Most nonprofit enterprises are organized similarly to regular for-profit companies. As reflected in these samples, requirements for CFOs tend to be broad. Being familiar with job titles is important both during a job search and while building your career. The board of directors is the governing arm of a nonprofit organization or a company. The job description is your primary vehicle for announcing the open position to external and internal audiences, and is a valuable tool for finding candidates best-suited to your organization's needs. We have removed all information that would identify the hiring organization. Whatever job description you use, test to see However, there are other jobs that are unique to the nonprofit sector, but which can generally be categorized into the existing typical corporate divisions. Our job descriptions contain the most common job duties list for each position. Or Many nonprofits are concerned with the physical and mental welfare of their clients and need employees with a variety of skills in specialized areas like abuse, addiction, and life counseling for adults and youth. Directors are required to perform their duties in good faith, with ordinary care, and in the best interest of the nonprofit. Each sample job description is intended to be a jumping off point, and likely will need to be tailored to meet the particular needs of your organization. In a standard corporate job chart, all these positions would fall under the marketing/public relations category. Feel free to use and tailor these descriptions for your needs. Here are 3 sample Executive Director job descriptions that will show you the components of a good job description and what they mean for your nonprofit or job search. An executive assistant employed by a nonprofit must have a strong passion for the work that is accomplished within the organization as well as a working knowledge of the daily operations of the management and leadership. In this Director of Development, Large Organization description the director has a team in addition to a full array of development responsibilities, as compared to the development manager in the smaller organization, noted above, where the majority of the work is done by the individual manager. However, every organization needs to determine which requirements it absolutely must have and which requirements would be nice to have. Board Committee Job Descriptions It goes without saying that there is no one-size-fits-all committee list for boards, or what the responsibilities or activities should be for each committee. For example, PayScale data shows that marketing managers at nonprofits earn 17.8% less than those at for-profit employers., On the other hand, a Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that some nonprofit workers—service workers in particular—enjoy a pay premium for working at nonprofits.. For example, the outreach coordinator in a nonprofit promotes the mission of the organization among the local community. Because nonprofit work can be found in various broadly defined fields, there are many nonprofit job titles. Here Is a Comprehensive List of Healthcare and Medical Job Titles, Best Social Media Career Options to Consider, Education-Related Job Titles and Required Skills, Retail Careers: Options, Job Titles, and Descriptions, List of Technical Skills for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews. According to BoardSource, an organization that provides services to nonprofit boards, board officer titles are most often president or chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer. I've taken my job description as executive director of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services - one of the Board Cafe's co-publishers - and made it a bit more "generic" to serve as a template. Ordinary care may differ from director to director based on their background and experience and the role they pl… U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. PayScale. 15. Nonprofit CFO responsibilities include overseeing cash flow planning, preparing and reviewing budgets and tracking operational metrics (KPIs.) Simple Job Descriptions for Board Officers. At some smaller nonprofits, the senior program manager focuses solely on program management and does not have fundraising responsibilities. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available in our Terms and Conditions. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the organization. But don't assume the best person for the job will necessarily be a "data wonk"―someone who can execute complex analyses that reveal powerful insights about an organization's programs. Each sample job description is intended to be a jumping off point, and likely will need to be tailored to meet the particular needs of your organization. Good faith is shown by honesty and faithfulness to duties and obligations. Nonprofit Careers: Options, Job Titles, and Descriptions. Such an organization might oversee a museum, … Whether you’re seeking a senior position in a nonprofit, recruiting for new nonprofit leaders, or exploring the responsibilities of key nonprofit positions, the examples shared here can help inform your efforts and research. 