Executive Director

Supervision Received and Exercised
Reports to the President of the Board of Directors and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Supervises the administrative team: Assistant Director, Office Coordinator, and Music Therapy Co-
Coordinators. May also supervise interns and volunteers.

Hours
Foundation Music School operates Monday through Friday to provide music education, music therapy,
and outreach. The Board of Directors approves an annual calendar of operations at the beginning of
each fiscal year.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Music School. The role provides
leadership and overall strategic planning, financial management, organizational development, staff
management, and program operations. Works in collaboration with the Board for consistent
achievement of established goals and objectives guided by the organization’s mission statement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Leadership

• Communicates effectively and transparently with the Board of Directors. Provides timely
information pertinent to Board and overall decision-making.
• Identifies/assesses/informs the Board of Directors of internal and external issues that affect
the organization.
• Acts as a trusted partner and advisor to the Board of Directors on all aspects of the
organization’s activities.
• Fosters effective teamwork between the board and the Executive Director and between the
Executive Director and staff.
• Represents the organization at community activities to enhance the organization’s
community profile.
• Fosters effective teamwork and collaboration across other service agencies within Northern
Colorado to enhance overall service delivery and coordination.
• Leverages existing professional networks and actively builds new contacts in the community
to further the mission.
• Projects a clear embodiment of organizational values and commitment at Foundation Music
School.

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Strategic Planning

• Collaborates with the board to identify and design a strategic plan that includes short-term
(annual) and long-term (5-year) goals and objectives.
• Implements and reports on the progress of the strategic plan.

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Development and Fundraising
• Engages a wide range of stakeholders
• Oversees and implements a fundraising strategy.
• Maintains direct involvement in development efforts and provides oversight to staff
engaged in development activities.
• Coordinates with the staff and the Board to identify and pursue new and sustaining
fundraising opportunities.
• Review and oversee the preparation and submission of grant applications and reports to
foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Collaborates with staff to develop and implement fundraising strategies and programs to
meet the revenue needs of the organization.
• Coordinates with staff and the Board to identify and pursue new and sustaining fundraising
opportunities.
• Responsible for the ultimate fundraising and grant development to meet the revenue needs
of the agency via private fundraising, grants, and endowment.

Finance
• Develops and maintains sound financial practices and controls.
• Works with the staff, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and the Board in preparing
annual and monthly statements which accurately reflect the financial condition of the
organization.
• Prepares a proposed annual budget and ensures that the organization operates within the
budget guidelines and in conjunction with the strategic plan.
• Operates FMS in a financially prudent and ethical manner to achieve specific revenue and
expenditure goals set forth in the annual budget approved by the Board.
• Tracks overall budget and individual program/grant budgets.
• Ensures specifically designated donations are used for that purpose.
• Provides monthly financial reports to the Board.

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Marketing, Publicity, Communications and Advocacy
• Acts as the “face” of Foundation Music School, serving as its advocate and spokesperson
within the Northern Colorado community.
• Designs and implements a comprehensive plan to collaborate with other Northern Colorado
service agencies in a way that enhances overall services in a cost-effective manner.
• Oversees the publicizing of the activities of Foundation Music School, its programs and
goals.
• Works closely with local, state, and federal public officials, representatives of community
and statewide associations and groups, and the media to increase awareness and
understanding of Foundation Music School’s programs.
• Manages the design and content for the Foundation Music School’s website.

Program Development and Implementation
• Support the development, design and delivery of program initiatives.
• Support the alignment of administrative components: scheduling, registration, evaluation,
new program development, and funding.
• Provides quality assurance by monitoring all programs.

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Administration, Management, and HR/Talent Management
• Using a collaborative approach instills a culture of mutual respect and trust throughout the
organization. Nurtures a welcoming workplace.
• Maintain a team-oriented climate that attracts, motivates, and retains diverse staff of highly
qualified, knowledgeable individuals.
• Ensures that programs and services offered by the organization contribute to the
organization’s mission and reflect its stated goals.
• Monitors and supports leadership staff in the day-to-day delivery of programs and services
of the organization to sustain and improve quality.
• Working with the organization’s leadership, responsible for hiring and contracting of all
personnel and attending to hiring documents.
• Ensures that sound human resource policies and practices are in place.
• Ensure that recruitment, training, employment, and personnel-related decisions are
accomplished in an efficient manner. Follows the human resource policies and practices as
well as compliance with state and federal laws.
• Ensure that the organization is effectively structured and staffed with competent people
whether they be paid or volunteer.
• Interview, hire, train, and mentor staff and volunteers, assign work and provide job
performances on a regular basis.
• Develops and maintains a comprehensive policies and procedures manual distributed to
staff.
• Supervises and evaluates all administrative and accounting staff.
• Oversees the planning/implementation/execution/evaluation of special projects.
• Establishes a positive healthy and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate
legislation and regulations.
• Fully embraces all principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, with
students and clients, and in the community. Has a passion for and continuously strives to lift
and advocate for marginalized groups.

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or
qualifications associated with the job. Duties, responsibilities, or qualifications may change at any time
with or without notice.
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Minimum Qualifications
• Five years of Executive Director or executive leadership experience with successful and proven
fundraising results.
• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit administration, business, finance, or other area related to the
provision of these services.

• Non-profit management experience and a successful track record leading people and
organizations and building relationships with key partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: ability to work collaboratively and create a team-oriented
environment.
• An ability to prioritize and manage a variety of often unrelated tasks; willingness to assume any
task as required. Regularly works with ambiguity and change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, if needed.
• Has an appreciation for the power of music to educate, develop, heal, and enrich people’s lives.
• Must attend HIPAA training.

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Desirable Qualifications
• Knowledge of laws and regulations affecting 501c3 nonprofit organizations.
• Knowledge of programs, services, and best practices to support clients.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide
range of stakeholders and cultures.
• Knowledge of local community and human services resources.

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To apply: Contact Michael Shover, President, Board of Directors at board@foundationmusicschool.org
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national
origin, sex, gender identity (as defined in paragraph 249(c)(4) of Title 18, United States Code, sexual
orientation, or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination under any program or employment

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Commensurate with experience; $55,000 - $75,000

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