Handling A Termination Meeting

Firing an employee is one of the hardest things a manager has to do and, with jobs hard to come by, it has become even more difficult. With the job market still sluggish, a firing can cause employees to react in ways they will later regret.

Keeping in mind that no one will never react to the news of his termination with a smile, it's important to handle the final employee meeting with care.

According to Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem in “The Big Book of HR,” two other people should always be present at the termination meeting to avoid disagreements about what was communicated: The employee's direct supervisor and a human resources representative. In addition, they wrote that the manager should plan out in advance what he wants to say, so that the message is clear.

Other essential topics are:

• That a decision has been made to terminate employment;
• The reason(s) and key facts supporting the decision;
• The effective date of separation;
• Separation package and benefits;
• A review of the policy and procedures for giving references;
• A review of applicable post-termination restrictions, such as non-compete or non-disclosure agreements;
• What will happen immediately following the meeting (i.e. cleaning out the employee’s office);
• Other activities such as an exit interview survey or outplacement meetings; and,
• Whom to contact about post-termination issues.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Foundation Officer

Healthcare is one of the more popular fields in employment these days, and it's no different in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit hospitals are always looking for new employees to help their cause. If you've always wanted to work at one of these organizations, our newest featured nonprofit job should be of interest to you.

Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego, Calif., is looking to hire a Foundation Officer to help with fundraising activities. Specifically, the chosen candidate will be responsible for  the identification and qualification of prospective individual, private foundation, and corporate funding sources to support the planning, development, coordination and administration of a comprehensive major and planned gift fundraising program. The individual will also develop, implement and fulfill specific and targeted research and data-mining strategies for major gift and corporate donors and prospects.

To be considered for this position, applicants must have a Bachelor's Degree in a related field, 2 years of experience, and effective written and oral communication skills. In addition, Rady's Children's Hospital prefers candidates to have the following qualifications:

• 5 years of experience to include non-profit, prospect management, information access and research;
• Proven background in the knowledge and use of computer systems including online databases, internet and public records;
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive materials; and,
• Must work well as a team lead, team participant or independently, with minimal supervision.

You can find out more about what it takes to be a Foundation Officer by visiting our career center.

12 Telecommuting Challenges

Telecommuting is gaining in popularity among employees and even some employers, but workplace issues can still be issues, even if the workplace is home.

Jeff Tenenbaum, who chairs the Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group at Venable LLP, notes that federal and state labor laws still apply, even for telecommuters. There are other considerations that should be heeded when contemplating telecommuting.

• The suitability of certain positions to telecommuting?
• Wage and hour requirements. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state counterparts raise issues for how nonprofits monitor telecommuter work schedules.
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) issues.
• Workers’ compensation laws.
• Implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). An employer is not necessarily required to permit telecommuting merely because it is the employee’s preferred reasonable accommodation.
• Anti-discrimination. Telecommuting typically raises concerns about disparate impact claims, which arise not from intentional discrimination but inadvertent problems arising from company policy.
• Medical leave needs. The most common problem arises when employers use telecommuting to pressure employees not to take medical leave.
• Privacy issues. These can conflict with an employer’s need to monitor the employee’s performance.
• Protection of confidential and proprietary information. Home office equipment such as computers and other devices containing work product and sensitive information should be dedicated to work-related activities only.
• Income taxes. Complications can arise when an employee telecommutes from a different state.
• Tort liability. Liability insurance should cover the telecommuting employee’s home.
• Zoning laws.

Explaining Your Nonprofit's Hiring Policy

When writing a job description for your organization, it is important to hit all the key points job seekers want to know. That means explaining the salary and benefits they will earn, the culture of the nonprofit, and the skills required for the job.

Yet hiring managers shouldn't neglect to explain one other thing about their organization: Its hiring policy.

Most candidates want to know as much as they can about how an organization hires employees. This allows them to set reasonable expectations about when they should hear back. In his book "Managing a Nonprofit Organization," Thomas Wolf wrote that the clearer your policies are, the less chance there is for misunderstandings.

