Full-Time Vice President of Global Literacy
Job Description
The Vice President of Global Literacy will lead the work of the Global Literacy Program, including Bookshare, the world’s largest online library of accessible books, the DIAGRAM Center, and our Born Accessible initiative. The VP reports to Benetech’s President, and acts as the primary visionary and thought leader in the fields of education, literacy, and accessible content. The person in this role is responsible for strategic planning, partner and funder development, and managing a small team of externally-facing resources to ensure that mission objectives are met.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Create and manage strategic partnerships that lead to enhanced impact and/or funding opportunities.
Raise funds to support development of new products and services as well as scaling existing products and services in the program, working in conjunction with development/fundraising, delivery, and executive team members.
Responsibilities, include donor outreach and stewardship, strategizing asks, implementing a funding forecast and review process, and committing to grant objectives that donors are excited to fund and will deliver great mission outcomes.
Work across the organization to ensure the cohesion of program-related activities by coordinating with complementary teams at Benetech, including Development, Marketing & Communications, Engineering, Operations, and Labs.
Take a leadership role in articulating and implementing the vision and mission of the Global Literacy Program, including representing Benetech and the Program to outside constituencies and the press, networking with policymakers, partners and community leaders, participating in sector events, and public speaking.
Manage all essential relationships with strategic partners either directly or through members of staff.
Travel as required to fulfill this role, up to approximately 50%.
Develop and share ideas for new products, product extensions, and business models within the team, working with product personnel to help define and provide input from current and potential users
Provide Benetech strategic leadership as a core member of the senior management team reporting to the President.
Manage a small team of outward-facing Program personnel who own a significant segment of partner relationships and/or run Program-specific, field focused initiatives
Ensure that all activities comply with Benetech’s goals and contract objectives, and are consistent with the Benetech Truths, the core cultural values that guide decision making.
Follow and assist Operations and other leadership in implementing processes to measure, learn from, and improve program effectiveness and impact, and maintain a strong user voice.
Advise the Benetech management team on key planning issues and make recommendations on important business decisions.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred
Must have either (a) strong literacy or education leadership experience with technology cred, or (b) strong tech leadership experience with literacy or education cred.
Direct experience in business development, business planning, product or service definition, including at least 10 years of progressive management experience with five in a senior product, business development, sales, or fundraising role
Solid working knowledge of project budgeting, sales, partnership and funding development, and strategic planning
Ability to work collaboratively with partners in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
Ability, comfort with and interest in traveling in the US and throughout the world, including some in lesser developed regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East,Significant experience or demonstrated interest in the nonprofit sector as a manager, volunteer and/or board member and a personal commitment to Benetech’s nonprofit goal of technology serving humanity
Strong understanding of Benetech’s mission to impact the lives of millions of under-served people throughout the world, and ability to serve as a passionate, effective advocate within the community
A record of significant accomplishment in building and managing effective programs in a start-up phase or environment, and a strong track record in program and/or enterprise management
Confidence, flexibility, and the ability to lead, and manage in a fast-paced, changing technology environment are essential
Interest in a wide range of Literacy issues – our partners work in varying spheres such as education (K-12) and higher education, accessibility, publishing, and assistive technology
Applicant should be interested in learning about the challenges that our users and partners face, and working collaboratively with them to determine how to best meet their goals
Ability to generate respect and trust from staff and external constituencies
Excellent judgment, strategic thinker, enthusiastic, and entrepreneurial
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and presentation skills.
Ability to work well within a multi-disciplinary team environment with high standards, integrity, and a sense of humor