Position Profile
The Executive Director of Grad Resources is responsible for leading the organization in establishing thriving graduate student Christian fellowships across the country. The overarching organizational goal that will define success for the ED is the “50/20 Goal:” having 50 fellowships of 20+ students within the next five years. In addition, the ED will have identified the first regional representative to help expand the ministry to new campuses.
The ED reports directly to the board of directors.
Grad Resources is seeking a hands-on leader who loves to coach, encourage, and invite student leaders to engage their academic peers in conversation and community around how to integrate their faith with their academic and career aspirations. The right candidate will be able to demonstrate how they have engaged in that kind of work, perhaps not directly with grad students, but in the environments where they have served.
Candidates must possess self-starting initiative, have a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and the ability to balance short and long term perspectives. What does it look like to engage in activities that address short term needs, while remaining focused on long-term objectives.
They must be comfortable in academic environments and, ideally, have personally experienced the challenge of pursuing graduate studies. They should also be able to demonstrate how they have remained flexible to the environment, such as responding to the current pandemic environment.
Finally, in all they do, they must have a desire to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in their work, recognizing that all they do can be done with the Spirit of God guiding their work.
Responsibilities
- Coaching Student Leaders
The ED is a hands-on leader, and must develop an expert understanding of remote coaching models. The ED serves as a coach on all existing campus fellowships. Coaching responsibilities include:
- Develop an annual Campus Plan with the student leaders
- Manage leaders to insure that they fulfill their responsibilities
- Provide ongoing support and pastoral care remotely (via phone calls every 2 weeks)
- Guide leaders on curriculum and guest speaker selections
- Coordinate guest speaker assignments
- Identify, assess, and recruit future student leaders
- Recruit and maintain relationships with Christian faculty advisors to the fellowships
- Gather data on fellowships (i.e. attendance) and entering them into Grad Resources’ CRM database (Salesforce)
In addition to coaching responsibilities, the ED will be responsible for coordinating the annual Leadership Summit. This event is to help train and encourage all student leaders.
- Recruiting Regional Representatives
The expansion of Grad Resources will eventually require the recruitment of regional coaches — representatives who can provide excellent support to student fellowships for institutions within a specific region. The ED will be responsible to:
- Recruit, hire, and train regional representatives
- Create a culture in which coaching is executed consistently and at a high quality level
- Continually grow the ED’s own expertise in coaching – including being conversant in best practices in the field of remote coaching – and raise the bar for the other coaches
- Foster a learning community among the coaches
- Develop successful strategies for getting fellowships over the 20 member barrier
- Planting New Fellowships
The ED is charged with establishing new fellowships to expand the impact of Grad Resources across the United States. This requires the ED to:
- Develop an expansion strategy for creating new Grad Fellowships
- Coordinate with ministry partners (e.g. InterVarsity, Cru, local churches, associations of grad students, campus student bodies, and administration) on expansion plans and strategies
- Reach out to new prospective campuses to determine need and potential for expansion
- Expand awareness of grad Resources, particularly through thought leadership, social media, ministry networks, and creative marketing idea to promote the ministry
- Maintain relationships with professors who can participate in the Speaker Bureau, including coordinating speaking events
The right candidate must have the ability to think like an entrepreneur. They must have an inner fire that drives forward progress, while remaining sensitive and patient to where God is opening doors for greater impact.
- Leading Operations and Sound Fundraising Practices
The ED oversees the operating and fundraising details of the ministry to insure the smooth functioning of internal systems, processes, relationships, and record keeping and retention. This includes:
- Creating annual budgets for board approval and regularly reviewing income and expenses
- Maintaining accurate donor relationship and giving records, depositing gifts, and receipting donors on a timely basis
- Leveraging Nick Repak as a source of trusted donor connections and relationships
- Identifying strategic opportunities for inviting donors to partner with the organization, such as at giving events, year end, special campaigns, matching grant opportunities, and the beginning of the year
- Developing strategies specific to cultivating new donors, sustaining donors, major donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation support
- Structuring sound “asks” for each donor — appropriate amounts, how their gift meets real needs, why their partnership matters, etc.
- Executing a sound donor and partner communication strategy to ensure the regular and effective building of relationships with key stakeholders
- Leading Up
The right ED will cultivate a strong board of directors and advisory board to help resource the organization. This includes:
- Preparing and presenting reports to the entire board at least twice a year at meetings
- Regularly meeting and resourcing the executive committee (2-3 board members)
- Encouraging the board to participate in the fundraising process
- Recruiting new board members to both the governing and advisory board
- Working with the Chair to address any challenges with board members and performance issues
Qualifications
A likely candidate would be:
- Someone who realizes a strong relationship with Christ is important for leading a Christian ministry and coaching others in how to achieve the same;
- The C-suite leader of a similar-sized ministry or organization, or on the executive team of a larger organization and ready to make the step to be the Executive Director;
- A senior Development person ready for the opportunity to use his or her leadership skills in a more holistic way;
- Someone from the business or corporate world who has a history of strong involvement in lay ministry and a demonstrated understanding of the nonprofit world.
- Someone with a business mindset but with a strong spiritual walk and a desire to serve in a ministry setting; someone who understands the similarities and differences between ministry and business.
- Someone who resonates with phrases like relational and engaging, passionate but humble, possessing a servant’s heart driven by a calling. Someone looking for a “career move” would not be successful in this role.
Spiritual Leadership
- Responsible for setting the spiritual tone of the organization and able to provide biblical counsel to student leaders
- Ensures the mission of the organization maintains a spiritual formation identity
- Encourages future staff and student leaders in their spiritual life
- Relies on the Spirit of God through prayer, community and scripture to discern direction
Professional Experience and Educational Background
He or she will have:
- At least five (5) years of senior leadership-level experience.
- Academic or campus ministry experience.
- Demonstrated leadership and vision in cultivating staff and culture.
- Proven knowledge and successful implementation of fundraising “best practices”.
- A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; graduate degree is preferred.
- Budget development and oversight experience; full P&L responsibility.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Proven interpersonal skills and a collaborative management style.
- A working knowledge of tax, risk management and other compliance implications of nonprofit work.
- The ability and willingness to travel regularly in the U.S.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary: $80,000-100,000, commensurate with experience and any existing support the candidate brings to Grad Resources.
- Benefits: Payroll matching for retirement savings and medical benefits are contingent on available budget.
- Vacation: Four weeks per year.
- Relocation: Negotiable. It would be preferable for the new ED to live in Dallas, if possible, but this is not a requirement.
- Travel: Regular travel—approximately seven-to-ten days per month on average to expand and maintain contact with campus fellowships, to recruit leaders, and to meet with major partners and donors.
- Sabbatical: A two-month paid sabbatical for every seven years.