Wolf recommended organizations answer the following questions about their hiring policies:

• How are employees hired and is there a formal process with public notice required?
• Are current employees given first preference for a job vacancy?
• Is there an affirmative action policy?
• Is hiring done solely on the basis of competency and qualifications?
• Is every prospective employee allowed to see a job description?
• Is there an official training period?
• Do temporary or permanent part-time employees enjoy the same rights and benefits as full-time employees?
• How often are salary ranges and job classifications reviewed and by whom?

7 Professional Development Tips

Just because you've finally got the job of your dreams doesn't mean you can relax. On the contrary, you should always be working as hard as you can to impress your superiors so they not only know they made the right choice in hiring you, but also to improve your chance of moving up the ladder.

You should always be thinking about your professional development so you are not stuck doing the same job for an extended period of time. It's not good for your confidence to be working on the same task year after year and getting a promotion will look better on your resume should you ever leave the organization.

The key to climbing up the professional ladder is to make a positive impression on your boss. There are many ways to do this, but here are the seven best tips to make your superior notice your work:

• Go the extra mile by helping your co-workers if they are stuck on a task, or volunteer to take up new responsibilities.
• Have a good attitude. This seems obvious, but it is easy to react negatively when you are given constructive criticism or are assigned work about which you are not excited.
• Be prepared for anything that comes your way.
• When you are done with a task, ask for something new to do without your boss coming to you first.
• Come up with creative solutions for problems that are affecting the organization. This shows you are ready to take initiative on issues that don't necessarily affect you.
• Take constructive criticism seriously. There is no better way to impress your superiors than by actually applying the suggestions they made.
• Try your hardest to be on-time for work every day, and personally phone your boss if you know you are going to be late.

Why Choose A Nonprofit Job?

Cross-Posted From The Nonprofit Job Seeker

It's one of the most commonly asked job search questions out there: “Why should I choose a nonprofit job?” The general perception among a lot of people is that nonprofit work pays very little and requires more work than it's worth.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

While there's no question that nonprofits demand a lot from their employees, most of them pay just as much as for-profit jobs. A quick glance at some statistics in The NonProfit Times´ Salary and Benefits Reports will confirm that you can make very respectable salaries working in the sector. In fact, the average salary for fundraisers in 2011 was $75,595.

Now that we've established that money will not be an issue it's time to move on to another aspect of nonprofit jobs, one that really makes them unique. We live in a country that is placing more and more emphasis on giving back, so the idea of getting paid working for a cause you are passionate for can be very appealing. Being passionate about your work is a great way to reduce burn-out, which in turn will reduce your stress.

Not every nonprofit job you apply to will be great. The truth of the matter is that, like any profession, there will be some less than quality jobs out there. That's why it's helpful to know the characteristics of great nonprofit employers. The following are some that are shared by the organizations listed in The NonProfit Times ' 2012 Best Nonprofits to Work For:

• An open and transparent culture;
• Employees have confidence in organizational leadership;
• Employees feel they have a stake in the goals of the organization;
• An environment that fosters a sense of mutual respect;
• A work environment that is challenging but fun;
• Enough opportunities to relax and socialize with other employees;
• An emphasis on advancing employees' skills; and,
• New ideas are encouraged.

We highly recommend you do enough research before applying to a nonprofit to make sure it meets these characteristics. A good place to start would be the organization's social media pages, as these tend to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of the organization.

Are you convinced that a nonprofit job is right for you? We have plenty of nonprofit jobs listed in our career center, so check it out and see if the right opportunity is out there for you.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Interim Chief Development Officer

Today's featured nonprofit job is a little different than the ones we usually post. While the majority of the jobs posted on the Nonprofit Job Seeker are full-time, this posting is for a position on an interim basis. Specifically, Orr Associates, Inc., is looking to hire an Interim Chief Development Officer.

This renewable one-year contracted position will work primarily with Orr Associates' client, the American Nicaraguan Foundation (ANF), though other clients will also be involved. Working closely with Senior Managers at OAI, this position will develop and implement strategies for ANF in Board Development, Board Management, Major Gifts, Corporate Giving, Development Infrastructure, and Event Fundraising Management.

