Executive Director, NYC Literary Organization

HOUSE OF SPEAKEASY

   

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

New York, NY

 

BACKGROUND

Founded in 2013, House of SpeakEasy is dedicated to ensuring
that the power of the written word is accessible to everyone. House
of SpeakEasy nurtures the relationship between readers and writers
and inspires the authors and
audiences of tomorrow through its programs on stage, in schools,
and in communities.

We believe access to books and the power of storytelling should
not be a privilege and that freedom of expression should be
available to all. Thus, we address the challenge of book access in
New York City and beyond by offering programs, events, and books to
audiences across demographic, reading engagement, and aptitude
groups. House of SpeakEasy has three distinct educational programs
that forge connections between writers and readers, students and
educators, and communities that are underserved by traditional
literary culture.

• SpeakTogether pairs published writers
  with students and teachers in public schools throughout New York
  City, at community centers, including Union Settlement
  Association’s highly regarded College Readiness Program, and in a
  partnership program with the New York Public Library.

• The House of SpeakEasy
  Bookmobile delivers free, new books, as well as their
  authors, to neighborhoods where few or no bookstores exist. Roughly
  a third of the Bookmobile’s outings are to NYCHA locations.

• The Creative Arts Toolkits library consists of
  45 author videos, each accompanied by robust, peer-reviewed lesson
  plans for use in schools nationwide. Each toolkit includes craft
  lessons, project-based activities, and an anti-racist pedagogy, all
  of which is thoughtfully and sensitively created to provide
  teachers and students with ways to explore and understand life’s
  complexities through literature.

In addition to educational programs, House of SpeakEasy’s
Seriously Entertaining  is an acclaimed
series of literary cabarets where authors take the stage at Joe’s
Pub at the Public Theater to riff and ruminate informally,
dinner-theater-style, on the evening’s theme. Since its debut,
House of SpeakEasy has been proud to present over 350 performances
featuring a range of diverse authors and performers, from Pulitzer
Prize-winning journalists to acclaimed novelists and poets, as well
as comedians, musicians, and emerging writers. Throughout all its
programming, House of SpeakEasy ensures that writers are paid for
their work.

 For more information about House of SpeakEasy, visit
http://www.houseofspeakeasy.org

 

POSITION

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director
serves as the chief professional officer of the organization and is
tasked with ensuring House of SpeakEasy continues its mission to
deliver powerful and innovative ways to bring authors and readers
together.  

 The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring
the organization is positioned to succeed by examining and
augmenting its infrastructure, program operations, finances, and
strategic planning.  Fundraising will be a vital component of
the Executive Director’s responsibility.  The Executive
Director will be tasked with developing and implementing a
successful and diversified fundraising program that includes
individual donors, giving from foundations, corporate sponsorships,
government grants, special events, and online/social media.

The ability to motivate and lead Board, staff and stakeholders
toward the organization’s goals and vision will be integral to the
Executive Director’s success. S/he/they are expected to be a leader
and resource to the Board and staff in addressing organizational
opportunities and challenges. The organization celebrated its
10-year anniversary in 2023; the Executive Director will guide the
organization into its next decade, working with the Board to
develop a strategic plan. Expertise in organizational planning,
communications, operations, and management, as well as a strong
entrepreneurial vision, will be important to the success of this
individual. The Executive Director must have the ability to inspire
and mobilize others towards excellence.

Based in New York City, the Executive Director will serve as a
key spokesperson where engagement with schools, city agencies, and
funders will be expected. House of SpeakEasy’s work is inherently
collaborative in nature, hence the Executive Director must be
diplomatic yet self-assured in working with external partners.

