Executive Director

Executive Director

Writers in the Schools (WITS)

Houston, TX

Salary: $110,000 - $125,000, plus competitive benefits

About WITS

Writers in the Schools’ mission is to connect children and youth with professional writers and spoken-word artists to unlock the joy and power of storytelling and creative expression. WITS envisions a future in which all young people possess the skills and confidence to share their stories with the world.

Since 1983, WITS has partnered with professional writers, spoken-word artists, and educators to help more than 500,000 students explore language, develop their voices, and share their stories. Last year alone, more than 6,000 students across over 190 classrooms experienced the WITS magic that emerges when students, writers, staff, and community members create together.

Learn more at witshouston.org.

The Opportunity

WITS enters this search from a position of meaningful strength: steady program growth, strong relationships with schools and partners, and a committed staff and board. The next Executive Director will inherit an organization with momentum—and the opportunity to build on that success.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, relationship-driven leader who honors WITS’s history while charting a forward-looking path. They bring operational discipline, fundraising acumen, and a collaborative leadership style that empowers staff and deepens community impact.

Key Priorities for the First 12–18 Months

These priorities emphasize building on momentum and organizational strengths:

• Sustain and expand program successes, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with community needs and WITS’ artistic and educational vision.
• Strengthen and diversify fundraising, including growing major gifts, foundation support, and earned revenue to match WITS’ rising profile and demand.
• Lead a forward-looking strategic planning process focused on sustainable growth, smart innovation, and long-term financial resilience.
• Support and elevate staff excellence, nurturing a culture that values creativity, belonging, professional development, and shared leadership.
• Deepen partnerships with school districts, writers, cultural institutions, community leaders, and the WITS Alliance while identifying opportunities for new collaborations.

Core Responsibilities

Leadership, Mission & Vision

• Build on WITS’ strong foundation to advance a clear vision for the next chapter of organizational growth and community impact.
• Lead the development and implementation of a strategic plan that drives sustainability and increased impact.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships with peer organizations and community leaders to advance literary arts and creativity.
• Collaborate with the Board to support effective governance, informed decision-making, and long-term planning.

Fundraising and External Engagement

• In partnership with the Development Director, lead a robust and diversified fundraising strategy that ensures financial sustainability.
• Increase philanthropic investment and foster long-term donor relationships across individual, corporate, and foundation supporters.
• Grow and steward earned-revenue streams in collaboration with program and development leadership.
• Elevate WITS’ public presence through storytelling, advocacy, and strategic external communications.
• Cultivate partnerships that expand programming, visibility, and cross-sector impact.

Financial & Operational Management

• Ensure strong financial systems that support stability, transparency, and future growth.
• Align staffing, budgeting, and operational decisions with organizational priorities and strategic goals.
• Promote effective systems, processes, and tools that support high-quality program delivery and organizational learning.
• Anticipate operational needs and advance improvements that reinforce—rather than disrupt—WITS’ momentum.
• Maintain transparent communication and collaboration with Board Committee members.

People, Culture & Team Leadership

• Inspire, mentor, and support a talented, mission-driven staff team.
• Foster a culture grounded in creativity, inclusion, curiosity, and collective accountability.
• Invest in staff development and retention to sustain excellence in programming and operations.
• Recruit and support a diverse staff and teaching artist team that reflects the communities WITS serves.

Partnerships & Community Impact

• Strengthen WITS’ relationships with educators, cultural institutions, community leaders, and writers.
• Maintain Houston’s central role within the WITS Alliance and contribute to network-wide learning and innovation.
• Champion youth voice, creative expression, and arts-in-education access across diverse socio-economic communities.

Key Qualifications

Required

• At least 7 years of leadership experience in nonprofits, education, arts, youth development, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategies that drive growth and community impact.
• Proven success in fundraising, including cultivating major donors and institutional funders.
• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors and cultivating strong board relationships.
• Strong marketing, public relations, and external engagement skills with the ability to connect across diverse audiences.
• Experience managing budgets, operations, and organizational systems with discipline and transparency.
• Strong team leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring, talent development, and change management.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Commitment to equity, access, and culturally responsive practice.

Preferred

• Experience in arts or arts education, and/or leading creative professionals.
• Familiarity with Houston’s arts, education, or philanthropic landscape.
• Experience scaling programs or strengthening organizational infrastructure from an already-strong foundation.
• Comfort with data-informed decision-making and program evaluation.

Leadership Attributes That Signal a Strong Fit

• Organizational steward and servant leader—respecting WITS’ 40 year history while enhancing its effectiveness to fulfill its mission.
• Confident yet collaborative; listens well and builds trust quickly.
• Energized by growth and momentum rather than crisis response.
• Operationally grounded and fiscally disciplined.
• Warm, community-driven, and deeply invested in youth creativity.
• Skilled at balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day execution.

Thinking of Applying:

If you are excited about the role and see the connection with what we are looking for, but don’t meet every single requirement, we’d encourage you to apply anyway.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Misty Matin, WITS Board President, at mistymatin@gmail.com.

Deadline for Applications: Friday, January 16, 2026

WITS is an equal-opportunity employer. WITS’ policy prohibits unlawful discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally recognized basis, including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law.