Other major responsibilities for this job include the following:

• Participate in direct fundraising support and counsel to Orr Associate clients;
• Communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences, including board members, staff, donors, and outside advisors;
• Manage event and campaign fundraising planning and execution to include leadership development, committee management, major gifts, and corporate sponsorship;
• Oversee day-to-day operations and fulfillment of contracted projects;
• Manage project teams and coordinate project work for rest of team; serve as mentor and coach to team members;
• Find solutions and implement new ideas for clients;
• Conduct strategic development planning as necessary and work with boards to implement development plans;
• Collaborate with/participate in strategy, fundraising and event management functions as necessary;
• Work with clients to recruit, train and manage their board of directors; and,
• Manage independent contractors as necessary.

It should be noted that this job may require up to 75 percent of time per week spent at ANF's locations in Miami, Florida, or Nicaragua. You may also have to travel across the United States visiting partners and donors.

If you think you have what it takes to fulfill the role of Interim CDO, visit our career center for full details on the job, including application instructions.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Communications Director

Public relations is an important part of any nonprofit. If an organization is not able to effectively get its message out to the public in a cohesive manner, the mission has little chance of success. That's why Community Action Services and Food Bank (CASFB) in Provo, Utah, is looking to hire a Communications Director.

The Communications Director sets and guides the strategy for all communications, websites, and public relations messages and collateral to consistently articulate CASFB's mission. The chosen candidate will support the agency’s goal to be viewed as the primary local source, disseminator and conduit of information within its diverse network and constituent base.

This position also has a host of other responsibilities. These include but are not limited to the following:

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and the Leadership Team to develop communications strategies that will broaden programmatic reach and deepen impact.
• Develop and refine the agency’s “core” messages to ensure organizational consistency.
• Identify significant media and public policy issues that can be leveraged to support the agency’s work, and create and implement plans to exploit them.
• Serve as the editor for the CASFB's websites.
• Oversee organizational response to inquiries about the agency.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the annual communications plan with the Leadership Team and constituents.
• Lead the generation of online content that engages audience segments and leads to measurable action. Decide who, where, and when to disseminate.
• Put communications vehicles in place to create momentum and awareness as well as to test the effectiveness of communications activities.
• Manage the relationship with the agency’s direct mail campaign company.
• Oversee and approve the content of the direct mailers and regularly review results.

There are many other duties the Communications Director must undertake. You can read the rest of them on our career center, where you can also find instructions on how to apply for the job.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Fundraising And Development Director

We've had a number of fundraising opportunities pop up over the last week or so, but they have mostly been on the East Coast of the country. Today's featured nonprofit job is for those job seekers who live near the West Coast.

CARC, Inc., located in Carlsbad, N.M., is looking to hire a Fundraising and Development Director to develop and coordinate the organization's annual giving, donor stewardship, and campaigns to secure other forms of funding. The chosen candidate will report to the Chief Executive Officer of CARC, and will be paid a salary consummate with experience.

The successful applicant will ideally have a strong background in securing both individual and major gifts. A particular focus will be put on major donors, special events development, and implementation of projects and programs. Other responsibilities include:

• Work with the Finance Director to streamline donation processing and gift entry, and to implement best practices and top-notch customer service for donors;
• Ensure timely and accurate gift entry and generation of acknowledgement letters and other donor recognition;
• Build queries and generate reports and mailing lists;
• Uphold and communicate our shared responsibility for ethical fundraising and development practices and client/donor confidentiality;
• Empower a donor-centered approach;
• Conduct prospect/donor research and wealth screenings;
• Play an active role in the creation and implementation of donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; and,
• Work with the CEO to build and launch a signature fundraising event(s) and other vehicles for donor engagement.

As with any job, there are some requirements candidates must meet to be considered. Here are the qualifications CARC wants from applicants:

• Bachelor's degree or comparable experience;
• 4+ years in a fundraising and development specific role;
• Computer literate and Microsoft Office proficient;
• Flexible and willing to work evenings and weekends, as needed;
• Website and social media savvy a plus;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and,
• Mature problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

Read more about this job by visiting our career center.

10 Words To Leave Out Of Your Resume

It's easy enough to say that you are "hard working" or a "team player" in your resume. It's a little bit harder to actually give meaning to these words by proving it.

When writing your resume, it's important to include as many keywords as possible so that your document will make it past any filter systems the organization has in place. While these terms are important, there are other words that job seekers scatter throughout their resumes that have less meaning.

