Executive Director - VOICES for Alabama's Children
VOICES for Alabama’s Children seeks an influential, inspirational and experienced Executive
Director to provide strategic direction, focus and long-term vision for this statewide organization
that ensures the well-being of Alabama’s children through research, public awareness and
advocacy.
The Organization
For more than 30 years, VOICES has worked to ensure the well-being of Alabama’s children
through research, public awareness, and advocacy. Our vision is for all Alabama children to be
safe, healthy, educated, and economically secure in order to reach their potential. We must
ensure that every child is prepared from birth for school and life. VOICES has a long history of
advocacy as a non-partisan voice for Alabama’s children at the both the State and local levels.
VOICES focuses on policy, not politics, while working to improve children’s well-being statewide.
Alabama Kids Count Data Book, VOICES’ annual data research project is the most trusted and
comprehensive source of research on child well-being for each of Alabama’s 67 counties. It is
used to raise awareness of children’s issues, highlight areas of need, prioritize child well-being,
and inform decision-making at the state and local levels.
The Position
The Executive Director works in partnership with the Board to ensure the organization fulfills its
mission and creates a strategic future for success. The Executive Director is the lead
communicator and advocate for children, as well as the chief fundraiser and relationship manager
for the organization. The Executive Director initiates and nutures relationships with community
stakeholders, volunteers, legislators, funders, Board, and staff. The Executive Director will not be
required to live or work on a full-time basis in Montgomery, Alabama, but must be able to travel
to Montgomery, Alabama on a regular basis to oversee and support the organization’s mission.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide leadership to the
organization and manage its day-to-day affairs. Primary responsibilities include:
• Thoroughly understanding the organization’s history, values, mission, programs, finances,
fundraising and structure
• Working with Board and staff to ensure that the mission is fulfilled through programs,
strategic planning, communication/marketing, and community outreach
• Developing sufficient resources to ensure the financial health of the organization
• Building and strengthening diverse fundraising sources, including foundations,
corporations, individual donors, and special events
• Serving as the primary spokesperson to the organization’s constituents, the Alabama
Legislature, media and the public
• Positioning VOICES as the “go to” source for data/research to funders and state agencies
• Developing and maintaining relationships, partnerships and/or coalitions with various
organizations and individuals throughout the state
• Assuming a leadership role on state, regional and national coalitions
• Fiscal management, administrative oversight, and staff supervision.
Experience and Attributes
The ideal candidate for this position must have a passion for our mission and strong
communications, policy, and management skills. S/he must excel at balancing internal
management with external impact and visibility, and must ensure that the organization is fiscally
and programmatically sound. S/he will bring a variety of experience and attributes to VOICES,
including the following highly desirable professional and personal traits:
• Five+ years’ senior level organizational leadership and management experience desired,
including effective management of staff and experience working with a Board of Directors
• Exceptional skill in persuasive communications (verbal and written) and an ability to
educate, persuade and motivate a variety of audiences, including media, partners,
stakeholders, donors and legislators
• Demonstrated experience and success in bi-partisan/non-partisan advocacy for policies
which improve the lives of children
• Knowledge of and experience with public policy issues, state government, and the
legislative process. Ideally candidate would have experience in Alabama
• Ability to help formulate new and imaginative strategies for achieving important public
policy reforms
• A proven track record of leading fundraising efforts, including raising funds from
foundations and corporations
• Experience overseeing successful grant administration programs, including grant writing
and management of grant budgets
• Proven capacity to work in collaboration with and negotiate complex relationships with
multi-partner organization
• Experience fostering creativity in the workplace and understanding different types of work
styles and/or communication styles
• Experience supporting the Board in its governance role, fostering its ongoing
development, engaging its members in strategy and resource development, and
maintiaing communications
• BS/BA degree required, Master’s degree preferred.
This is considered a full-time salaried position. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Application Process
To apply, e-mail a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to the Search Committee at:
VOICES for Alabama’s Children is an equal opportunity employer.