Executive Director

Executive Director Job Description

Position Type: Part-Time, 25–30 hours per week, including some evenings and weekends

Compensation: $50,000 annually

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (combination of remote work and in‑person presence at San Diego Writers, Ink programs, events, and meetings)

Position Overview

San Diego Writers, Ink is seeking a collaborative and entrepreneurial Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter. This newly created, part-time position offers an exciting opportunity for a strategic leader to strengthen the organization’s foundation for sustainable growth, expand its impact, and advance literary arts opportunities across San Diego’s diverse writing communities.

Working closely with the Board of Directors, staff, instructors, interns, volunteers, donors, and community partners, the Executive Director will provide vision and leadership with a primary focus on development, fundraising, partnerships, and organizational sustainability. The Executive Director will help identify new opportunities, strengthen systems, and ensure San Diego Writers, Ink remains a thriving center for writers, artists, and literary communities.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, collaborative, and creative leader with experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, community engagement, and organizational growth. As a small, mission‑driven organization, San Diego Writers, Ink values leaders who are both strategic thinkers and hands‑on collaborators, comfortable moving between long‑term planning and day‑to‑day operations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Development

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and vision for San Diego Writers, Ink.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to establish organizational priorities, strategic goals, and long‑term plans, including serving on board‑led committees.
• Identify opportunities for organizational growth, new revenue streams, strategic partnerships, and long‑term sustainability.
• Develop and improve systems, processes, and infrastructure to support organizational sustainability.
• Attend and actively participate in Board meetings, providing updates on programs, finances, operations, fundraising, and strategic initiatives.
• Represent San Diego Writers, Ink at community meetings, literary events, arts gatherings, and partner organizations.

Fundraising, Grants, and Development

• Develop and execute a comprehensive donor engagement and fundraising strategy with the Board of Directors while cultivating relationships with donors, foundations, sponsors, and community supporters.
• Collaborate on grant development and strategy while ensuring timely submission, compliance, reporting, and fulfillment of deliverables.
• Communicate organizational impact through compelling stories, updates, and engagement opportunities for donors, funders, and community partners.

Program Development and Management

• Provide strategic oversight and support for literary programming, ensuring programs reflect the organization’s mission, values, and commitment to serving diverse writing communities while fostering growth and partnerships.
• Oversee major organizational events, including readings, fundraisers, literary gatherings, online conferences, and community celebrations.
• Manage the Year in Ink anthology publication process, including oversight of the Anthology Managing Editor, editorial timelines, production workflow, and successful completion of the publication.
• Assist in the coordination and execution of in‑person and virtual programming by hosting events, overseeing Zoom classes, orienting instructors to the space, and troubleshooting day‑of program needs in collaboration with the Program Director.
• Oversee the development and execution of quarterly art shows in collaboration with artists and volunteers.
• Oversee the internship program, including supervision, mentorship, and evaluation
• Oversee the organization’s physical spaces, including lease, rentals, scheduling, and facility needs.

Financial Management

• Develop and oversee the annual budget in partnership with the Board of Directors.
• Monitor financial performance and ensure responsible management of organizational resources.
• Maintain compliance with nonprofit financial policies and reporting requirements.
• Use financial information to guide planning, decision‑making, and organizational growth.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible nonprofit leadership experience, preferably in literary arts, arts, education, or community‑based organizations.
• Demonstrated experience with strategic planning, organizational development, and program growth.
• Strong fundraising experience, including grant writing, grant management, donor cultivation, stewardship, and communicating organizational impact to supporters and community partners.
• Experience developing and managing organizational and program budgets.
• Experience supervising and developing employees, interns, instructors, contractors, and volunteers.
• Strong project management skills with experience overseeing events, programs, and multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Experience using constituent relationship management (CRM) software; experience with Neon CRM is a plus.
• Experience with or comfort using Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva, and Zoom.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Comfortable serving as the public representative of the organization
• Passion for writing, literary arts, and building inclusive creative communities.
• Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 40 pounds and assist with event setup and breakdown as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading an arts, cultural, or literary nonprofit.
• Experience coordinating literary festivals, readings, exhibitions, or other arts and cultural events.
• Experience producing or managing literary anthologies or other publishing projects.
• Experience teaching writing to adults and/or youth.
• Familiarity with the San Diego literary, arts, and nonprofit communities.
• Experience developing partnerships, sponsorships, and earned revenue opportunities.
• Experience managing internship or professional development programs.

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible hybrid work environment, with a combination of remote work and in‑person presence at San Diego Writers, Ink programs, events, and meetings.
• Complimentary or reduced‑cost admission to San Diego Writers, Ink classes, workshops, conferences, and special events.
• Opportunity to contribute to a vibrant literary arts community and support writers at all stages of their creative development.
• Professional development and networking opportunities within the literary and arts community.

San Diego Writers, Ink recognizes that strong candidates bring a range of experiences and perspectives. If you are excited about this role and believe your skills and passion align with our mission, we encourage you to apply—even if you do not meet every qualification listed. We value diverse pathways to leadership and are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

San Diego Writers, Ink does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.