RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching) is a model of innovation in education that enables Pre-K-12 educators to effectively embrace hands-on learning techniques, focused on improved science, math, technology, and art education. Our driving principle is to infuse children with the joy of learning using experiential techniques – a proven best practice for effectively educating children.

RAFT involves the community in its work by seeking business donations of surplus materials for reuse by teachers, by providing numerous opportunities to volunteer, and by securing financial gifts that help underwrite our programs. RAFT now serves over 8,000 members, benefiting 600,000+ children, primarily in the Santa Clara Valley. It operates out of a main 34,600 sq. ft. building in San Jose. The organization has an operating budget of $3M and approximately 35FTE employees and support of over 3000 volunteers.

With the need for quality education so dire, and the successes of RAFT so profound, the organization has a singular opportunity to become a high-impact organization well beyond Silicon Valley, truly transforming education for millions of children across the Bay Area and beyond.

For more detailed information about RAFT and our work, visit our web site at www.raft.net

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Director of Marketing

Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) promotes excellence in education from early childhood through high school by providing materials and training to eight thousand teachers and non-profit organizations in the Bay Area. RAFT provides teachers with creative tools, materials and ideas to engage students in hands-on learning.

Summary of Position: The Director of Marketing has the key strategic role in the RAFT organization to understand and better serve our teachers and community members, our material and financial donors, and our other constituencies. The Director of Marketing assesses RAFT’s marketing opportunities, plans and implements a comprehensive marketing and public relations strategy to promote RAFT to diverse constituents, and enables RAFT’s planned growth in our markets. The Director of Marketing manages the membership department, and is responsible for membership growth. This position is part of an executive team and reports directly to the Executive Director.

Primary Responsibilities
• Enhance services to our primary customers: RAFT members who include teachers and other community service personnel. Increase their participation and satisfaction.

• Increase support from local companies and other donors which provide:
- Materials through donations that are the source of our creative programs.
- Volunteers to help us process the incoming materials.
- Monetary donations through grants, matching grants, special fund raisers.
- Expertise, equipment and services that improve our operations and reach.

• Increase visibility to the community including local and state government, school districts and administrators

• Collaborate on marketing efforts with other senior staff at RAFT in order to leverage the effectiveness of their work.

• Conduct and use marketing research to help the organization properly select and increase the products and services to our members, to create a proper pricing structure, and to deliver our products more effectively to a broad constituency as RAFT grows.

• Use the Internet creatively and effectively to reach more teachers, material and financial donors, and others in California that can help us grow; examine the Internet’s possible new methods of communication and sales for applicability to RAFT.

• Design effective marketing programs (which are focused and measurable) that help build RAFT’s customer satisfaction and reaches more teachers and people in the education community

• Make the best use of Public and Media Relations to enhance RAFT’s visibility and reputation in the community as the leader in hands-on education support for teachers

The Ideal Candidate

RAFT is seeking a high energy, self-starter who understands and believes in the RAFT mission. He or she should have a proven track record in strategic marketing as well as other areas of marketing including marketing communication. Candidates should feel comfortable working in a highly visible and fast-growing community-based organization with a diverse cultural and geographic base of support. Candidates should also be able to blend an innovative, proactive approach, with effective business methods to meet the market needs of this innovative organization. This is a full-time, exempt position.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• BA/BS in a relevant field and a minimum of 5 years successful experience in a senior management role in the nonprofit sector or in the public/private sector if accompanied by three years equivalent community board experience.
• Ability to effectively represent RAFT’s mission and philosophy of hands-on learning and support to teachers, and to reflect that philosophy through innovative marketing techniques.
• Exceptional public and interpersonal communication skills - including speaking, writing, and consensus building
• Experience working in a team based environment to produce measurable outcomes
• Financial management experience with a budget of at least $500,000, including budgeting, oversight, compliance, and reporting abilities
• A track record in community collaboration and networking
• Experience working for and partnering with a volunteer board of directors
• Ability to effectively juggle multiple priorities in a changing environment
• Familiarity with Microsoft office tools.
• Knowledge of current internet practices, effective Web sites, social networking, and blogs.
• Available to work Saturdays at least once a month. Saturday is our biggest retail and workshop day.

Start date: Fall 2008

Compensation

Salary dependent on experience and track record.RAFT offers a benefits program that includes medical, dental, and 4 weeks (20 days) vacation plus 10 holidays. Though candidates from beyond the Bay Area are welcome to apply, there are no funds available for relocation or housing assistance.

Confidential Application Process

E-mail (Word document) cover letter summarizing interest, qualifications, compensation requirements, and applicable experience along with a current resume to jobs@raft.net with “Director of Marketing” in subject field. Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.