1. Employment Profile: What exactly does a n Executive Director do? |
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 What field is your job in?
Non-profit/legal field - Alternative Dispute Resolution
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What is your job title?
Executive Director
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Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for
(size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I work for a non profit that employs 4 full time and 2 part time staff members. We have a volunteer list of approximately 150 and a board of directors of 13-14. It is a small organization that is maintained through grants. We are funded by the state supreme court and through fee generation for alternative dispute resolution services.
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How long have you been employed in this position?
3 months.
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How many hours do you work a week on average?
40 hours.
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Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I am charged with managing the staff and daily operations of the organization. I am also responsible for volunteer recruitment, program development, and overall office maintenance. I oversee the work of the 5 staff members. I also act in a capacity of promoting the services and increasing awareness of the organization through speaking events and meetings. I help oversee the budget and any other necessary aspects to keep the organization running.
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What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
$5,000 approximately - I was a student in 2006.
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What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
43000
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Please
list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation,
sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
Half paid medical coverage
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Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
Under compensated.
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2. Work environment! |
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Does
your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this
something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
Yes I work with others on a daily basis. I interact with the staff daily, I handle contracting agencies, and I also mediate disputes on behalf of the organization on a daily basis. Some aspects I like, I enjoy interacting with the staff as everyone is very friendly and enthusiastic. I'm less comfortable dealing with the outside agencies as I feel uncomfortable speaking with people I do not know as well. While I tend to dislike doing it I am still able to do it well.
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Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
No
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Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
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Describe
your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what
you like/dislike about working in it
My work location is in an office setting as well as frequently in court. I dislike court particularly because I don't have control over the setting and there is often the potential for violence/problems. The office setting can be difficult to work in cause it can feel confining. I like being on the move and out and about and that is difficult within an office setting. Also, our office isn't very large or comfortable as we don't have real walls and work out of cubicles.
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Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
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6 Income
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2 Work Environment - co-workers
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8 Work Environment - supervisors
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7 Benefits
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5 Hours
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3 Level of responsibility
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1 The actual "work" you do at your job
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4 Job Title
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3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours? |
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If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
I think in working for a non profit and moving up the ladder, volunteering for the organization first is important. This gives you an edge in terms of knowledge and understanding of what will make the organization perform at its best. Also I think education is important. My law school background helped get me this job because it provided me with a greater tie to the courts and legal community.
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What
skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a
position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social
skills, organization skills, technical skills)
I think it is important to have good social skills and be able to communicate effectively. This is important for dealing with staff and getting staff to be willing to work with and for you. It is also important in dealing with outside agencies, because competence and skill is often judged based on ability to communicate ideas well. Also it's important to be able to think quick and creatively. Often times problems stem and you have to be able to address them. Organizational skills are also very important because without being organized it's possible to make very large mistakes because over mere oversight. Failing to set up a program well can lead to programatic collapse.
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Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes. It is important to be a well trained mediator to understand the process. I also believe education is necessary in order to portray an image that will be acceptable to the courts.
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What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
I would advise them that patiences is crucial. The life of a non profit can be a slower paced life and it takes patience and self drive to stay motivated. Also it's key to not stress out too much. Often times money is a struggle in this sector and worrying too much will drive you crazy. Taking it one day at a time and working as hard as you can is important in developing and expanding the program. Make the job your own and you'll enjoy it more.
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