To Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to MV Mediation Screening Committee @ info@mvmediation.org.

Executive Director

Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Center is seeking a full-time Executive Director to join our team. The newly hired Executive Director will provide strategic and financial leadership during a period of continued growth and expansion of services. We are looking for someone who has a commitment to our mission, vision, and core values as a conflict resolution organization. The successful candidate will develop a strong skill set in one or more of the conflict resolution services offered by our organization, if not already attained.

The Executive Director will manage the day-to-day operations of the Center and provide collaborative leadership with seven part time staff members, along with the Board of Directors. The Executive Director will be dedicated to serving our local community needs and building knowledge of the unique cultures of Martha’s Vineyard and South Coast Massachusetts and will be in support of our multi-year commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as an overall guidepost for our organization’s efforts.

About MV Mediation

MV Mediation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit founded in 1984 by the local District Court to serve Martha’s Vineyard. For many years, we operated as a relatively small organization working mainly in the Edgartown Small Claims Court. We now offer an expanded array of dispute resolution services through the courts and our work in the communities we serve. During the last two decades, we focused on community-derived cases including consumer, family, estate disputes and divorces. Since 2013, we have worked under the umbrella of the MA Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) as part of a network Community Mediation Centers in the Commonwealth. We serve four District Courts in Bristol County as well as Dukes County to provide mediation for housing, civil and small cases, as well as cases from Probate and Family and Juvenile courts.

Coming from a 2010 budget in the $$30,000 range, our budget for FY25 is upwards of $400,000. Sixty percent of our funding comes from government grants including a significant Massachusetts Commonwealth operating grant through the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration. We also receive government funding from the Massachusetts Trial Court and the State Attorney General’s office. The remainder of the MV Mediation budget includes twenty percent from fee-for-service, project contracts and course fees plus twenty percent from community donations and small grants. Fund-raising, grant writing, donor relationships and a commitment to fulfilling our budget goals will be an important part of the Executive Director’s work.

We are a dynamic, growing, and somewhat complex organization. Even though we are relatively small, we offer a variety of services and programs and support a large roster of mediators, coaches and other service providers, many of whom are volunteers. The services we offer are mediation, coaching, facilitation, consumer advocacy and educational workshops and classes. The areas we work in include agriculture, housing, community conflicts, estate, elder affairs, consumer disputes, divorce and family, youth, and schools as well as Court derived cases. Our goal is to say yes to any project or case that involves unresolved conflicts; we have a high success rate for mutually satisfactory outcomes through our professionally trained service providers.

Plan for leadership transition

For many years, MV Mediation did not have an Executive Director, and daily operations were under the overseen by an Executive Committee. In 2017 as Director and 2019 as Executive Director, our Lead Mediator took on the newly created position in addition to her other duties. Our goal is to select her successor by the spring of 2025 and provide an opportunity for the incoming Executive Director to work in partnership while training in a paid position for up to 3-9 months. Following a successful transition the outgoing Executive Director plans to continue in her existing role as Education Director, supervising and training service providers, continuing to offer classes and workshops, direct service provision and consulting when needed.

Summary of Executive Director Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Board, staff, and volunteers to develop and implement strategic plans that address the Center’s Mission and Vision.
Develop and nurture meaningful relationships with community partners, courts, state and local governmental agencies, and elected officials.
Provide financial leadership in partnership with the Board of Directors and Treasurer to manage all finances including annual budget development, internal and external reporting, accounting systems, and payroll procedures.
Administrative oversight of vendors, purchases, and contractors.
Provide leadership and reporting with and to the Board in all phases of its work.
Manage, lead, recruit, and hire all staff; develop and administer personnel policies; conduct periodic performance reviews.
Lead fundraising, donor campaign and grant writing approach.
Lead publicity, marketing, outreach, and awareness campaigns.
Collaborate with the Director of Education regarding our array of dispute resolution services.
Attend to program compliance with various grant requirements.
Maintain productive relationships with partnerships and networks.
Monitor and contribute to the organization’s positive community reputation.
Manage adherence to a complex set of state, organizational, legal and grant expectations.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

Well organized oversight of systems and processes.
Bachelor’s Degree. Masters, PhD or Law degree desired.
Will participate in appropriate conflict resolution training.
Competent in office management, financial management and budgeting.
Competent in grant-writing and fund-raising.
Strong writing and verbal skills with ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Experience in collaborative staff supervision.
Proficient in email, Word, Excel, Zoom, and systems management.
Will work in-person on Martha’s Vineyard as needed while in training.

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

Previous experience as an Executive Director, manager and/or supervisor

Experience in mediation and conflict resolution.
Experience with managing volunteers.
Computer & tech systems proficiency.
Bilingual/Bicultural.
Community service/non-profit experience.
Publicity and marketing experience.

TO BE DETERMINED WITH FINAL CANDIDATE

Combination of in-person and remote work with the awareness that the position requires a hands-on presence.
Compensation commensurate with experience. Competitive salary is available with negotiated benefits.
Training and task hand-off transition managed with present Executive Director.

Note about housing on Martha’s Vineyard

There is limited available housing on Martha’s Vineyard, and we urge applicants to research this matter fully before applying. MV Mediation does not have housing available.

MV Mediation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate in employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, disabilities, genetics, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy-related conditions, political beliefs or other EEOC protected status areas.