Job Title: Executive Director

Position Type: Exempt

Reports to: Board of Directors Hours: 20

Salary: $26,000

Location: Tucson, AZ

Position Description

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will provide overall strategic and operational responsibility for the Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome (SANDS). This position will partner with the Board to make an effective and viable organization, implementing Board policies to attain SANDS’s goals. The position will oversee all SANDS programs with the assistance of a Program Coordinator, and work with the Board to promote SANDS growth through awareness, fundraising, public relations, and outreach.

This position is located at our office in Tucson, Arizona, and will be primarily performed by telework. Night and weekend in-person work will be required. Some state and regional travel is expected.  Any hours worked beyond 20 hours per week must be pre-approved by the Board of Directors.

Position Duties

Leadership & Management

• Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence, program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, and communications; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the strategic goals.

• Actively engage and energize SANDS volunteers, board members, event committees, partnering organizations, and funders.

• Supervise and support staff on day-to-day operations and alignment to SANDS’s mission and purpose.

• Oversee team members with disabilities and implement accommodations necessary to support their success.

Public Relations

• Cultivate fresh connections and sustain existing relationships with community partners to broaden our range of opportunities.

• Oversee social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, etc.) to promote SANDS events, programs, and volunteer opportunities.

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for SANDS, its Mission and Values, and represent SANDS on outside committees that may benefit SANDS and provide additional exposure.

• Advocate on behalf of the SANDS and its constituents by engaging with legislators, community leaders, and business executives. Collaborate with other disability organizations to amplify our advocacy endeavors.

Board Relations

• Regularly attend monthly board meetings.

• Partner with board president and committee chairs to ensure alignment to SANDS’s mission and values.

• Ensure board members are provided current communication via board meetings and email.

• Communicate ongoing activities, opportunities, and progress on a regular basis.

• Escalate issues, concerns, and questions to board members as necessary.

Fundraising & Communications

• Expand local fundraising activities to support existing program operations and future program opportunities.

• Actively seek and apply for grant opportunities.

• Broaden revenue streams to maintain a sustainable and diverse funding base.

• Oversee all aspects of communication (web presence, newsletter, letters, and other mailings) with the goal of creating a stronger brand.

Family Support

• Establish and sustain connections with families, parents, communities, and individuals with Down syndrome. Provide essential support and facilitate access to resources as necessary.

• Oversee and assist with SANDS Walk for Down Syndrome, and other key programs/fundraising events.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience.

• Experience with individuals with disabilities is required. Preferred: experience working with individuals with Down syndrome.

• Organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage, set and achieve strategic objectives, and work within an annual budget and program budget.

• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.

• Computer literate to include Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Internet browsers. Experience with donor management software preferred.

• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people as well as independently.

• Preferred: people would use some of the following words to describe you: passionate, idealistic, high-integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, self-directed.

Benefits

This position offers 90 hours of paid time off, 30 hours sick leave, 10 paid holidays, and an automobile allowance.

Summary

The duties listed above are not all-inclusive and subject to change. The Executive Director must be flexible to meet the needs of the SANDS board, families, and the community it serves and supports.

Please submit a resume and brief statement of interest to ------------ to be considered.