Proving to hiring managers that you are fit for the job is important, but you should do this by using brief, specific examples of your skills. That means you should leave out generic terms that don't speak enough to how you would help the organization. Below are 10 words that don't do enough to explain why you are the best fit for the organization:

• Aggressive
• Ambitious
• Competent
• Goal-oriented
• Motivated
• Creative
• Self-starter
• Independent
• Meticulous
• Professional

Wanted: Executive Director

There are many important roles at a nonprofit, whether it's the Chief Executive Officer or the Development Officer. One of the other major positions of power is one for which San Juan Safe Communities Initiative, Inc is currently hiring: the Executive Director.

The Farmington, N.M.-based organization is looking for candidates who are organized and have excellent written and oral communication skills to fill the important role of Executive Director. The positions major role at the organization will be to direct and implement all organizational and day to day activities which are aimed at developing a comprehensive, sensible approach to San Juan Safe's mission: Ending substance abuse and criminal activity in the community. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of San Juan County demographics and systems of government, law enforcement and human services.

Other duties include:

• Overseeing all communication between the Board, other committees, task forces, media and the membership;
• Coordinating meetings, including preparation of agendas, minutes and notices;
•  Coordinating with community groups, agencies, and local governments on initiative goals and activities;
• Organizing marketing activities including the creation of multimedia programs to promote awareness and prevention;
• Monitoring the budget; and,
• Negotiating agreements with outside agencies and contractors for services.

A bachelors degree in Sociology or a related field is preferred for this job, but San Juan Safe will consider an equivalent combination of education and experience. All candidates must have office management and supervisory experience.

Read more about how to apply for this job on our career center. Good luck!

Featured Nonprofit Job: Development Manager

The newest featured nonprofit job on the Nonprofit Job Seeker comes from the American Lung Association (ALA) in Georgia, which is looking to hire a Development Manager. Interested? More details are below.

The chosen candidate for this position will lead fundraising activities for ALA in the Metro Atlanta, Ga., area.  This position is responsible for obtaining local development goals through collaboration with local volunteers and community and corporate leaders. The development manager will also assist in recruiting and supporting volunteers for area specific fundraising/subcommittee assignments, assisting  in promoting ALA to local community and training volunteers in fundraising techniques.

Applicants for the position of Development Manager should meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor degree in a related field;
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years experience in nonprofit special event fundraising, community outreach, and committee development;
• Experience in corporate development and third party fundraising;
• Self starter with excellent verbal, writing and computer skills; 
• Extensive local and occasional overnight travel required and must have reliable transportation; and,
• Must be a non-smoker.

If you meet all of these qualifications, head to our career center to learn more about the job and to find out how to apply.

Job Interview Body Language Do's And Don'ts

The day of your job interview has finally arrived and you walk into the building feeling confident. Then something happens when you enter the hiring manager's office: You start to feel nervous. All that confidence seems to disappear and it starts to show in your body language.

What was described above is a nightmare scenario for any job seeker but it's one that happens more often than you think. Anxiety often manifests itself through nervous body language -- crossed arms, constantly fidgeting -- which in turn creates a negative impression on the interviewer.

Bad body language can also haunt interviewees who are not nervous simply because they do not know what constitutes poor posture. Below are some do's and don'ts to inform job seekers what is and what is not appropriate to do during a job interview:

Do:

• Sit up straight and lean slightly forward in your chair.
• Show your enthusiasm by maintaining an interested expression.
• Create appropriate personal space between you and the interviewer. Anything more than 20 inches can make for an uncomfortable situation.
• Don't wear too much perfume or cologne.
• Refrain from staring at the interviewer should an interruption concern, and show your willingness to leave the room if they desire.

Don't:

• Rub the back of your head or neck.
• Rub or touch your nose.
• Fold your arms across your chest.
• Slouch in your chair.
• Stare at the interviewer with a blank expression.
• Fidget with your fingers or shake your legs.

Chief Financial Officer -- Featured Nonprofit Job

When people heard the word "education," the first thing that comes to mind is usually schools. In reality, education can also includes activities such as camps, after-school programs, senior centers, and recovery programs. New York City-based Educational Alliance represents all the different sides of education and the organization is now looking to hire a Chief Financial Officer to ensure it can continue its mission.

