The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland

The Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) seeks a visionary, collaborative, and experienced leader to serve as its next Executive Director. The Executive Director is the Association’s chief executive officer and is responsible for leading statewide advocacy efforts, supporting effective local school board governance, and managing AASB’s staff, programs, and operations.

The Executive Director works closely with a diverse 15-member Board of Directors representing all regions of Alaska and serves as a visible and trusted voice for locally governed public education, as well as a staff of approximately 25 individuals with expertise across a wide range of board development and student leadership strengths.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief executive officer of the Association.
• Provide leadership and support to the Board of Directors in governance and strategic planning.
• Manage and supervise staff and consultants to carry out the organization’s mission and long-range plan.
• Oversee development and implementation of the annual budget.
• Ensure strong financial controls and fiscal stewardship.
• Represent AASB before the Legislature, state agencies, federal entities and representatives, and partner organizations.
• Oversee effective advocacy strategies that will improve conditions for local school boards and public education.
• Maintain strong relationships with Alaska Native organizations, education partners, and communities.
• Oversee programs and initiatives that advance AASB’s mission.

Application Process

Applicants should submit:

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• At least three professional references that pertain to your skills and qualities that are aligned with this position

Applications will be accepted for a three-week period and are due no later than Friday, March 13, 2026, at 5 PM Alaska Standard Time. Submit paperwork as a PDF to search consultant Timi Tullis at pacregsec22@gmail.com.

Desired Qualifications & Experience

The Board seeks candidates with many of the following attributes:

• Senior leadership experience in education, nonprofit management, or public service.
• Deep understanding of school board governance and the public education system.
• Demonstrated success in legislative advocacy and coalition building.
• Strong fiscal management and organizational leadership skills.
• Experience leading and supporting professional staff.
• Ability to articulate a compelling vision for public education in Alaska.
• Extensive knowledge of Alaskan communities, Alaskan cultures, and an ability to build consensus and honor the priorities of key groups.
• Experience with diverse funding streams and management, including: fee-for-service, fundraising, grants, and government contracts.
• Experience collaborating with partner organizations.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience developing a high-achieving, collaborative, and supportive organizational culture.
• Comfortable with extensive travel both within Alaska and Nationwide.

Keys to Success for this Position

To be successful in this job, candidates will excel in four areas:

Relationship-building: Develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders and can bring coalition partners from marginalized and high-influence communities. Build alliances and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests.

Drive to achieve results: Demonstrate a track record of accomplishing ambitious goals and getting results even when there are obstacles. Set a high bar and meet it by anticipating hurdles and developing pragmatic solutions. Ability to plan backwards and involve stakeholders appropriately.

Inclusive leadership and management: Approach leadership with a mindset of power with and regularly include others in decision-making. Experience managing multiple projects and keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. Use resources wisely, and manage a team of staff and consultants to leverage time and talent for impact.

Commitment to educational equity and our members: Understand how history, geography, and other factors impact educational outcomes. Consistently amplify community voices to advocate for what students and families need. Work on personal biases and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.