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Interested in joining Circle Program's team? See below for current openings or contact us for more information about our opportunities.

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Position Announcement

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Circle Program

Plymouth, New Hampshire

Overview

In 2021, Circle Program entered its twenty-eighth year of  providing engaging summer camp experiences and long-term mentoring for rural northern New Hampshire girls.  During this nearly three decade history, we have served more than 590 participants who have benefited from the dedicated mentoring relationships of more than 44h2 adult women mentors. We now seek an experienced executive director to build upon these accomplishments, direct the implementation of our new strategic plan, and to lead the organization into the next stage of our organizational development.

About Circle Program

 Circle Program was founded in 1993 by the trustees and director of Camp Onaway, a camp for girls on Newfound Lake in Hebron, New Hampshire. The Onaway trustees wanted to create a summer camp program for disadvantaged New Hampshire girls, but recognized the fact that just a few weeks at camp might not be enough to make a sustainable difference in the lives of the girls. They modeled Circle Program after the Mayhew Program for boys and combined residential summer camp with year-round, one-on-one mentoring.

Initially, Circle began as a "pilot program" with twenty-two girls. Currently, 64 participants from seventeen towns throughout the Capital Region, the Lakes Region, and the foothills of the White Mountains are enrolled and paired with 51 volunteer mentors. Circle Program is the only program of its kind serving girls in New Hampshire. It is also one of the only programs in the country combining summer camp and mentoring and serving rural participants.

In the early years, Circle Program borrowed space from Onaway and other local camps when they were not in session. Initially, Circle Program offered girls (ages 9-11) a two-year Core Program of residential summer camp and year-round mentoring. As Circle began to grow in depth of service and retain more participants who were enjoying the relationships they had formed, Circle evolved from the original two-year program into a program which supports participants until they graduate from high school. Potentially, each participant we enroll may participate for up to eight years including the two-year Core Program, the Teen Program, and TAP (high school Teen Adventure Program). Circle now owns its own residential summer camp on Spectacle Pond in Groton.

About Plymouth and the Lakes Region

According to the US Institute for Economics and Peace, New Hampshire ranks #3 in “Safest States to Live”, behind only Maine and Vermont. If you're looking for a comfortable, cozy place to settle down, New Hampshire is your best bet. 

Circle Program is near the Lakes Region and the foothills of the White Mountains. The area is well known for its beautiful nature, rich history, and wide range of activities.  If you love the outdoors and connecting with nature; opportunities for hiking, kayaking, skiing, fishing and snowmobiling are all in abundance. The office is conveniently located in downtown Plymouth just steps away from Plymouth State University, excellent public and private schools, The Flying Monkey theater, restaurants, banks, and a variety of small retail shops.  Looking for a change of pace: Boston, Montreal and the coasts of both Maine and New Hampshire are just a short drive away.   Come be a part of our vibrant community!

Strategic Directions

The essence of our organization’s beliefs and values are captured in our Vision:  Self-reliant young women confidently engaged in their community and living to their full potential.  Circle Program’s strategic goals are:

•   We will have a sustainable mentor program that reflects great communication, equitable and valuable experience for participants and volunteers, and best practices. 

•   Increase our non-grant-driven revenue.

•   Identify, build, and sustain relationships with the local community, communities we serve, major donors, and other key stakeholders.

•   Build, cultivate, & maintain a staffing structure that is responsive to program and operational needs, has clearly defined roles, and promotes organizational stability.

Basic Function

The Executive Director is directly responsible for the overall management of the organization including organizational leadership, budgeting, financial planning and asset management, grant compliance, fund development, fiscal management, program oversight, and building & ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace culture.  The Executive Director reports to and works in partnership with the Board of Directors and supports, guides, and supervises the staff.

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Responsibilities

Leadership & Management:

•   Ensure ongoing service and programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance and administration, development and relationship-building, communications, and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the strategic plan goals.

•   Actively engage and energize staff, Board members, volunteers (including mentors), partnering organizations, and funders in furthering the work of the organization and its strategic plan.

•   Lead, coach, develop, support, and regularly evaluate Circle Program’s high-performance staff team. Ensure effective systems are in place and in alignment with successful implementation of the strategic plan.

•   In collaboration with the Executive and Governance Committees, develop, maintain, and support a strong and engaged Board of Directors: serve as ex-officio member of assigned committees, seek and build board involvement with strategic plan implementation, relationship-building, and development.

•   In partnership with the Board of Directors, ensure that Circle Program has an inclusive and equitable culture throughout the organization.

•   Participate in an annual 360 review of own performance and ensure that the Board conducts its own annual self-evaluation.

Communications, Outreach, & Fund Development:

•   Expand relationship-building, grant-writing, and fund development activities to ensure successful implementation of the strategic plan goals.

•   Actively engage in cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting donors as determined in the annual fund development plan.

•   Use external presence and relationships to garner new opportunities for furthering the strategic plan.

•   Actively engage with other youth development organizations throughout the state, as a key organizational representative.

•   Engage and educate elected officials at the local and state levels, as to the importance ofCircle Program’s mission and its impact on their constituents.

•   Serve as the primary voice for the organization’s messaging.

Candidate Profile

Required

•Minimum of five years successful experience as nonprofit Executive Director/CEO, with a track record of producing results by building dynamic staff and Board teams, efficient and effective systems, fund development, donor relations, and organizational capacity.

•Solid, hands-on fiscal management skills including budget preparation, analysis, decision-making and reporting.

•Demonstrated successful experience building and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, Board members and other volunteers, funders, elected officials, donors, and partner organizations.

•Effective communication skills - written and verbal; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.

•Strong working knowledge of and successful experience working in partnership with Boards of Directors to strengthen governance practices and focus on the mission.

•Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation. Participatory style of management; ability to facilitate effective group decision-making processes.

•Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business oversight and planning.

•Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.

•Visionary thinker.

•Leads with integrity, transparency, and good humor.

•Bachelor’s degree.

Desirable

•History of having led organizational growth, facilitating higher levels of mission achievement.

•Experience working with and advocating for young people.

•Advanced degree.

•Interest in and experience with nature education, outdoor recreational programs, mentoring models.

Compensation

This is a full-time mostly on-site position, with a flexible work schedule given the programs and services offered, including some evenings and weekends.  Compensation package is negotiable and will include a competitive salary and benefits as well as professional development opportunities.

Application Process

Applicants should send their resume and cover letter describing their qualifications and interest in this position, as well as salary history, and five references (include a brief description about your relationship to each of these references), to search@circleprogram.org

Please put “ATTN: Search Committee” in the subject line.  Deadline for applications is August 13, 2021.  The Search Committee will keep all applications confidential.

Circle Program is an equal opportunity employer.