The CFO will provide both strategic and tactical, hands-on leadership in the entire range of financial management, from planning and forecasting to budgeting, audit & control, and cash management functions. Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, this position will oversee a team of 15 employees and will frequently interact with the chairs and individual members of the Audit, Finance, Investment and Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

It goes without saying that one of the key qualifications of an effective CFO is a strong background in finance. This is not, however, the only requirement applicants must meet. The Educational Alliance also wants applicants who meet the following criteria:

• CPA is strongly desired, but not required;
• Advanced business degree is desirable;
• Financial leadership experience in a complex not-for-profit organization, ideally in the human service or healthcare communities;
• Familiarity with government funding sources and protocols;
• Experience working effectively with volunteer board leadership;
• Well-versed in information technology operations;
• Extensive management experience with a demonstrated ability to train, motivate and develop staff; track record of leading change; and,
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

There are other requirements you must meet before applying, which you can view by visiting our career center. Once you are sure you fit what the organization is looking for, you are free to apply.

4 Tips For Executive Job Seekers

Searching for executive jobs is a whole different ball game than the typical job search. Job seekers who want these positions must have extensive résumés and cover letters tailored to the executive suite. Typical applications simply will not cut it for these highly sought after jobs.

Job hunters should also update their tactics if they want the best chance of success. Louise Kursmark and Jan Melnik, co-authors of "Executive's Pocket Guide to ROI Résumés and Job Search," wrote that candidates should use the following four strategies to get a leg up on the competition:

• Elevator Speeches: An elevator speech is a brief (usually 30 seconds) summary that is given as introduction to individuals who may be able to help you in your job search. Kursmark and Melink explained that a successful speech will include these four elements: Who you are, what you do, what you're seeking, and any other relevant information.
• Networking Scripts: Always have specific questions at the ready when you attend networking events. You never want to be caught hesitating when asking questions to those who could help your cause. The perception of being unprepared can be a real killer to your hopes of landing an executive position.  An example of a good question to ask would be "Who in your network would be interested in someone with my experience?"
• Leadership Initiative Document: This is something that is unique to the executive level job search. It is a one- or two-page document that will list three to five career-defining stories that describe specific challenges you have encountered, and what steps you took to solve them. You should bring this to your job interviews or leave it behind at any meetings you attend.
• Professional Biography: As the title suggests, this document is used to provide more extensive information about you to the organization. The professional biography has use even after the job search, as it can be the basis for your bio on the company website and press releases.

Two Nonprofit Jobs For The Price Of One

It's not often that we list two featured nonprofit jobs in one blog post, but that is exactly what is going to happen today. Save the Children, based in Westport, Conn., has openings for two positions that will be of interest to those interested in fundraising and marketing: Associate Director of Donor Engagement and Associate Director of Telemarketing.

Let's take a look at the Associate Director, Donor Engagement position first. The chosen applicant for this job will coordinate and execute on outbound communications and fundraising campaigns to increase retention and engagement to sponsors/donors. Working with the Director and Senior Director, this individual will develop effective retention strategies to help continue the growth and success of the retention of existing sponsors & donors and to ensure integration and optimization in multi-channel campaigns.

Other responsibilities include managing donor engagement campaigns and program analysis and evaluation. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in marketing or degree in related field, and a minimum of 3-5 years experience in direct response fundraising and/or marketing.

Save the Children's other open position, Associate Director of Telemarketing, is an ideal job for those individuals who have a passion for marketing. The successful candidate working in this position will be responsible for developing and managing the outbound telemarketing campaigns. The Associate Director will coordinate and execute on outbound communications and fundraising campaigns to increase retention and engagement to sponsors/donors.

A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in telemarketing is required to be considered for this job, as well as a Bachelor's Degree in marketing or a related field.

Interested in one or both of these positions? The Donor Engagement and Telemarketing jobs can be found visiting our career center.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Family Consultants

Not all nonprofit jobs are at the fundraising or executive level; some deal with things that are a little more personal, such as are latest featured nonprofit job.

