About this opportunity
ProSearch lists this Executive Director opportunity in portland, Maine. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
ProSearch is partnering with Educate Maine to identify its nextExecutive Director in Portland, Maine, a high-impact nonprofit leadership opportunity. We are seeking an accomplished executive with experience in education, workforce development, public policy, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and nonprofit management.
Educate Maine is a business-led education advocacy organization whose mission is to champion career readiness by increasing the educational attainment of Maine people, enabling all students to succeed in post-secondary education and in the workplace. As Executive Director, you will serve as the chief executive and strategic leader of the organization, advancing education advocacy, workforce development initiatives, public policy priorities, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, nonprofit operations, board relations, organizational leadership, and program management across the state.
This highly visible executive leadership role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of education, workforce development, economic development, public policy, and community impact. You will collaborate with business, education, government, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders throughout Maine to strengthen the education-to-workforce pipeline and help create greater opportunities for students, workers, and employers.
WHY THIS ROLE STANDS
This is an opportunity to lead meaningful change across Maine's education and workforce landscape. You'll have the opportunity to:
Lead a respected statewide education advocacy and workforce development organization
Advance initiatives that strengthen career readiness, workforce readiness, and educational attainment across Maine
Influence education policy and workforce development strategies that impact students, educators, workers, and employers
Build partnerships across education, business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors
Help address Maine's workforce challenges through innovative collaboration and strategic leadership
Guide a mission-driven organization with a strong reputation, engaged Board of Directors, and dedicated staff
Shape long-term organizational strategy while remaining closely connected to programs and community impact
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Leadership & Organizational Management
Serve as the chief executive and strategic leader of Educate Maine
Provide overall leadership and direction for organizational strategy, nonprofit management, operations, and growth
Partner with the Board of Directors to establish priorities, strategic goals, and annual workplans
Lead, mentor, and support a high-performing team while fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture
Oversee organizational systems, policies, technology, human resources, compliance, and operational effectiveness
Manage organizational budgeting, financial planning, reporting, and fiscal stewardship
Lead fundraising efforts and revenue development strategies across corporate, educational, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors
Cultivate and maintain strong donor, sponsor, and funder relationships
Identify and secure new funding opportunities that support organizational growth and impact
Partner with staff and board members on fundraising strategy, grant development, donor stewardship, and resource development
Ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization
Advocacy, Public Policy & External Relations
Serve as a leading voice on education, workforce development, career readiness, and public policy issues affecting Maine
Build relationships with elected officials, policymakers, business leaders, educators, funders, and community stakeholders
Advance policy priorities aligned with Educate Maine's mission and strategic plan
Represent the organization at statewide meetings, conferences, public events, and leadership forums
Communicate effectively with diverse audiences through public speaking, presentations, written communications, and media engagement
Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
Build and strengthen partnerships with employers, educational institutions, community organizations, government agencies, and coalitions
Convene stakeholders to address education and workforce development challenges through collaboration and innovation
Expand Educate Maine's visibility, influence, and statewide impact
Advance initiatives that strengthen connections between education, postsecondary attainment, workforce development, and employment opportunities
Program Leadership & Organizational Impact
Collaborate with staff to support successful program management, implementation, and execution
Establish measurable goals, performance indicators, and organizational priorities
Utilize data, research, and stakeholder feedback to inform decision-making and evaluate impactEnsure programs align with organizational goals and deliver meaningful outcomes for Maine students, educators, workers,and employers
Board Relations & Governance
Support the Board of Directors and board committees in fulfilling governance responsibilities
Partner with board leadership on strategic planning, board development, recruitment, engagement, and retention
Maintain transparent communication and strong working relationships with board members
Ensure effective governance practices that support organizational accountability and long-term success
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
You are a collaborative and strategic leader who is equally comfortable engaging with educators, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, business executives, employers, funders, and community stakeholders. You bring:
Significant leadership experience within a nonprofit, education, workforce development, advocacy, public policy, government, economic development, or related organization
A passion for career readiness, workforce development, educational attainment, and economic opportunity
Strong expertise in organizational leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development
Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and public speaking skills
Experience leading organizational strategy and managing complex initiatives
Financial management, budgeting, and operational leadership experience
The ability to balance visionary leadership with hands-on execution
A demonstrated commitment to expanding opportunity and improving outcomes forMaine people
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree required
Advanced degree in Education, Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Workforce Development, Communications, or a related field preferred
Significant executive leadership, nonprofit leadership, organizational leadership, or management experience
Experience managing teams, budgets, operations, and strategic initiatives.
Experience working with Boards of Directors and governance structures
Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building experience
Knowledge of Maine's education, workforce development, economic development, nonprofit, or public policy landscape preferred
Demonstrated success balancing strategy, advocacy, relationship management, and operational leadership
THE KIND OF LEADER WHO THRIVES HERE
At Educate Maine, mission and leadership go hand in hand.
Successful candidates are:
Mission-Driven – Passionate about improving educational attainment, career readiness, and workforce outcomes
Collaborative – Skilled at bringing diverse stakeholders together around common goals.
Strategic – Able to balance long-term vision with practical execution
Relationship-Oriented – Builds trust across education, business, government, and nonprofit communities
Adaptive – Comfortable navigating change, complexity, and evolving priorities
Results-Focused – Motivated by measurable impact and continuous improvement
WHY APPLY
Join a respected statewide organization dedicated to strengthening education, workforce development, and economic opportunity throughout Maine.
This opportunity offers:
The chance to lead one of Maine's most influential education and workforce development organizations
Meaningful statewide impact on students, workers, educators, and employers
Strong partnerships across education, business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors
An engaged and supportive Board of Directors
Opportunities to influence public policy, educational attainment, workforce development, and career readiness initiatives
A collaborative and mission-driven team environment
Competitive compensation and benefits, including health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and professional development opportunities
The opportunity to shape the future of education and workforce development in Maine
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this position is $140-145k.
The salary range for this role reflects the minimum and maximum compensation for the role. Offers are typically made between the range minimum and the range midpoint. Actual compensation will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process. Compensation may also vary based on where a role is performed.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Worksite address
portland, ME, 04122, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.