Thomas Merton Center Executive Director

The Thomas Merton Center -- Pittsburgh’s peace and justice organizing and resource center since 1972.

Mission statement: We are people from diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent struggle to bring about a more peaceful and just world.  We work to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, and oppression.

Job Description:

Personnel

  • Facilitate weekly staff meetings by fostering open communication, leading to staff decisions being made by consensus under leadership of the executive director
  • Develop staff job descriptions that are approved by staff consensus
  • Develop and implement staff evaluation procedures that lead to a plan of action that ensures the smooth and efficient operation of the Center
  • Meet with individual staff members, interns and volunteers as necessary
  • Facilitate communication among staff, interns, Board and membership
  • Serve as staff advocate before the Board to present staff needs and concerns
  • Provide resources and training needed by staff and interns to fulfill their responsibilities.
  • Responsible for new hires and staff terminations

Communications

  • Ensure that all messages and requests for information (via email, U.S. mail, telephone, or drop-ins) are responded to in a timely manner
  • Maintain the computer network and ensure the most efficient and productive use of technology
  • Act as official spokesperson for the Thomas Merton Center
  • Prepare press releases and maintain relationships with media
  • Final editing of all publications and mailings and website

Administrative

  • Implement TMC policy, goals and objectives
  • Adhere to any legal contractual obligations of TMC
  • Develop and implement process for preparation of annual budget that reflects a consensus model of decision-making to be approved by Board
  • Oversee income and expenses on daily basis
  • Prepare monthly financial reports to Board (with assistance of Administrative Assistant)

Fundraising

  • Works with event committees to assist in planning/organizing the following fundraising events:
    • Annual Award Dinner
    • New Person Awards
    • Other special events
  • Recognizes and takes advantage of all fundraising opportunities arising out of TMC activities.
  • Solicits potential advertisers for the New People, developing ad promotional materials, coordinates the mailing of those ad materials and callbacks
  •  

Grant Writing

  • Researches and writes grants in conjunction with organizing campaigns
  • Fosters relationship with institutional funders and major donors

Accountability

  • Attend monthly board meetings to report on TMC programs, activities, finances and office operations
  • Report to staff at weekly staff meetings to assess needs of Center and receive regular input, committing to a consensus-based model of decision-making
  • Prepare information needed by TMC committees and be available as a resource
  • Serve as an ex-officio member of the Finance, Development, and Personnel Committees. Helps sustain the TMC committees by preparing needed information, promoting membership and being available as a resource

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of three years experience with nonprofit organizations, preferably membership-based nonprofits
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Basic administrative and bookkeeping/finance skills
  • Basic proficiency in MS Word, Access, Excel and an ability to learn additional software programs

The ideal candidate must be able to:

  • Represent the Thomas Merton Center as a public figure and be comfortable with public speaking
  • Develop relationships with and communicate well in the media
  • Function as an effective liaison among the board, staff and membership
  • Engage in an economic, racial and social analysis that identifies the multiple forms of oppression, while being keenly aware of one’s own background, identity and role in the struggle for racial, economic and social justice
  • Represent a broad-based membership organization whose membership values diversity, both in terms of individual/group identities and political perspectives
  • Work well in a collaborative environment where decisions are made in a decentralized manner that empowers others
  • Understand how "systems" work and function within those parameters, whether the court system, local police, political entities (city council, county council, state assembly, Congress), other public entities and authorities, and private corporate entities (both for profit and nonprofit)
  • Plan fundraising events and promote development
  • Appreciate the history of the Thomas Merton Center and its foundations in progressive religious-based movements for justice and peace

Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter and resume by June 1, 2005 to:

Thomas Merton Center
5125 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
tim@thomasmertoncenter.org
412-361-3022 (phone)
412-361-0540 (fax)
www.thomasmertoncenter.org

Emailed submissions, in addition to a mailed hard copy, are preferred.

Salary: $ 24,960 plus full medical coverage (TMC is committed to pay equity among staff)