MANAGING DIRECTOR

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

Small Planet Institute is seeking a Managing Director to oversee all personnel, operational, financial, and strategic aspects of our institute. The Managing Director works closely with Frances in key aspects of our work, including publication strategy and outreach, which includes sharing our solutions-oriented messages to an ever-wider audience through many forms of media, setting priorities, and creating a strong office community. The Managing Director also manages all calendars, speaking engagements, and events for the institute, as well as our community of interns, contractors, and staff. This position oversees our finances, with the help of a strong off-site accountant, negotiates fees for engagements, recruits and helps guide the work of interns and contractors, and oversees use of our Cambridge office.  

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Work closely with Frances to help set priorities, strategy, and measure progress.  

• Foster an energizing, effective, respectful, focused, and collaborative work environment. 

• Coordinate Frances’ calendar and media/speaking engagements, including contract negotiations, travel arrangements, and event promotion. 

• Recruit, train, and supervise team of interns and, occasionally, part-time staff and contractors to contribute to ongoing writing, special projects, and other organizational needs. 

• Oversee our digital communications, including social media, websites, published articles, and our quarterly e-newsletters. Technical support in these tasks is available as needed. 

• Ensure coverage of Frances’ needs for research, copy-editing and fact-checking for her blogs, articles, reports, or books.  

• Manage organizational payroll and budget, supported by our accountant, and prepare monthly and annual financial reports for Board of Directors. 

• Manage office space & equipment and ensure technology support. 

• Coordinate occasional public events in our office. 

• Note, this position does not involve organizational fundraising. 

DESIRED BACKGROUND, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS  

• Undergraduate degree in business, political science, environmental studies, food policy, or related field; Graduate work would be a plus. 

• Superb operational, organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills with attention both to detail and to creating to a supportive environment for our office space. 

• Excellent multi-tasking and time management skills. 

• Sophisticated interpersonal and people management skills including strong verbal and written communication skills; Previous experience in team management preferred.  

• Excellent project management and team building skills. 

• Bookkeeping, payroll, and budgeting experience. 

• Aptitude for collaborative work. Ability to excel with minimal direction and supervision, while able to follow directions when given. 

• Proficiency and/or willingness to learn common computer programs and sites (Wix, Hootsuite, Mailchimp, Gusto, Box, Google Drive, etc).   

• Previous experience providing administrative support and/or managing a small office. 

• A passion for democratic social movements, Frances’ work, and the mission of the Small Planet Institute.  

• COVID-19 vaccination. 

JOB LOCATION + TIME COMMITMENT 

This is a full-time (40-hour/week) in-person position. This position’s schedule will be 9am-5pm ET, Monday – Friday, at our Cambridge office, but occasionally work hours may vary to meet deadlines.  Communication availability during off-hours is preferred but not required. Small Planet Institute is conveniently located near the Harvard T, and our office is informal, spacious, and cheery. Address: Small Planet Institute, 2nd floor upstairs at 12 Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. 

BENEFITS 

• Salary: $48,000/year. 

• Additional salary to cover costs of MassHealth Plan for a single individual. 

• Generous vacation, sick time, and holiday policies. 

• Exposure to and connection with many organizations doing important democracy, food, & climate work. 

• And, of course, the opportunity to work one-on-one with Frances as her primary collaborator and partner. 

HOW TO APPLY 

To apply please submit your resume and cover letter to info@smallplanet.org. We seek to fill the position for a May 1st start date and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.   

Thank you for your interest!