We actively promote a culture of learning and an attitude of experimentation among staff and volunteers, farmers, and students. Strong aptitude in providing management and leadership for staff and volunteers in accomplishing the mission is a must.
The position requires: building and maintaining strong relationships with current and future partners and funders; leading strategic planning; maintaining board relationships; meeting regularly with the board of directors and applicable committees; identifying opportunities for new projects and contracts; preparing proposals for grants; preparing reports to granting organizations, foundations, and funders; and leading annual funding efforts; other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Leadership and Management
- Strategic vision to lead the organization in developing and implementing plans for domestic and international expansion.
- Skills in organizational leadership, budgeting, and international development.
- Interpersonal skills to plan, monitor, and evaluate staffing needs now and for the future.
Fund Development and Donor Relations
- Capability to develop and implement a successful funding campaign.
- Interpersonal skills in maintaining and expanding a donor base to grow the organization
and expand our impact globally.
Education and Technical Skills
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with experience in nonprofit administration (Master’s degree preferred).
- Communication skills in writing, public speaking, and digital formats.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
- Skills for working in a digital environment including Microsoft Suite, cloud services,
budgeting software, video conferencing, etc.
- Fluency in multiple languages a plus.
- Experience in Peace Corps or similar development experience a plus.
Executive Director Position Opening Page 2 January 6, 2023
Tillers’ domestic office is located in Scotts, Michigan, about 12 miles east of downtown Kalamazoo. The Executive Director position is based in Scotts. Both domestic and international travel is expected.
Salary $80-$110,000, commensurate with experience, plus benefits.
We actively seek to build an inclusive and diverse workplace where people from all walks of life are welcomed. We are an equal-opportunity employer. Please reach out to us. Include a resume and detailed cover letter outlining why you would like to join our team. We look forward to learning more about you.
Link to Google Drive with Related Documents
www.tillersinternational.org
www.tillers.international
For more information and to express interest, contact Rob Collins at rcollins@cpschools.org
Tillers International exists to preserve, study, and exchange the skills and knowledge that empower smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods and agricultural productivity. As an educational and research-based organization, our mission is multifaceted as we actively fulfill the mission of Tillers International.
● To Preserve: The beginning of new knowledge and skills necessary for a sustainable and climate-smart future are found in our past. As we see developing countries reach toward greater productivity and developed countries seek environmentally friendly ways to farm, Tillers International offers a solution that is born in the past and innovated for the future. Through the preservation of historical agriculture artifacts and the skills of how to use them, we offer solutions that take smallholder farmers to the future of agricultural production. Within this effort to preserve and innovate, Tillers International curates the Abby Farmstead collection and museum. This museum, focused on North American agriculture from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, provides a treasure trove of examples of animal-powered technologies that provided for the growth of agricultural production during that time period.
● To Study: Innovation requires research and development to be successful. We work with domestic and international universities to measure and evaluate the appropriately scaled, labor-saving technologies that make smallholder farmers successful. A focus on locally sourced materials and power sources, regardless of the context, provides economic benefits to farmers and artisans who keep their investments within their communities and are not reliant on foreign
imports.
● To Exchange: We do not have all the answers. A full understanding of the needs of smallholder farmers can only come with the exchange of knowledge and skills pertinent to their context and environment. We promote an atmosphere of sharing and participation that engages smallholder farmers and artisans to be a part of the innovation and solutions that will improve their livelihoods. We encourage adaptation based on the desires and needs of the communities we serve.
