What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Director position at Society of Innovators?
Founded in 2005, the Society of Innovators is a 501(c)(3) organization driving economic and community development across Lake, Porter, La Porte, Starke, Pulaski, Jasper, and Newton counties. Through youth programs, mentorship, and the annual Innovators Awards, the Society helps turn ideas into action. Learn more at societyofinnovators.org.
Our mission is to increase the impact of innovation on economic and community development in Northwest Indiana. We develop, connect and celebrate people who think like innovators, from young people discovering what is possible to established leaders creating value across every industry and community.
Position Summary
The Executive Director leads strategy, revenue development, regional partnerships, and operations. As the Society transitions into independent operations following an 8-year collaboration with Purdue Northwest, the primary goal is building long-term financial sustainability while sustaining impactful programs across Northwest Indiana.
Core Responsibilities
- Fundraising & Sustainability: Work closely with board leadership to cultivate, solicit, and steward key prospective funders, (e.g., individuals, foundations, and corporations). To ensure long-term sustainability it is necessary to build earned revenue. One immediate opportunity is realizing the goals of the letter of intent with the StartED Up Foundation to pursue joint funding to expand the use of educational resources in the high schools of the region.
- Program & Ecosystem Leadership: Oversee core programs (SparkED youth entrepreneurship, Spark Series, Ask An Innovator); manage the annual Innovators Awards and convenings; build cross-sector relationships across the seven-county region; maintain key partner alliances (including Purdue University Northwest). The 300 members of the Society are an underused resource. Its development could add considerable momentum to fundraising and increase the impact of the Society.
- Communications: Serve as primary spokesperson; articulate the Society's independent mission; oversee digital marketing, media relations, and storytelling.
- Operations & Governance: Development of budgets, oversee cash accounts, bookkeeping (Quickbooks, or similar), and compliance; provide Board and committee support; supervise staff, contractors, and organizational assets.
Candidate Profiles
All candidates must be prepared to accept immediately the challenges of fundraising, to commit to building the organization from a single employee, to have prior awareness of the Society and a passion for the mission. Candidates who have hit revenue targets, whether in a for profit or not for profit setting, are preferred. The Society is open to diverse backgrounds including:
- Emerging Leaders: Early-career professionals with a track record of hitting revenue targets (sales, business development, or nonprofit development) and the drive to build an organization.
- Experienced Executives: Proven non-profit or leaders seeking a new challenge.
- Encore Career Professionals: Retired leaders with deep regional relationships and a desire to apply business skills to economic and community growth and are comfortable asking for money.
Organization: Innovators Northwest Indiana Inc. (dba Society of Innovators)
Position: Executive Director
Reports To: Board of Directors (via Board Chair)
Location: Remote, with a physical location to be determined
Schedule & Compensation
- Nominally, 20 hours/week. Regional travel in Northwest Indiana is required
- Up to $4,000/mo plus board discretionary incentive of up to $7,500 based on attainment of immediate goals including:
- Achievement of revenue goals in a board approved budget
- Continuation of annual innovation recognition event
- Activation of existing Society members to further the work of the Society
- Expanded use by regional schools of the youth educational programs-- Spark Series and Ask An Innovator
- Depending on results of revenue generation in the future the position may grow in hours, compensation, and programming.
Interested parties may reply as directed by the posting site or to info@societyofinnovators.com.