1. Nonprofits often draw from the corporate world for the most senior executive positions, as well as from candidates who have risen through the nonprofit route. They write job descriptions in great detail because they are the blueprints for recruiting, managing and retaining employees. Grant writers with excellent writing skills and the ability to seek out funding are always in high demand as well. Each sample job description is based on an actual position specification used during a search by a nonprofit organization. It means doing what an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would do under similar circumstances. You may find that skills you’ve honed while working in the for-profit sector can pave the way for a transition to a nonprofit organization, or vice versa. In good faith. Nonprofits that seek to use measurement to continuously improve their impact eventually may decide to create a full-time position to lead their performance measurement function. Investing the time and effort in writing a strong job description will enable your organization to accurately articulate the opportunity to potential candidates. To get the salary you deserve, it’s important to research compensation before you negotiate—and to know what’s important to you. In this organization with $10 million to $20 million in revenues, the role crosses over with advocacy work—an unusual configuration that demonstrates how search committees will design specifications to meet organizational needs. Ordinary care is the use of good judgment and common sense. The short answer is that it depends. A nonprofit organization is one that uses its surplus revenue to further its goals. It typically serves the general public through its mission, which might be working to improve education, promote women’s rights or the arts, or provide specialized healthcare. The greatest quality of a nonprofit board member is having the ability to view the activities of the organization from a broad perspective. You can typically find state requirements for board member and officer duties with your state's secretary of state's office. Job Duties and Tasks for: "Public Relations Manager" 1) Identify main client groups and audiences and determine the best way to communicate publicity information to them.2) Write interesting and effective press releases, prepare information for media kits and develop and … … “The Price of Doing Good: Measuring the Nonprofit Pay Cut.” Accessed Nov. 24, 2020. “Nonprofit Pay and Benefits: Estimates From the National Compensation Survey.”  Accessed Nov. 24, 2020. A clear and comprehensive job description is critical to attracting candidates who are a good fit with the role. Here are some general responsibilities that nonprofit board officers have as part of their volunteer job. These representative job descriptions cover a variety of roles—including CEO/Executive Director, COO, CFO, development, board member, and others—and illustrate just some of the many ways organizations configure their senior management roles and write their job descriptions for would-be candidates. Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This is an essential position that supports high-level officers and their essential job tasks. Formally evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive and informally evaluates the effectiveness of the Board members. Securing funding and planning investments are just a few of the benefits of effective financial management. In any organization, there need to be people expert in organizing and executing office duties, interacting with the clients, and attending to the everyday operation of the enterprise. Give Smart: Philanthropy That Gets Results, Creating a Culture of Leadership Development, One School at a Time, Our latest articles, reports, and other publications, Explore our extensive catalog of articles, reports, and videos, Key ideas we believe have high potential for impact, Leading voices from inside and outside Bridgespan, Get our latest insights delivered to your inbox, Browse past issues of our Knowledge Letter and Leaders Matter newsletters, Video interviews with dozens of the world's most thoughtful donors, Learn about our frequent free webinars on a variety of nonprofit and philanthropic topics. There are entry-level through management jobs available in the sector, and many people spend their entire career working for nonprofit organizations. ), and how some boards make effective use of committees. The same principle applies to volunteers. “Here are 3 sample Executive Director job descriptions that…” May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs. Surveys have shown that some workers in nonprofit jobs are willing to accept a lower salary in exchange for doing work that is more meaningful to them. This toolkit features a wide range of sample job descriptions for senior nonprofit leadership roles, including CEO/executive director, COO, CFO, board member and more. The job description should also be included in a board member handbook or reference materials, whether in a physical notebook or a digital file. People with marketing and fundraising skills are sought after in the nonprofit sector to keep the organization and its goals sustainable and viewed positively in the public eye. Nonprofits are run day-to-day by an executive director. If a board member is not meeting the articulated expectations, the board chair can use the job description to as a reminder. The CFO job description you develop for your organization should be a blend of both the classic CFO responsibilities and the particular needs of your nonprofit. Use this sample board member job description to set expectations for individuals and the board as a whole. However, the data is mixed about whether working for nonprofits means taking a pay cut. Here are a few job descriptions you might view as examples: Each sample job description is intended to be a jumping off point, and likely will need to be tailored to meet the particular needs of your organization. This sample job description shares how one smaller sized, growing, multisite nonprofit organization configured the role of executive director. In addition to "hard skills" of understanding the data, Measurement Directors also need to have the "soft skills" that will ultimately help staff across