Executive Director

Title: Executive Director

Position: Part-time (30 hours) Remote Metro-Portland based

Salary: $85500/year plus benefits

Reports to: Board President(s)

About ARCS Foundation Oregon

ARCS Foundation Oregon is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to advancing science and technology in the United States by providing financial awards to PhD students pursuing graduate degrees in science engineering and medical research at Oregons premier research institutions. Since 2004 the Oregon Chapter has awarded more than $7 million in unrestricted funding to exceptional scholars at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Oregon State University (OSU) and the University of Oregon (UO).

Position

ARCS Foundation Oregon is seeking its next Executive Director (ED). As the organizations chief executive officer the ED is responsible for overseeing daily operations advancing strategic goals and driving ARCS Oregons mission and impact forward in collaboration with active membership participating in the work of the organization.

The ED works closely with a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors and committee chairs to implement strategic initiatives organize member events and foster a vibrant and engaged membership community. The ED also serves as the primary liaison to ARCS Oregons university partners currently including OHSU Oregon State and University of Oregon.

Additionally the ED stewards outreach and engagement with members builds and maintains strong donor relationships and plays a key role in fundraising and long-term sustainability. This position supervises the Operations Manager.

Responsibilities

Leadership Management and Administration

The ED has a leadership role that includes general oversight and responsibility for the organization. The positions responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manages staff including hiring supervision evaluation and growth opportunities.
• Creates and implements process for all member requests for support and information. Delegates to Operations Manager as appropriate.
• Serves as an ex officio non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
• Engages external advisors (legal counsel HR counsel and other professional services such as insurance and finance) as needed.
• Ensures compliance with state and federal reporting activities and nonprofit best practices.
• Leads understanding and implementation of nonprofit practices.

Board Governance and Support

The ED supports the Board of Directors in setting vision and implementing the strategic plan.

• Plans Board meetings and Annual Membership Meeting with the Executive Committee.
• Ensures governance documents and policies are up to date legally compliant and aligned with nonprofit best practices.
• Participates in the strategic planning process with the Board of Directors.
• Advises board on committee guidelines/practices.
• Connects committee work to strategic goals.
• Recommends improvements to and innovations to achieve strategic goals.
• Builds advocacy structure for member and board engagement.

Financial and Revenue Oversight

The ED is responsible for ensuring that all finance investment and accounting activities are completed on behalf of the organization. Services may be contracted with direct report to the ED.

• Build the organizational budget with the board.
• Oversee financial reporting and ensure strong fiscal management according to nonprofit guidelines.
• Implement effective internal controls and cost-efficient procedures.
• Oversee contracts insurance and other administrative functions.

Fund Development

The ED works with the Board and Philanthropy Committee to secure support for Scholar Awards and operational needs.

• Develop fundraising strategies and materials for individual giving sponsorships and non-dues revenue.
• Collaborate with Philanthropy Committee in developing donor relationships and donor stewardship.
• Collaborate in direct asks and financial support requests with Philanthropy Committee board and members.

Membership

The ED works with the Board Operations Manager and the Member Relations Committee to guide the organizations membership program and enhance member engagement.

• Regularly evaluate membership opportunities for successful engagement and purpose-driven impact.
• Steers the organizations understanding and active engagement in the membership lifecycle from recruitment to retention.

University Relations

The ED works with the University Relations Committee to maintain strong collaborative relationships and communications with university partners.

• Represents ARCS Foundation Oregon and serves as the primary point of contact with university and university foundation partners regarding ARCS Awards and Scholars.
• Supports the work of the Allocations Committee.

Communications

The ED works with the Communications Committee to lead the organizations communications strategy.

• Oversees consistent timely and mission-aligned communication to members donors and the public.
• Represents the Foundation with the National affiliates and through participation in community and national events.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a nonprofit executive director or in a comparable or related role.
• Strong track record working with volunteer boards members and stakeholders.
• Effective leadership organizational abilities and staff development skills.
• Ability to envision and convey the organizations strategic future to the board members donors and the community.
• Excellent financial acumen including budget development and oversight.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising donor engagement and membership growth.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to implement vision and drive outcomes.
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong interest in ARCS Oregons mission and commitment to education science and innovation.

Application Information:

Nonprofit Professionals Now is pleased to be supporting ARCS Foundation Oregon in hiring their next Executive Director. All applications will be reviewed by multiple reviewers. Phone interviews video interviews and in-person interviews will be scheduled with candidates moving forward.

Application Deadline: October 2 2025

Required Experience:

Director