Welcome to the
Literacy Initiative Website!
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, along
with many other community partners, embarked on
this initiative in 2008 to address our community’s
illiteracy problem. A regional Summit was held
to raise awareness and the Literacy Council of
West Alabama was born.
The Literacy Council was set up as a coordination
and support agency for all efforts already going
on in our area. The board (listed on this site)
and advisory group include representatives from
the business community, media, school districts,
institutes of higher education, community-based
organizations, as well as literacy providers.
Counties served in our region are: Tuscaloosa,
Hale, Lamar, Greene, Pickens, Fayette, Bibb and
Sumter.
A 2009 Action Plan has been outlined and is available
on this site.
LITERACY COUNCIL SEEKS NEW PRESIDENT
AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
POSITION: President
and Executive Director of the Literacy Council
of West Alabama
REPORTS TO: Board of Directors
JOB SUMMARY: The primary responsibility
of the President and Executive Director is to
manage and direct the operations, fund-raising,
planning, programming, and fiscal and budgeting
areas of The Literacy Council.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Administration and Operations
• Works with the Board of Directors to create
and administer plans, policies and procedures.
• Oversees day-to-day operations of the Council
with the highest business and ethical standards.
• Develops overall organization’s work plan, monitors
its progress and evaluates the results in relation
to the mission, goals and objectives.
• Ensures effective use of technology in accomplishing
the work plans.
Finance
• Develops and monitors annual and long-range
budgets.
• Reports financial information to Board, funders
and other appropriate constituencies.
• Is responsible for preparation and distribution
of organization’s annual report.
• Ensures organizational compliance with generally
accepted accounting principals, organization’s
fiscal policies, and other financial procedures
required by the Board or regulatory agencies.
• Ensures compliance with all contracts.
Human Resources
• Works with the Board to develop appropriate
personnel policies and procedures.
• Recruits, hires, trains, develops, directs,
evaluates and disciplines staff as appropriate
(including termination) in accordance with the
procedures.
• Develops and administers compensation and benefit
program for staff.
• Provides overall supervision of staff and volunteers.
• Ensures effective staff working relationships
with those within and outside the organization.
Community Relations
• Works with the Board to develop and implement
a strategic community relations plan to promote
literacy issues.
• Supervises the development of all community
relations materials.
• Participates in community activities and speaking
engagements to promote the mission of
the Council.
• Serves as chief spokesperson for the organization
and represents the organization with all constituencies
including governments, media and funders.
• Works with community and business leaders to
promote the Council as a link between community
resources and clients needing literacy services.
• Directs provider relations.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with other
literacy programs and agencies to identify best
practices.
Fund Development
• Sets goals with board.
• Develop an annual and comprehensive fund development
plan to ensure ongoing revenues and maintain fiscal
stability.
• Research, identify, cultivate, and solicit prospects.
• Manage corporate campaign.
• Manages development of all fundraising materials.
• Works with grant makers and contacts major private
and governmental funding sources at all levels.
• Implements and supervises all fundraising activities.
• Write grants and manage grants schedule.
• Manage fund-raising special events.
• Work with board to solicit gifts.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge
• Bachelor’s Degree (required) - Master’s degree
(preferred) in nonprofit, public or private administration,
or equivalent.
• Ability to acquire strong knowledge of the West
Alabama area business and civic community.
Experience
• At least three years management experience in
public or private administration.
• Experience in fundraising, grant proposals,
and special events.
• Experience in budget and financial management.
• Experience in program management.
Skills and Abilities
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and motivational
skills.
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.
• Effective computer skills (word processing,
database, spreadsheet).
• Demonstrated fundraising skills and success.
• Demonstrated ability in public relations to
establish community support.
• Demonstrated effective time management and organization
skills.
• Demonstrated ability in management of simultaneous
tasks or projects.
BENEFITS:
Competitive Salary.
Comprehensive, competitive, and affordable benefits
plan including: BC/BS health insurance, life,
dental, vision, retirement plan, personal time
off (PTO), vacation, and holidays,
APPLY:
To apply, mail cover letter, resume, written
questions and supporting information, including
one confidential reference, to Chamber of Commerce,
Literacy Council of West Alabama Executive Director
Search, P.O. Box 20410, Tuscaloosa, 35402.
WRITTEN QUESTIONS
1. Describe your vision for literacy awareness
and programming in West Alabama and explain the
role that you think the Literacy Council of West
Alabama should play in bringing about that vision.
2. What do you see as the funding sources for
the Literacy Council, what would be the challenges
in securing that funding and how would you overcome
those challenges?
3. Describe your fund-raising experience in relation
to fund-raising via individuals, corporations,
foundations, organizations, and the government
sector. What is the largest gift you have solicited?
What is your experience in developing fund-raising
plans or campaigns?
4. How would you increase awareness and understanding
for the vision for the Literacy Council of West
Alabama and work with other organizations to create
partnerships and programs?
5. What is your management style (with staff
and working with volunteers and a board of directors)
and what system do you use to accomplish tasks?
6. Describe your experience in working with elected
officials and provide one or more examples of
situations in which you successfully sold them
on your position.
7. What has been the most rewarding aspect of
your career to date?
8. What has been the most challenging aspect
of your career to date?
9. What qualifications, abilities, and strengths
will help you succeed in this job?
10. What are your career objectives?
BIG NEWS
Literacy Council Receives
Appropriation from Congress
Literacy Council of West Alabama chairman Johnnie
Aycock announced in July 2009 that the Council
has been awarded a $250,000 appropriation from
Congress, which should be received in 2010. The
Council plans to use the funds to hire staff and
create an office for the Council.
Kudos to LITE
The UA Alumni magazine recently included an article
about LITE (Literacy Is The Edge student organization).
It caught the attention of the Alabama Higher
Education Partnership, an association of 14 public
Alabama state universities. LITE leader, Dr. Bruce
Berger, was asked to present at HEPs Leadership
Conference in Sandestin in August to share the
LITE story and explain how other universities
in the state can start similar LITE campaigns
on campus . Audience included administrators from
universities and student leaders. It was a wonderful
platform for stimulating involvement on a much
larger scale across universities.
|