Executive Director sought by The Nature of Words

The Nature of Words (NOW), based in Bend, Oregon, is a well-established, 501 (c) (3)literary arts organization, founded in 2005, and recognized for the quality of its annual literary festival and year--round creative writing programs for youth and adults. NOW serves the Central Oregon region, which is primarily defined as the area encompassing Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. The Nature of Words’ stated mission is to foster an appreciation of the literary arts and humanities in the high desert region of the Northwest through community interaction with acclaimed authors, and through creative writing programs for students and adults. The organization is poised for sustainable growth and development and the new Executive Director will play a major role in that vision.
The Executive Director will be expected to demonstrate understanding of the mission and spirit of the organization, and will be charged with keeping the organization on its current successful course, making necessary refinements, and expanding where appropriate. The Executive Director reports to a Governing Board of Directors.

Qualified candidates for this position will have demonstrated and documentable successful experience in fundraising, as well as development and management of a rapidly growing small nonprofit. Further, a keen interest in, and passion for, the literary arts, as well as knowledge of the literary arts niche, are vital qualities.

The Nature of Words will be involved in an exciting partnership with Oregon State University-Cascades Campus in offering a Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing, poised for approval and funding in 2012. The Executive Director will work closely with the director of the low-residency MFA program in scheduling The Nature of Words’ annual literary festival to dovetail with the winter residency period; to coordinate the selection of writing faculty for the low residency program and authors for the annual literary festival, and to accommodate internships. The Nature of Words annual budget is $450,000.

Successful candidate qualifications
• demonstrated experience with budgeting and fiscal management of similarly-sized or larger organizations
• demonstrated fundraising and fund development experience, including oversight of donor cultivation, grant management, event coordination; development of endowment fund, annual giving campaign and planned giving
• proven effectiveness in working with a nonprofit board of directors, either serving on or reporting to such a governing body
• demonstrated ability to network and collaborate with the public, literary figures, foundations, etc.
• passion for literature and for The Nature of Words’ stated mission and vision
• professional experience in the literary world
• excellent written and oral communciation skills; teaching experience and skill are preferred
• demonstrated staff and volunteer management experience; preferred experience in managing and developing nonprofit organizations
• experience in and knowledg of public relations and marketing
• ability to mobilize groups of stakeholders to support the mission of The Nature of Words
• excellent interpersonal skills
• minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in arts, nonprofit management or related fields

Duties and Responsibilities
The Executive Director is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the organization. Duties include, but are not limited to, the supervision of administration and finance, events and programs, marketing and public relations, staff and contract management, Board relations and development, and long-range planning. This position is responsible for fund-raisisng and fund development to meet both the current and long-range goals of the organization.

Compensation
Full-time salary commensurate with experience.

For confidential consideration, please submit a resume in MS Word to karen.turner@expresspros.com.