 

WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE

• The creation and execution of a vision for the next chapter of
  House of SpeakEasy, building on its recent achievements and taking
  the organization in bold new directions.
• Increased and broadening of earned and contributed funding
  streams.
• Innovation in tapping into new and existing communities.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRAM:

• Serve as the public face/representative of House of SpeakEasy
  with donors, sponsors, organizations, stakeholders, and potential
  new partners.
• Work closely with the Board to manage and provide oversight to
  the program portfolio, including quality assurance and strategic
  direction.
• Provide quality assurance so that the programmatic portfolio is
  designed with a deep understanding of the communities served and
  aligns with House of SpeakEasy’s mission and long-range plans.
• Work with community partners to ensure the highest quality
  program support.
• Support the advancement of the mission by nurturing existing
  relationships and establishing and developing new partnerships to
  enhance the role of House of SpeakEasy in its work.

FUNDRAISING

• Establish goals and create and implement strategic plans for
  all fundraising activities, including major gifts, foundation
  support, government grants, corporate sponsorships, special events,
  and online and social media giving.
• Build and grow a fundraising program that draws financial
  support from a variety of sources to ensure that House of SpeakEasy
  can rely upon diverse public and private funding streams.
• Ensure that internal systems are in place for effective donor
  acquisition and donor stewardship programs.
• Assure that existing and new development initiatives,
  campaigns, events, and outreach programs engage existing donors,
  attract new donors, and encourage current donors into higher levels
  of support.

VISION AND MISSION

• Ensure that House of SpeakEasy’s core mission is reflected in
  all its programs.
• Develop goals, strategies, and tactics alongside short and
  long-term plans.
• Oversee the organization’s accountability to its goals and
  stakeholders.

ADMINISTRATIVE/OPERATIONAL:

• Build, lead, and retain an effective and diverse staff team
  dedicated to the mission and with the requisite skills to be
  successful in their work.
• Establish effective decision-making at all levels to ensure
  that voices are heard and that short- and long-term goals are
  met.
• Oversee the financial management of the organization, including
  the preparation of reports, records and other documentation as
  requested by the Board that present the progress and status of
  House of SpeakEasy’s plan and activities.
• Execute effective fiscal policies and procedures and operate
  House of SpeakEasy in a transparent and financially responsible
  fashion, including timely budgeting, financial reporting, audits,
  and compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws
  and regulations.
• Ensure the effective use of House of SpeakEasy’s financial
  resources.
• Ensure that internal systems are in place to capture data
  regarding program outcomes and effectiveness and develop and make
  program recommendations to the Board.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Ensure effective systems for program evaluation and regularly
  evaluate the program portfolio, ever mindful of the need to adapt
  to the needs of communities served.
• Bring a spirit of innovation to the program work with an eye
  toward piloting new ideas that could be incorporated into or will
  maximize existing work.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 8 years progressive senior-level management and
  organizational leadership experience.
• Prior experience in a literary or educational environment
  preferred, but not required.
• A proven record of strong interpersonal and management
  experiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of and successful professional
  experience in all areas of fundraising, planning, implementation,
  and financial resource development.
• Experience working with Board, Stakeholders, and Consultants to
  develop and execute a successful strategic plan.
• Exceptional leadership, supervisory, and team-building
  skills.
• A proven track record and the willingness and desire to be
  personally involved in the cultivation and solicitation of major
  donors.
• Proven effectiveness in serving as a spokesperson and
  representative with institutional funders, individual donors,
  community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with and working within a
  wide range of communities, audiences, and stakeholders and a
  commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, and verbal communication and
  presentation skills.
• Outstanding organizational skills, with the ability to complete
  projects in a timely manner and to manage multiple priorities.
• An undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or
  university.

 

COMPENSATION

Salary range $110k-$130K plus employer-paid health
insurance,  paid time off and holiday time, and hybrid work
location.

 

House of SpeakEasy is an equal opportunity employer. It is
committed to ensuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not
discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, ancestry,
race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, sexual
orientation, age, gender identity, or expression.

 

For more information, to refer a candidate, or to apply
in confidence, please contact:  

David Hinsley Cheng, Managing Partner

Jennifer Thorne, Search Consultant

DHC Search

info@DHCSearch.com

www.DHCSearch.com

(203) 307-0120