Executive Director
SEARCH FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Education Writers Association
Washington, DC
The Education Writers Association (EWA), the nation’s premier professional organization dedicated to advancing high-quality education journalism, invites applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director. EWA is seeking a strategically minded, passionate, and experienced professional to serve in this critical role. The association’s next leader will steer an organization defined by impactful programming and a diverse membership base. It is primed for an exciting new era of growth and evolution.
For more than 75 years, EWA has worked to support and strengthen an expansive community of education journalists and communications professionals with a goal of improving the breadth and depth of education coverage to better inform the public. Today, EWA serves a membership base of approximately 2,000 by providing virtual and in-person professional development events, including its capstone National Seminar; extensive online content and resources; one-on-one support for journalists and writers; fellowships to support in-depth reporting projects; and awards programs that recognize best-in-class reporters and practices. EWA’s next leader will be a strategic thinker who will work to fuse the organization’s track record of success with a compelling vision for the association’s future and will be called upon to establish and strategically guide EWA’s next chapter.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, EWA’s Executive Director will function as an effective, recognized leader within the education journalism and communications space, serving as the leading representative of EWA to its members, donors, partners and allies, and other key stakeholders. Operating within the changing context of education reporting, EWA’s next Executive Director must be an adept steward of the organization’s people, programming, and fiscal resources, ensuring that the association remains relevant and sustainable into the future.
The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated understanding of the field of journalism and the needs of journalists, coupled with senior experience in a nonprofit environment; familiarity working with philanthropic partners; 10 years of management experience in positions of increasing authority and responsibility, with at least 3-5 years at a senior management level preferred; and substantial success in implementing new or adapted organizational strategies. A depth of knowledge regarding education issues and policies is preferred.
Importantly, EWA’s next Executive Director must also possess the drive and ability to embed equity in all of the organization’s efforts, externally and internally. Externally, this requires a deep and nuanced understanding of the unique role that EWA can play in contributing to the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the fields of education journalism and communications. Internally, the Executive Director will be expected to foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at EWA within the lens of transparency, mutual respect, courtesy, and collaboration.
EWA has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist the search committee in its identification and review of candidates for the Executive Director role. Please direct all inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications electronically, in strict confidence, to:
Karen Avery, Brinkley Serkedakis, and Isabelle Atkinson
Isaacson, Miller
