Job Description

Maine’s First Ship provides a unique setting for education, community building, and connecting to the larger community. The Executive Director is the primary spokesperson and will promote awareness of, and support for, the mission of Maine’s First Ship and exemplify its core values. The Executive Director is the chief executive officer responsible for the day-to-day operation of Maine’s First Ship.

Responsibilities

1. Fundraising and Donor Relations:

• Build a growing, enthusiastic circle of individual supporters, and improve membership.
• Solicit and expand foundation, public agency, and business support.
• Oversee the development of a fundraising and financial sustainability plan that expands the organization’s current level of traditional fundraising activities.
• Identify and develop relationships with funders, both within Maine and outside it.

2. Operations:

• Develop and implement operational systems to improve organizational function.
• Maintain awareness of all operations and committee work and provide leadership as required to keep the progress moving.
• Maintain facilities.

3. Program Development and Evaluation:

• Provide leadership for the development of compelling educational content and opportunities.
• Work with staff and the education committee of the Board to create and implement programmatic schedule of education programs and for the sailing of Virginia.

4. Financial Management:

• Provide financial oversight, particularly compliance with fund restrictions, interest allocation, and financial policies.
• Provide oversight of events and revenue generated.
• Develop annual budget.

5. Administration, Policy, and Planning:

• Board
  • Schedule and prepare for regular meetings of the Board.
  • Provide support to the board regarding board member recruitment.
  • Keep board informed of major issues.
  • Serve as non-voting ex-officio member of each committee.
• Staff and Volunteer Capacity
  • Ensure board and staff compliance with all internal policies and procedures, legal requirements, and financial standards.
  • Supervise and support staff and ensure a safe working environment.
  • Hire, supervise, assist, evaluate, and ensure appropriate training of staff.
  • Write annual Executive Director goals and objectives with the Exec Committee.
  • Oversee an active and ongoing volunteer recruitment and training program.
• Policy and Planning
  • Work with the board and staff
  • Develop, for board review and approval, the annual work plan and budget for the multi-year strategic plan. Work with board, committees, and staff on the implementation of plans and policies.

6. Community:

• Establish and maintain strong, positive working relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including volunteers, members, government agencies and officials, community leaders, and other non-profits.
• Build partnerships and collaboration.

Professional Qualifications:

• Experience leading and growing a small non-profit.
• Excellent communication skills
  • Effective writing skills, including grant application experience
  • Skill in public speaking
  • Ability to represent MFS in a public forum.
• Ability to interact well with diverse communities, government officials, the press, donors, the public, and a disparate Board of Directors.
• Ability to combine sound business sense and judgment with a strong commitment to the mission of MFS.
• Skilled with budgeting, fundraising and management of a non-profit organization, its employees and volunteers.
• Seeks ongoing educational opportunities and professional development.

Compensation

The Executive Director is a full-time, salaried position, with the possibility of some remote work. Compensation is commensurate with relevant experience, within the framework of the organization’s annual budget, and in the approximate starting range of $50,000-65,000. The start date is November 15, 2021, or sooner.

Apply via email with letter of interest, résumé, references, to mfs@mfship.org. The application deadline is September 30, 2021.