POSITION SPECIFICATION
Executive Director
Education Foundation
National Geographic Society (NGS)
The Situation
Established in 1988, the National Geographic Society Education Foundation, assets about $100 million, supports initiatives that increase and expand geographic knowledge among students, educators, and families. The Foundation provides funding and advisory support for programs that expand world literacy, generates innovative uses of technology to enhance student learning, and prepares a new generation as stewards for the earth's resources.
Attractions
NGS is the world's largest scientific, educational not-for-profit organization in the world. The Education Foundation has the potential to be one of the most visible of NGS's Mission Programs. This is an opportunity to shape a new program.
Critical Issues
Since 1988, the Education Foundation has supported a nationwide
restoration of geography in
The challenge before the Foundation and its new Executive Director is
how best to capitalize on this program and accelerate achievement in geography education.
The Position
Reports To: Executive Vice President, Mission Programs, in parallel
with Committee on Research and Exploration, Expeditions Council, Sustainable Seas Project,
Development (Fund-Raising) Office, the National Geographic Bee, International Geography
Olympiad, Explorers Hall, and Lectures, Public Programs, and Geography Education Outreach
Programs.
Major
Responsibilities:
Award
grants to enhance the geographic literacy of
Increase
the public and media visibility of the Society as an educational and scientific
organization. Collaborate with other divisions of the Society to advance the education
goals of the Society as defined by the Board of Governors of the NGS Education Foundation.
Promote partnerships with other entities for purposes that are compatible and mutually
beneficial.
Devise
requests for proposals (RFPs) or conduct direct negotiations with potential grantees.
Conduct review of grant applications and evaluate project results.
Cultivate
and maintain relationships with organizations and groups engaged in compatible activities.
Design mutually beneficial projects.
Serve
as spokesperson for the Foundation before public and professional groups and media.
The
new Executive directorBworking
with NGS senior management and the Foundation BoardBmust
design and execute a new education strategy that will carry the organization into the new
century. Such a strategy should:
Strengthen
NGS's
leadership role in geography education;
Raise
NGS's
public profile, and;
Broaden
NGS's
relationships with key audiences/constituencies.
Manage
a staff of 15.
Qualifications
The
Ideal Person Should Have:
Knowledge
of educational policy and trends.
Development
experience.
Excellent
communication skills.
An
instinct for promotion of education. How
do we get visibility with teachers and the general public for what we are doing?
Experience
with outreach, building new relationships and alliances.
Some recent new relationships are Girl Scouts of America,
An
understanding of public affairs. How
do we get our ideas out? Make NGS the place to come when people are looking
for information about the planet.
The
Ideal Person Should Be:
An
energetic self-starter able to work confidently and successfully in a fast-paced, business
oriented, multi-faceted organization.
Entrepreneurial. How
can we get a competitive advantage?
Willing
to look at some new ideas, and use the Foundation's
venture capital to take some risks. Foundation
could be hit with a dozen ideas that it would want to invest in.
An
advocate for expanding geographic knowledge among students.
Please
address and inquiries or questions to Bob Sellery or Katie Wilson, Robert Sellery
Associates, Ltd.,
All inquiries
will be kept in strict confidence.
R
OBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