the organization see the value of using measurement to make better decisions. Management in the nonprofit sector takes many different forms, from overseeing entire national or regional efforts to guiding the direction of one crucial element of the organization’s goals. Below is a sample position description for a Nonprofit Executive Director The Executive Director is the key management leader of _______________. Just as for any corporation, the board of directors of a nonprofit has three primary legal duties known as the “duty of care,” “duty of loyalty,” and “duty of obedience.” Duty of Care: Take care of the nonprofit by ensuring prudent use of all assets, including facility, people, and good will; 1. This should help you get your description written really quickly, although you may need to add job duty or job responsibility information that's specific Bridgespan® and Leading for Impact® are registered trademarks of The Bridgespan Group, The Campaign to End Chronic Underfunding of Nonprofits, GIVE SMART: Philanthropy That Gets Results, Chief Financial Officer (Small Organization), Chief Financial Officer (Medium Organization Straightforward Financing), Chief Financial Officer (Large Organization), Director of Finance and Administration Job Description, Managing Director, Finance and Administration Job Description, Chief Operating Officer (Operations/Administration), Chief Operating Officer (Program-Focused), Chief Operating Officer (Strategy/Operations), Vice President, Finance and Operations Job Description, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Director of Development (Small Organization), Director of Development (Large Organization), Horizons for Homeless Children - Director of Evaluation and Innovation [PDF], Latin American Youth Center - Director of Learning and Evaluation [PDF], The Mission Continues - Research Director [PDF], ORBIS International - Director of Monitoring and Evaluation [PDF], Vice President of Regional Programs and Operations, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This role is responsible for managing all communications plan activities and building external relationships with the organization's constituencies, including funders and the media. In a nonprofit, people with human resources skills can put their experience to use in a variety of ways from being the point person on building skilled teams to tackle a community project to recruiting and organizing volunteers to assist with daily tasks. Finance job descriptions Finance is essential to every business looking to increase its value. Because the organization also has a vice president of communications, the director of communications focuses on providing information. A nonprofit organization is a business that operates for a public purpose, such as a charity or social service organization. For example, both kinds of organizations will typically have management positions like executive directors, as well as jobs in accounting/bookkeeping, human resources, and media/technology. Feel free to use and tailor these descriptions for your needs. If you’re contemplating a career in the nonprofits, you might be expecting to earn less than your counterparts in for-profit industries. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The job description example below highlights typical tasks, duties, and responsibilities that program managers carry out in most organizations where they work: Participate actively in the planning and designing of programs, and also in monitoring their progress A nonprofit is granted tax-exempt status because of its charitable purpose. To be successful in this role, you should have in-depth knowledge of risk management methods and the ability to create forecasting models. Here Are Some Solid Career Options for English Majors to Consider, How to Find a Job Working for a Non Profit, Learn About the Different Administrative Job Titles and Descriptions, Example of a Cover Letter for a Public Relations Position, The Price of Doing Good: Measuring the Nonprofit Pay Cut, Nonprofit Pay and Benefits: Estimates From the National Compensation Survey, Administrator for Nonprofit Organizations. Students searching for Communications Director: Job Description, Duties and Requirements found the links, articles, and information on this … The communications role's variability is further illustrated in the Director of Communications and Public Affairs description. Why Volunteer Job Descriptions Are So Important No business or nonprofit would start hiring people before they figured out what they needed them to do. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the position. Often, at larger nonprofits, the vice president of programs position is similar to an executive director role in that it has responsibility for fundraising, program development and delivery, budget and team management, and public speaking and relationship management (see Vice President of Programs). Nonprofit board responsibilities are often poorly understood and badly communicated. You might also contact your local nonprofit association , which may provide sample job descriptions as well as local salary and benefit data. Following state laws, the titles, roles and responsibilities of board officers are then defin… Duties of a Nonprofit Board Member The duties of every nonprofit board member fall into three categories — duty of care, duty of loyalty and duty of obedience. Under Minnesota law, nonprofit directors are responsible for management of the business and affairs of the corporation. Unlike a for-profit corporation, turning a profit is not its goal. The individual in this communications role will be part of the senior leadership team representing the organization externally. May design and produce promotional