400+ scholarship-providing member organizations, awarding over $1 billion in scholarships annually

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1 Executive Director

2 400+ scholarship-providing member organizations, awarding over $1 billion in scholarships annually

3 Desired Experience and Attributes About the Executive Director Position The Executive Director (ED) reports to the 16-member Board of Directors, providing executive leadership to the organization and overseeing day-to-day operations. Ideal candidates will bring to the position a variety of attributes, knowledge, and skills, including: Excellent communication skills, and a respectful and collaborative approach to fostering relationships with scholarship providers and our board and staff A proven record of fundraising success with individual and corporate sponsors through unique partnerships as well as experience managing conferences A motivating, open-minded approach to leadership, with experience driving a dynamic organization to new levels of performance excellence by developing and implementing innovative ideas A strategic mindset, able to balance and prioritize among competing opportunities and to sense and avert potential risks Dependability, and an ability to work independently leading a small team Demonstrated professionalism and gravitas, displaying an optimistic, positive attitude, and able to engage in open and honest communications that treat employees, members, and partners with respect Ability to engage with colleagues as a team player and to provide support, encouragement, advice and understanding Ability to demonstrate thought leadership on education, non-profit, and scholarship provider related issues and trends Strong administrative operations experience, including sound fiscal management, board relations, and resource management

4 Job Description The Executive Director is responsible for the effective leadership, management, growth, and financial health of NSPA. This includes fiscal and operational oversight, fundraising and donor development, board support, brand management, leadership development, and implementation and evaluation of all mission-related activities. In relation to strategy, the Executive Director will: Guide the board in the development of a clear and compelling strategic plan for the growth of NSPA Cast a bold vision for NSPA and for the scholarship sector broadly Execute on the implementation and accomplishment of a new strategic plan In membership and advocacy, the Executive Director will: Grow NSPA regular and supporting membership in accordance with strategic organizational goals and develop strategies to increase membership retention including membership benefit revisions and additions Manage and oversee annual conference planning, budget, production and marketing as well as identify potential speakers and act as primary liaison with keynote speakers Offer high-quality and consistent customer service to NSPA members and potential members Position NSPA as a source for data, trends, policy direction, and overall advancement of the profession Establish advocacy topics and applicable research projects to support NSPA s advocacy efforts as well as manage and oversee projects In relations with staff, the Executive Director will: Develop, train, support, and empower an effective team, building strong morale and collaboration between staff members and volunteers through managerial courage and integrity Foster a climate which attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff of capable professionals Craft a vision that rallies staff support and inspires participation In development and marketing, the Executive Director will: Raise the profile of NSPA by serving as the primary spokesperson, actively and effectively representing the organization to partners, funders, scholarship providers, and the public Develop and execute a successful fund development strategy, working closely with the board to steward existing supporters and increase current levels of giving while identifying new funding sources, especially through building NSPA s corporate sponsor participation Continue the momentum of attracting new supporters and donors by identifying prospective partners, identifying giving potential, and raising funds to support NSPA s programs and capacity Explore opportunities to develop greater earned revenue for the organization through paid training and scholarship institute opportunities Identify and secure potential conference sponsors and grants to reach sponsorship and organizational goals as well as use external presence and relationships to garner new membership and resource development opportunities Initiate communications with other organizations, individuals, and the general public to help create awareness about NSPA, its mission, and member services, and cultivate relationships with other national peer organizations

5 In budget and finance, the Executive Director will: Ensure NSPA applies sound financial and administrative practice through effective fiscal management, managing expenses to deliver on the mission In conjunction with the Board of Directors, create members service opportunities to develop new revenuegenerating sources for the NSPA Annually assess the adequacy of membership dues and conference registration fees to cover the costs of NSPA as well as draft annual budgets in accordance with the strategic organizational goals Serve as the primary liaison with outside financial services providers In leadership and operations, the Executive Director will: Actively engage the NSPA Board members, committees, and members in the mission of NSPA Develop and implement annual organizational goals as outlined in the strategic plan Ensure effective systems to track progress and measure the success of organizational goals so they can be effectively communicated to the Board, funders, as well as other constituents and stakeholders Ensure records of the organization are maintained, state and federal registrations are filed, operational systems support the organization effectively The Executive Director will also: Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field to appropriately support and guide staff and board leaders, as well as to ensure appropriate communication with members Be a problem-solver and able to comfortably and adeptly manage challenges related to being a high-profile organization Have at least a Bachelor s degree and five years of managerial experience; nonprofit management & administration preferred but not required To achieve these goals, the Executive Director will work occasional weekends, evenings, and other non-business hours to participate in events, committee meetings, board retreats, and other NSPA functions. In addition, the Executive Director will travel from time to time to attend meetings, events, and conferences. Compensation NSPA will offer a strong salary that is competitive with industry standards and commensurate with experience. Benefits include NPSA paid health, dental, and vision benefits, as well as an IRA with 3% employer match, plus generous personal time off and holidays. Location The NSPA office is currently located in Boulder, Colorado; however, relocation may not be a pre-requisite. The organization is open to discussions related to work location for the Executive Director. Application Process To apply, please send letter of interest describing relevant experiences, resume, and three reference contacts to careers@scholarshipproviders.org by July 28, 2017.

6 About National Scholarship Providers Association National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) is a nonprofit, member association that advances the collective impact of scholarship providers and the scholarships they award. NSPA was established in 1999 by several leading scholarships providing organizations to facilitate the creation of effective scholarship practices, encourage professional development, and establish cooperative relationships among scholarship providers. NSPA s home offices are in Boulder, CO. NSPA is dedicated to supporting the needs of professionals administering scholarships in post-secondary institutions, private and community foundations, public charities, as well as corporate and government programs. NSPA s 400+ member organizations from the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas give over 350,000 scholarships amounting to over $1 billion each year. Along with the 850+ scholarship professionals in its membership network, NSPA works to develop standards for scholarship administration, conduct research to understand the depth and breadth of the scholarship industry, create professional resources for its members, encourage the development of scholarship programs, and advocate changes in policy. These programs assist students in paying for college, as well as improve college access and completion rates. The NSPA Annual Conference is the convergence of the scholarship industry bringing over 375 diverse scholarship funders together for three days of networking and learning. Governed by a board of 16 leaders in the scholarship realm, NSPA s staff of three professionals are committed to advancing the scholarship field and supporting NSPA members. The organization s revenues are driven largely by membership dues, the annual conference, and philanthropic grants from organizations like the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, and others. As NSPA prepares for its next phase of growth and impact, the board and staff look forward to building on years of success to expand its membership base, enhance its strategic partnerships, and continue to increase its impact across the scholarship and student financial aid sectors.