Elks Aidmore, Inc., a 74-year old family services nonprofit located in Conyers, Ga., is looking to hire Family Consultants after expanding its programs to include therapeutic foster care. These individuals will work with foster families and children to ensure academic, therapeutic and medical needs are met. The chosen candidate will also conduct home visits on a weekly or biweekly basis.

Unlike most of the jobs posted on our site, this position has a strict age limit: All applicants must be at least 21-years old. A Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field is also required, though a Master's Degree of 2-3 years is preferred.

Interested applicants should head to our career center to find out more about this job and to apply.

Find Grants For Your Nonprofit

Looking for grant opportunities? The NonProfit Times is pleased to announce a new addition to our site: The NPT Grant Finder. This new feature allows our readers to browse the latest grants from around the web. We will be adding more in the coming weeks and months.

Here's how it works: There are a number of different grant categories available (i.e. "Conference Funding"). Grants that match those categories will be posted within those categories, with links to the application at the end of each description. From there, you can decide whether or not your nonprofit would be a good match. Here's one of the many grants we already have available:

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Type of Grant: Health, HIV Research
Grant Name: Advancing Exceptional Research on HIV/AIDS
Agency(s): National Institutes on Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse
Closing Date for Applications: Dec. 17, 2012


Description:

The National Institutes on Health along with the National Institute on Drug Abuse is seeking grant proposals for a research project on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. Applicants must have an exceptional track record of conducting groundbreaking, innovative, and/or unconventional investigations on this subject. Examples of a successful application would be a study using populations with significant numbers of drug users; samples from drug using populations; model systems, including in vitro systems and animal models, to test effects of drugs of abuse on pathogenesis, progression, treatment; and developing interventions or treatments that are tailored to drug using populations.

This award will complement NIDA’s Avant-Garde Program (http://ww2.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/arp/AVGP.htm), which supports individuals who conduct high-risk, high-reward research. In contrast with that program, this grant opportunity requires applicants do submit a detailed research plan and preliminary data.

Eligible Organizations:

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• For profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

The NIDA intends to fund an estimate of 2-3 proposals for a total of $1.5 million for Fiscal Year 2013. The maximum period for the proposal is five years, and should be determined by the scope of the project. You can find out more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-13-008.html

Chief Financial Officer Needed: Featured Job

Lutheran Family Services of Virginia, a faith-based social services organization offering a variety of programs to the public, is looking to hire a Chief Financial Officer. Interested? Read on for more details.

Reporting to and partnering with the President & CEO, the CFO will lead all financial administration, business planning and budgeting for Lutheran Family Services of Virginia and serve as a member of the senior leadership team. The CFO will work closely with the finance committee and serve as an advisor to division directors, assisting them with financial planning, economic modeling and evaluating results.

This is an ideal position for those job seekers who have a strong background as a leader with a history of working in an organization that is committed to the social sector. Lutheran Family Services also requests applicants meet the following requirements:

• BA or BS in accounting or finance.
• At least five years experience as CFO or equivalent, preferably in a complex, nonprofit social service or healthcare organization with a budget of at least $15M. If coming from a for-profit environment, nonprofit board experience is preferred.
• Minimum five years (5) years demonstrated experience successfully leading and managing teams with a commitment to developing team members.
• Demonstrated experience and interest in examining, developing, streamlining and re-engineering financial and operational policies and processes for a growing organization.
• Demonstrated understanding of nonprofit financial management, generally accepted accounting principles and regulatory guidelines.
• Ability and willingness to communicate effectively and clearly at all levels in the organization and with external stakeholders, with strong oral, written and presentation skills.

Find out more about this position by visiting our career center. Happy job hunting!

Featured Nonprofit Job: Marketing Specialist

Marketing is an important aspect of any business or nonprofit that wants to make sure the public is aware of its products and services. If you are a job seeker who is interested in this field, you are sure to be interested in our latest featured nonprofit job.

The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, based in Cortez, Colo., is looking to hire a Marketing Specialist to develop and implement marketing strategies and create high-quality communications that engage new audiences, increase participation in its archaeology and travel programs, and meet program-revenue goals. The successful candidate will also work with numerous program developers and content providers and is the project manager, writer, and editor for print and electronic materials that target a variety of audiences and are disseminated in a number of electronic and print venues.

