Executive Director

What You'll Do

LINC seeks a visionary, strategic, and collaborative Executive Director to lead the organization through its next chapter of growth, innovation, and citywide impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as LINC's chief executive officer, providing overall leadership for the organization's strategic direction, financial sustainability, organizational effectiveness, and external influence. Building on a strong foundation of community partnerships, evidence-based programming, and a talented multidisciplinary team, the Executive Director will guide LINC's continued evolution as a leading force for early literacy and kindergarten readiness across New York City.

The Executive Director will work closely with the Board and senior leadership team to advance LINC's strategic plan, strengthen and diversify revenue, cultivate a high-performing and inclusive organizational culture, and ensure that growth translates into meaningful, measurable outcomes for children and families. As LINC's principal ambassador, public advocate, and fundraiser, the Executive Director will deepen relationships with philanthropic, government, and community organizations, education and healthcare systems, and other partners while helping elevate early literacy as a shared public priority. The ideal candidate is an inspiring and grounded leader who combines strategic vision with sound judgment, financial discipline, exceptional relationship-building skills, and a deep belief in the power of families and communities. This leader will know how to empower a strong executive team, build organizational coherence, and turn ambitious goals into sustainable results.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision Setting

• In partnership with the Board of Directors and staff, support continued implementation of LINC's current strategic plan and develop a new strategic plan when needed.
• Foster and maintain a culture of empathy and excellence within the organization while identifying emerging needs and opportunities.
• Continue to evolve LINC's program model, building on the existing strategy and model, and positioning LINC for its next phase of scale and impact.
• Drive organization-wide results with inspirational leadership, effective and supportive management, and well-defined objectives with accountability mechanisms and key performance indicators to track progress.

External Leadership

• Represent LINC effectively at literacy conferences and events and in front of literacy and educational organizations and government groups.
• Promote LINC in general and with the educational press and serve as a thought leader and public intellectual about the mission.
• Establish relationships with academic, healthcare, child, and family services providers to promote greater dialogue and create partnerships.

Fundraising

• Represent LINC effectively, serving as a visible leader with funders, pro bono and community partners, and other key stakeholders and speaking convincingly about the organization's work and impact.
• Drive fundraising efforts, with a focus on increasing revenue by actively identifying and cultivating new funding opportunities in partnership with the development team.
• Maintain relationships with existing major donors, institutional funders, and government partners.

Organizational Leadership and Management

• Inspire staff, volunteers, and the broader community engaged in LINC's work, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and core values.
• Ensure effective and responsible financial and operational management of the organization's $6M budget, working in partnership with key staff to oversee the fiscal operations of the organization.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, providing timely updates to the Board on operations, finances, risk issues, and more.
• Lead, coach, manage, and support LINC's senior leadership team and other direct reports, ensuring best-in-class delivery of key programs and services.

Who You'll Work With

You will report to the Board of Directors.

You will directly supervise the following leaders:

• Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Impact: Leads program strategy, implementation, integration, impact, and strategic initiatives.
• Chief Finance & Administration Officer: Leads organizational finances, administration, and operations.
• Director of Development: Leads fundraising, revenue development, and communications.

The total team size is 50+ staff.

• 15 years professional experience including at least 7+ years serving in a senior leadership role (e.g. CEO/ED level) at a non-profit or mission-driven organization of a similar scale (a budget of at least $5M)
• Successful fundraising or revenue generation experience, ideally with a demonstrated track record of growth leading fundraising in a nonprofit setting with gift sizes of at least six figures
• Authentic commitment to LINC's mission to equip children with foundational literacy skills essential for academic achievement by empowering families and mobilizing their community
• Ability to balance empathy and deep commitment to LINC's mission with strategic acumen and effective organizational management and decision-making
• Strong public speaking and written communication skills, with the ability to serve as a compelling and credible external representative for the organization and the mission more generally
• Demonstrated success building relationships with and engaging multiple constituencies including board members, donors, community and government leaders, corporate, academic and other professional partners
• Outstanding organizational leadership skills, with an ability to articulate a clear and inspiring vision while supporting an engaged Board of Directors and managing, coaching, and developing a high-performing team
• Strong people management experience with a demonstrated track record of implementing team-focused systems and processes that drive impact and increase the team's connection to the organization and mission
• Experience overseeing the financial management and financial strategy of an organization; familiarity with nonprofit financials reporting and compliance
• Robust understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; experience successfully leading with and successfully integrating these principles into practice

This position is based in New York City and requires an active, visible leadership presence. While occasional remote flexibility is supported, the Executive Director must be regularly present on site at the Inwood office and at funder cultivations, donor meetings, community member and organizer meetings, program site visits, and community stakeholder events throughout New York City.

Literacy in Community provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training

LINC values diversity and actively seeks to build an inclusive applicant pool and pursue a thoughtful hiring process, including a diverse hiring committee, carefully designed interview questions, and mindfulness about unconscious biases.