materials. Nonprofit Grant Writer Job Duties Nonprofit grant writers prepare grant proposals, beginning by performing research. With ordinary care. It typically serves the general public through its mission, which might be working to improve education, promote women’s rights or the arts, or provide specialized healthcare. These examples provide a good starting point for writing a description and represent ways nonprofit organizations can configure their descriptions when recruiting for new board members and board chairs. The nonprofit COO job description involves all aspects of organization management. Feel free to use and tailor these descriptions for your needs. The job description is your primary vehicle for announcing the open position to external and internal audiences, and is a valuable tool for finding candidates best-suited to your organization's needs. It is important to note that each of our sample organizations has its own set of idiosyncrasies that have affected the configuration of that CFO position. The configuration of the senior communications role in some cases is determined by the complexity and focus of the communication function within the organization. In contrast, some smaller organizations will configure a vice president of programs role that entails broad operational responsibility including human resources, and program evaluation and expansion across the entire organization, as in the Vice President of Regional Programs and Operations description. Board member duties fall into two camps: legal responsibilities and "should do" tasks. A grant writer works with the development director, completing applications for funding (typically applications to foundations, the government, or a trust) to make sure the nonprofit achieves its annual financial goals. The sample job descriptions posted here show how organizations may configure the CFO role based on budget size and complexity of funding and programming. These points are not meant to serve as job descriptions, but rather to provide a guide for responsibilities that may be included in a job description. Plays a leading role in fundraising activities (nonprofit only) 14. Legal Responsibilities of the Board of Directors A nonprofit incorporates 1  in … The Duties of an Administrative Assistant in a Nonprofit Organization. It’s also useful to review your job title with your employer to make sure your duties match your job description. There's a great deal of variety in the nonprofit sector, so director jobs vary from one subsector to the next. They might organize events, recruit volunteers, or arrange other projects to get the community excited about and invested in the enterprise. Nonprofit and Association Job Descriptions ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT - A (JOB # 35) Processes a variety of accounting transactions to verify accuracy, proper calculations and amounts, inclusion of appropriate source documentation, proper budget codes and journal/ledger entry designations. So, does it pay to work for a nonprofit? Read more ». Few would argue the value of such a skill set, however, often more important can be the interpersonal and change management skills a Measurement Director should have. Once your organization has defined the role it needs to fill, and the skills, experience, and level of education required (see Designing and Filling New Positions), you're ready to embark on the process of writing the job description. This is most notable in jobs that have a direct equivalent at for-profit companies. What Type of Jobs Are Open to an Employee Who Wants to Work in HR? Other key duties include fundraising, marketing, and community outreach. Your job title, duties, and employer are obviously big factors in determining your compensation. In the last issue of the Board Café, we discussed when boards should have committees (if at all! The board can be elected, appointed or consist of volunteers. Board Member Job Description Template It can be challenging to find and recruit the right candidates for your board. The executive director is responsible for general management as well as designing a national But without gaining agreement among your leadership team around the specific responsibilities of the role, and the qualifications and experience level of the optimal candidate you want to attract, even the best written job descriptions and interview process will fail. Film Discover our Film Job Descriptions and get insights into the most up to date duties, responsibilities and skills on over 3+ job titles. It’s helpful to review a list of nonprofit job titles when you are job searching online, to make sure that you’re using the right keywords. Nonprofit Job Descriptions Find resources for writing job descriptions and job ads as well as sample job descriptions for a variety of positions, including an Executive Director (or CEO or president), Finance Director/CFO, Operations Director/COO, communications and marketing positions, development and fundraising positions, evaluation positions and more. Take your job application to the next level with our fashion job descriptions to get a closer look at the job responsibilities and duties associated. For more nonprofit job web sites, please see Where can I find out about job openings in the nonprofit sector? Senior program management roles differ based on the extent of general management and operational skill and experience required. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status receive operational income through donations, fundraising, membership dues and program offerings. It makes the most sense to look at sample job descriptions for nonprofit director in all of the different subsectors in order to What Job Titles Can You Expect in Public Relations Careers?