This job will likely appeal to you if you have a strong background in marketing but, before you apply, make sure that you meet the following qualifications laid out by the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center:

• B.S. or B.A. degree in marketing, communications, English, or related field of study;
• Minimum of two years’ experience in market research/strategy and five years’ experience managing projects and producing a wide range of marketing communications; and,
• Must have professional writing experience or experience in a marketing function with writing as a primary responsibility.

Head to our career center to find out more about what it takes to be a Marketing Specialist, and to find out how to apply.

Think Before Accepting A Salary Offer

The good thing about a salary offer is it means you are getting closer to a job. The bad thing is, if you are too quick to accept, you could be costing yourself thousands of dollars.

Some job seekers are so anxious to work that they will accept any dollar amount thrown at them without thinking. This is understandable given the current economic climate, but the desire to have a job doesn't mean you have to settle. You need to make sure you do the proper research into typical salary data for positions to ensure you are being offered a fair deal.

A good tactic to practice in any salary negotiation is to think a little before saying anything. This will indicate to the hiring manager that you aren't entirely sold. If you're lucky, he will up the offer without you having to do anything.

More than likely, however, you will be in for a more protracted negotiation, but your initial hesitation should be enough to show that you are not overwhelmed by the offer. This will give you the opportunity to share the number you had in mind. Assuming you did the proper research, the salary you mention should be in line with industry standards, but that doesn't mean the employer will bend immediately. In fact, there's a good chance they will say "take it or leave it" if they don't have the budget to offer you more. 

If the job is too good to pass up, you could always ask if there will be a chance to have a salary review. If the answer to that question is yes, you should probably take the offer. Otherwise, you should consider looking for another job that will pay you the salary you had in mind.

3 Ways To Negotiate Non-Salary Benefits

Job seekers have a number of priorities when looking for a job, but salary usually ranks highest. While being paid well is important, applicants should also consider the benefits that are offered by the organization for which they applied.

Nonprofits offer a wide range of benefits to their employees, many of which are listed in The NonProfit Times' 2012 Nonprofit Organizations Benefits Report. Job hunters should take a look at the benefits that are usually given to specific positions to ensure they are being offered a fair deal.

With that in mind, here are three ways to negotiate benefits should you get a job offer:

• Research: As was mentioned above, you should research the standard benefits for specific nonprofit jobs. You should also investigate the organization in question; find out how it's doing financially, and only ask for benefits you know it can afford.
• Focus on the Future: There are certain job offers that are just too good to turn down despite the lack of benefits. If this is the case, consider revisiting the situation in a few months after you have shown your worth to the organization. Your superiors could be more inclined to offer you better perks if you have shown yourself to be valuable.
• Prioritize: What benefits are most important to you? You shouldn't hand the employer a laundry list of items you require, but you should be strategic about what you ask for to increase your chances of success. If you have a long commute, for example, it would make sense to ask for flex time.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Senior Director, Foundation Relations

Looking for a nonprofit job? The NonProfit Times' career center, the Nonprofit Job Seeker, has a couple of featured positions online today, including an opening for a Senior Director of Foundation Relations. Interested? Read on for more details.

The American Heart Association (AHA) in San Francisco, Calif., is hiring for this position, which involves building high-level relationships between top foundations that will increase giving to support the organization's mission. The successful candidate will work with volunteers and staff throughout AHA's Western States Affiliates to reach this goal.

AHA has a fundraising goal for this year of $785,200, so an emphasis will be placed on obtaining six-figure gifts.

Think you have what it takes for this job? Before you click that "apply now" button, make sure you meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in English, Communications, Journalism or related field;
• 5+ years’ development experience in the non-profit sector with a successful track record in developing and maintaining high-level foundation relationships, securing foundation grants, stewardship, reporting impactful outcomes, etc.;
• Ability to deal professionally in a corporate and non-profit environment and assume responsibility for guiding grants and programs from inception through completion;
• Exceptional communication skills;
• Ability to work in a fast paced, goal- and deadline-oriented environment with high expectations; and,
• Ability to work outside standard business hours as needed.

Apply today via our career center if you are interested.