718 team, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and core values
• Ensure responsible stewardship of the organization's finances, operations, and human resources
• Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing and diverse team, including developing leadership among staff
• Serve as a trusted liaison between staff and Board, ensuring transparency, healthy communication, and aligned decision-making
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative organizational culture rooted in equity and that embodies READ 718's values
• Maintain a visible presence across program sites, modeling a hands-on approach to leadership

External Leadership and Fundraising

• Serve as READ 718's primary ambassador and spokesperson, enhancing the organization's visibility, brand recognition, and credibility
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key strategic partners, such as funders, peer organizations, and community partners
  
• Drive fundraising efforts, with a focus on increasing revenue to support growth in reach and impact
• Work closely with the Board to strengthen fundraising and expand the organization's network
• Communicate impact through compelling storytelling that honors both "magic and metrics"- the qualitative and quantitative evidence of READ 718's success

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Partner with the Board and staff to refine and implement READ 718's strategic plan
• Lead data-driven approaches to evaluate student progress, program effectiveness, and organizational health
• Approach future growth with care: building trust and credibility first, assessing needs deeply, and preserving the unique strengths of READ 718's in-person model
• Stay attuned to broader literacy trends, technology developments, and trends in youth learning

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to READ 718 Board of Directors.
• You will directly supervise 2-3 leaders. The READ 718 team is a full time staff of 10.

• Deep commitment to READ 718's mission and belief in literacy as a fundamental right
• At least 10 years of professional experience, including significant leadership and management experience
• Experience working with or alongside literacy, elementary education, early childhood, or youth development; direct experience in literacy is preferred
• Track record of successfully fundraising across a variety of revenue streams, ideally including experience generating new sources of support
• Strong people management skills with experience building and managing diverse, high-performing, cohesive teams
• Strong strategic and visionary thinking and planning skills
• Exceptional communication and relationship building skills; track record of managing partnerships with key funders and community partners
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting and resource allocation
• Ability to effectively work with a Board of Directors
• High-integrity, transparent, emotionally intelligent leadership style
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with an ability to be creative, scrappy, and persistent
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience integrating these values into organizational practices
  

Mindsets and Attributes We Value

• Joy in working with children and genuine enthusiasm for being present in a learning environment
• Cultural humility and empathy, especially when engaging with the children and families we support who may experience systemic inequities
• Strong storytelling ability- able to bring data, impact, and human stories to life to donors and stakeholders
• Comfort in a strategic and operational hybrid role where no task is too big or too small
• Relationship-centered leadership that mirrors the heart of READ 718's work
• Commitment to preserving the "special sauce" of our in-person centers while evolving the organization thoughtfully

Location and Work Environment

READ 718 operates on a hybrid model– the Executive Director will be on site 4 days a week (Monday-Thursday), with Friday as a remote work day. The Executive Director will spend 2 days a week in each site.

Compensation

Salary for this role will be $120,000-$140,000.

Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at READ 718, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles like braids, locks, and twists, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, weight, height, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, immigration or citizenship status, disability, an accommodation for a disability or religious practice, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, reproductive health decision-making, uniformed service, military or veteran status, sexual orientation (including actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and asexuality), marital and civil partnership/union status, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics or carrier status, unemployment status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, criminal arrest, conviction or conviction record, credit history, protected activity (e.g., opposition to prohibited discrimination or participation in proceedings covered by the anti-discrimination statutes), or any other characteristic protected by applicable law (each, a "Protected Characteristic").

This Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all employees (including temporary employees and interns). This policy of Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.