Maine Sea Coast Mission,
Executive Director
Bar Harbor, ME
Background
Founded over 100 years ago in 1905, the Maine Sea Coast Mission provides spiritual, health and youth development programs in coastal and island communities from mid-coast to Downeast Maine. Rooted in a history of non-denominational service, the Mission continues to embody the best of Christian values as it offers hope, encouragement and help to individuals, families and communities. The Mission was founded by two pastors, Angus and Alexander MacDonald. They took the first Mission boat to isolated island communities providing spiritual support where there were no churches, and bringing books and learning opportunities.
Today, the Mission serves over 2,500 people who live on nine islands, and in Washington and Hancock counties. The Mission has an operating budget of approximately $3 million and a staff of 29 full-time and 10 part-time individuals. Headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine, the Mission runs programs from a 60-acre Downeast Campus located in Cherryfield, on the bank of the Narraguagus River. It also operates the Mission boat, Sunbeam V, to bring health care and ministry services to the islands. These services focus on three key areas: Youth Development, Island Outreach and the Immediate Needs of People in Crisis.
Youth Development
Ed Greaves Education (EdGE) is an innovative development program for students in grades 4-8 in coastal Washington County, Maine. It is designed to encourage youth to stay engaged in school, build character, improve academic performance and promote self-confidence. In 2006, the Maine Afterschool Network recognized EdGE as the outstanding 21st Century Community Learning Center Afterschool program.
Scholarships. The Mission provides post-secondary scholarships to students from the islands and coastal communities of Downeast Maine for degree or vocational education.Island Outreach
Healthcare. The Mission boat, the Sunbeam V, brings healthcare and ministry services to nine island communities. Through health clinics, telehealth services, educational health talks, and personalized health care, islanders receive the support necessary to enable living on an isolated island year round.
Ministry. The Mission assists island churches in employing ministers to lead worship, counsel islanders, and work with island youth.Meeting Immediate Needs
Housing Repair Ministry. Volunteers of visiting church groups weatherize homes, build bridges, repair homes, and assist with projects to improve living quality for residents in need of assistance in Downeast Maine. These groups, which arrive each summer and are housed by the Maine Sea Coast Mission, have also cleared trails and built safe walkways for school children.
Emergency Assistance. The Mission provides emergency fuel assistance and refers individuals to other Mission programs or local agencies for additional resources. Low income families and the elderly are the target population.
Food Pantries. The Mission’s food pantries are often all that stands between the pangs of hunger and a healthy meal for the individuals, couples, and families who subsist in Washington County and the outer islands.
Senior Companions touch the lives of adults who need extra assistance to live independently in their own homes or communities. Weald Bethel serves as a station for the Senior Companion Program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. This program provides a modest stipend to individuals 60 years of age or older, particularly those on limited incomes who are hired to be a companion to others.
The Mission’s Christmas Program celebrates the true spirit of giving. Each year, through the Mission, hundreds of people up and down the Maine coast provide Christmas presents for children, families and adults.
The Weald Bethel Center for Spirituality and Personal Growth offers programs that are inclusive and non-denominational; they include traditional and non-traditional practices. Presently, the center holds yoga classes, spiritual study groups, memorial services and monthly church services of the Cherryfield Congregational Church.
The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the Mission and reports to the Board of Directors. Reporting to the Executive Director are the following positions: Director of Finance & Administration, Director of Development, Program Director of EdGE, Downeast Campus Program Director, Sunbeam Captain, Sunbeam Nurse, Pastor to Outer Islands, and Christmas Program Coordinator.
The position will give the successful candidate the opportunity to lead an organization that has been rooted in Maine’s history for over 100 years. The Maine Sea Coast Mission has a wide variety of outreach initiatives and is located in one of the most beautiful settings in the country. Its future will build upon the exemplary record of non-denominational service that the Mission offers to strengthen the communities of mid-coast to Downeast Maine.
Compensation:
An attractive and competitive compensation and benefit package commensurate with level of experience is available.
Responsibilities
Manage the day to day operations and affairs of the Mission including oversight of sound human resources policies and procedures.
Recruit, hire, terminate, train, evaluate and foster career development of the Mission’s staff.
Lead, motivate, supervise and assess the current senior management team, fostering and modeling a success-oriented, accountable, high-morale and positive environment.
Champion MSCM’s mission with existing and newly identified donors, communicate regularly with funders and aggressively build new relationships and revenue sources to enable MSCM to grow services and programs; work with Director of Development to increase unrestricted giving.
Act as the principal spokesperson for the Mission, deferring to the Board or other individuals when appropriate.
Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate Mission programs; seek partnerships with other nonprofit organizations and/or government entities for enhanced or specialized services.
Maintain sound financial policies, practices, and procedures including submitting to the Board for its approval annual operating and capital budgets.
Assist the Board in the development of strategic plans and objectives for the Mission; monitor and report periodically to the Board on plan progress toward those objectives.
Keep the Board fully informed of the programmatic and financial performance of the Mission and all other material matters involving the Mission.
Foster the Mission’s spiritual tradition by working closely with the Pastor to the Outer Islands and Partner Church Pastors in their efforts.
Oversee the maintenance of the physical properties of the Mission to ensure that they are in good condition and repair.
Ensure compliance by the Mission of all applicable laws and regulations.
Qualifications
Professional
Proven experience in managing a complex, multi-program nonprofit organization, an educational entity or a parish/congregation.
Track record of successfully managing a diverse staff with ability to hire good people with complementary skills; seek input, give credit, be willing to share limelight.
Ability and enthusiasm to actively engage in fundraising efforts, preferably with a history of success in individual donor cultivation and solicitation.
Understanding of finance and human resources.
Experience motivating and working cooperatively with a Board of Directors in a nonprofit setting.
Experience in building partnerships where appropriate to further enhance services to the constituencies served.
Skill in facilitating communication and diverse opinions in group settings.
Sensitivity to appreciate and respect the resourcefulness of the clients served on the outer islands and in Washington County.
Strong connection to/feeling for Maine or other highly rural small communities.
Ability to maintain and model high personal, ethical and professional standards.
Whether lay or ordained, we seek a leader who can articulate the Mission’s vision in theological terms.Personal
A long-term commitment to spiritual discipline and a “calling” to the mission of MSCM.
The ability to establish trust and credibility with constituents; individual will be judged by virtue of character, training and life experience.
Empathetic, inclusive, charismatic, an individual with strong interpersonal skills who is comfortable across economic, social and gender lines.
Listening, processing, facilitation, organizational and communication skills.
Authentic, genuine, calm, flexible and totally committed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mary T. Wheeler, Senior Vice President
Jill Sarah Moscowitz, Associate
DRG, Inc.
130 East 40th Street, Suite 800
New York, New York 10016
Tel: (212) 983-1600
Fax: (212) 983-1687
Email: jmoscowitz@drgnyc.com
This search began in January 2010 and is currently active. This position description is based upon materials presented by MCSM.