Founded over 30 years ago, Reading In Motion is a results-oriented literacy organization that gets students reading at g
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION:
Director of New Site Development at Reading In Motion
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
Founded over 30 years ago, Reading In Motion is a results-oriented literacy organization that gets students reading at grade level or above within the first years of school, especially those students whose environment or circumstances put them in greater need of support. It offers an engaging, innovative literacy model, designed in both Spanish and English, that collaborates with teachers to measurably improve students’ reading and build crucial reading skills early to start students on the path for a lifetime of successful learning. Reading In Motion leverages its resources by training classroom teachers on its curriculum, which incorporates music- and drama-based elements in individual and small group sessions. These teachers deliver the curriculum daily, and Reading In Motion provides them with coaching, materials and data on student progress so that they are better able to tailor instruction and attention to students’ individual needs. Reading In Motion consistently drives significant gains in literacy for students. A recent study showed that the same Chicago teachers who were able to get 63% of their students on grade level in 2010 using traditional methods (in line with CPS averages that year) were able to get 92% of their students on grade level in 2011 after implementing Reading In Motion’s curriculum. Halfway to its ambitious goal of serving 10,000 students per year by 2020, Reading In Motion currently has school partnerships with 39 schools in Chicago and 7 schools in Racine, Wisconsin. The organization’s National Expansion Plan calls for adding 24 initial classrooms in one new large-city district per year, with the first students in classrooms starting in Fall, 2017.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
This is an exceptional opportunity for a hands-on leader to play a significant role in realizing Reading In Motion’s mission and vision. The National Director of New Site Development will report to and partner closely with the Executive Director, and will be charged with developing the support in new cities for Reading In Motion to launch programming in those cities’ schools. That support must include donors, civic leaders and education leaders from that district. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Relationship Building, Stakeholder Engagement and Solicitation • Partner with current Reading In Motion “Champions” and the Executive Director in Chicago to find potential donors in new cities, capitalizing on existing relationships and generating new support for the Reading In Motion program. • Establish and build strong upfront relationships with school district leaders in new cities, ultimately obtaining a contract for 24 classrooms with one new district per year • Build strong relationships with National donors, successfully soliciting $330,000 per year for the search and selection process each year • Build strong relationships with key donor prospects in the next city selected by RIM, successfully soliciting $100,000 of pledges or donations of the $390,000 needed for Year One • Obtain two or more local civic leaders to lead the RIM board in each new city Organizational Planning and Prospect Research • Spearhead the identification of key stakeholders (civic leaders, major donors, school district leaders) in multiple prospective cities • Schedule and lead individual meetings with key leaders in each new city, to obtain information and cultivate relationships
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications: • • • • • •
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Bachelor’s degree required, master’s preferred A minimum of five years of professional experience, including at least two years of management experience Five or more years of fundraising experience Successful, verifiable individual major gift results Experience with foundations and corporations preferred Strong understanding of K-12 public education issues, with previous experience working at or with schools and/or school districts strongly preferred Exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to develop strong relationships across a diverse spectrum of stakeholders Excellent planning and project management skills, with meticulous attention to detail Entrepreneurial spirit, self-direction, and results-orientation, demonstrating initiative, resourcefulness, and follow-through Commitment to collaboration, transparency, and diversity Passion for the mission of Reading In Motion; commitment to the power of the arts as an educational tool to expand children’s capacities and create lifelong learners Willingness to travel at least 25% of time
COMPENSATION:
Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.
LOCATION:
Chicago, IL (open to candidates living in other cities and working remotely, also)
QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, PLEASE APPLY:
Karl Androes
[email protected] Reading In Motion is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.
