Area Director - South Valley

SMART Reading, the state’s largest volunteer-based nonprofit literacy organization, is looking for an energetic, creative, and experienced fundraising professional to join our program and fundraising team covering Lane, Linn, Benton, Yamhill, Polk, and Lincoln counties. 

When you join SMART Reading, you join a team that is committed to the important work of helping children develop a lifelong love of reading. Your position will focus on the overall program management and fundraising in Lane, Linn, Benton, Yamhill, Polk, and Lincoln counties. 

The primary responsibilities of this position are fundraising, community relations, program oversight, program growth, staff supervision, and overall leadership of SMART Reading’s activities in the area.

The ideal candidate will be able to work independently, successfully work with diverse people in divergent contexts, possess excellent leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to take direction, be highly organized, pay attention to detail, and simultaneously manage several projects. 

If that’s you, here’s what we can offer:

• An important mission and purpose that affects the lives of kids throughout Oregon. SMART Reading engages volunteers to strengthen literacy skills and encourage a love of reading with preschool through eighth grade students by reading one-on-one with students and restoring gently used children’s books that will be given to kids
• A team of equally committed, passionate, and dedicated individuals.
• An opportunity to put your creativity and ideas to good use (We’ve got great systems but we’re always interested in improvement)
• A supportive and caring team
• An organizational culture that values team, plays to the strengths of its members, works to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, be an anti-racist force in the community, and is tirelessly devoted to serving “our kids” well
• A great compensation & benefits package!

Position Summary: is responsible for the overall management of the SMART Reading Program in our South Valley Area:

1. Work with Statewide Development Team members to implement an area development plan to achieve SMART Reading’s annual area fundraising goals
2. Develop and manage relationships and fundraising efforts through:
   1. local events and promotions
   2. corporate contributions and involvement
   3. individual giving through direct solicitation
   4.  major donor development, and legacy giving
   5. foundation grant writing
3. Support and supervise Program Manager(s) in implementing program related statewide initiatives
4. Plan and hold Book Bank book drives, book cleaning events and book distributions with guidance from Book Bank staff
5. Provide leadership to advance SMART Reading’s mission in the local community in alignment with statewide strategic plan, priorities, and initiatives
6. Create and maintain community relationships
7. Recruit and work with leadership-level volunteers (leadership council) to assist with fundraising, marketing, and other efforts
8. Work with SMART Communications Director to implement an area communications plan in accordance with statewide marketing campaigns and initiatives, including maintaining area Facebook page and media appearances
9. Direct operations of the Area Office
10. Create and manage local budget (expense and revenue)

Here are the “must have” requirements of our ideal candidate:

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Personal character which guides the ethical practice of all the work 
• Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills
• High degree of personal accountability
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Strong project/campaign management skills 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office and Google products
• Ability to train, lead and supervise staff and volunteers 
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in community engagement, including fundraising and volunteer management
• Live in one of the counties this position serves: Lane, Linn, Benton, Yamhill, Polk, and Lincoln counties. 

Bonus skills (preferred but not required):

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience 
• 3+ years of nonprofit experience
• Understanding of children’s literacy work
• Bilingual

Application Process: 

Please submit a resume and cover letter that tells us the following:

1. Specifically, state how you meet our description of an ideal candidate based on the requirements outlined above;
2. Your experience with and commitment to equity; 
3. List the bonus skills you do or do not have outlined above and what relevant experience you offer; and 
4. Your ability to supervise the Springfield office

Please apply at the following link: https://smart.hiringthing.com/job/826834/area-director

This position will remain open until filled. We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled but will place priority on applications received by the end of the day, September 15, 2024.

Selected applicants will be invited to move forward to both virtual and in-person interviews. For our finalist, we will ask for 3 professional references, preferably from previous employers. We will want to verify employment history. 

Selected candidate will be required to complete a background check after notifying the applicant of our intent to make a job offer. 

This position requires the selected candidate to live in one of the counties this position serves: Lane, Linn, Benton, Yamhill, Polk, and Lincoln counties. 

SMART’s Commitment to Equity: As an early literacy program focused on helping children succeed with reading and learning, SMART can’t ignore that deep racial, cultural, social, and economic inequities in our country and state make it harder for some children to succeed compared to others. SMART’s vision is an Oregon in which every child can read and is empowered to succeed, and we are making equity a top priority. As part of this, we particularly seek staff members, volunteers, and board members whose personal or professional background gives them a unique perspective to further SMART’s work in serving children of color and children from other marginalized groups.

Important Note: People of color, people living with disabilities, veterans, and individuals from marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

The position is currently vacant and we would like to have the selected candidate begin as soon as possible.

Depending on where the selected candidate is living the work schedule may be a hybrid schedule (working remotely and on site). 

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Salary: $58,000 to $62,000 annually, depending on experience
• Café Benefit: $100 monthly (additional $1,200 annually)
• Cell Phone Reimbursement: $50 monthly (additional $600 annually)
• 401k Retirement: Employer match of up to 3% of your salary
• Paid Time Off/Vacation: PTO is accumulated biweekly totaling four weeks annually
• Office Closures: Two paid weeks off – one in July and the second in December for employee rest and rejuvenation time (in addition to PTO) 
• Employer-paid Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and LTD premiums are 100% paid by SMART
• Paid Holidays: Nine paid holidays that can be used on scheduled holidays or as floating days used according to personal beliefs and obligations
• Paid Supplemental Medical Leave: Cumulated biweekly totaling two weeks annually and carried over to earn up to eight weeks of medical leave

A full benefit package outline will be provided if selected to interview.  

To learn more about SMART Reading, please visit www.smartreading.org