Institute for Applied Tinkering - ED candidate profile

CANDIDATE PROFILE

POSITION TITLE

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

PRIMARY LOCATION

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

CREATED FOR

ABOUT IAT

The Institute for Applied Tinkering (IAT) is an organization dedicated to building a 21st-century model of education that radically diverges from the traditional learning experience to empower students and give space for authentic learning experiences This education model is truly unique with an unconventional partnership-based, child-led approach to fostering a lifelong love of exploration and learning in children and teenagers

Innovation

The two programs delivering this approach are Brightworks, a K-12 school in San Francisco that honors student agency by being "the school that says yes" and Tinkering School, a school of thought that delivers day camp, overnight camp, after-school programs, and weekend workshops where kids of all ages learn by doing After operating for more than 16 years, thousands of kids, parents, and educators attest to the richness of experience and lasting impact that IAT delivers

We believe that all children deserve opportunities to engage with their world in creative and adventurous ways, in environments founded on “co-creation, not coercion” We are committed not only to making our programs available to families of all income levels but also to sharing our learnings with parents, teachers, and schools around the world.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director of IAT is responsible for the overall strategy, success, and fiscal strength of the organization and its two programs: Bright Works and the Tinkering School

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced leader who is highly adept at managing multipronged operations, who thrives working collaboratively with people and teams, and who brings models for an organizational strategy that will support and exponentially grow an innovation-driven mission This leader will be able to articulate IAT's innovative pedagogy both externally, to widen impact, and internally through cultivating a culture that leads by example While deepening the organization’s impact through operational excellence, financial controls, and measurable outcomes, the Executive Director will have the opportunity to advance the global impact of our radical approach to K-12 education

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is deeply passionate about the idea that children are inherently capable and should be empowered to drive their own education This passion combined with their executive leadership experience, will inspire, strengthen, and grow the people around them, with the conviction that the IAT education model as something that needs to be shared with the world The ideal candidate has exceptional leadership qualities, able to make bold decisions and take thoughtful risks, and bring everyone along in that process They will be an expert in change management with a track record of improving systems and processes as well as practices that attract and retain talented staff As a spokesperson for the IAT's creative innovation, the Executive Director must have excellent communications skills, effectively building relationships with existing and prospective community stakeholders The Executive Director must also have experience building intentional organizational culture that imbeds values and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the organization

Career Track leading to Executive DIRECTEr

The ideal candidate has worked in or with the social sector and has more than 5 years of experience in operations, internal leadership, or executive positions This individual will have proven success in creating, implementing, managing, and measuring the success of new internal processes Most critically, this individual has a strong understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion work They have demonstrated experience in operationalizing equitable practices both internally and externally and in building organizational cultural practices around an anti-racist framework It is essential for this person to understand and feel passionate about the IAT education model that, by design, is unconventional, non-traditional, flexible, innovative, and revolutionary

POSSIBLE TITLES

Chief Executive Officer Executive Director Superintendent Head of School Chief Operating Officer Chief Administrative Officer Chief Development Officer Chief Diversity Officer Director of Philanthropy Director of Strategy Director of School

HISTORY & IMPACT

The Institute for Applied Tinkering’s mission is to develop, practice, and share educational methods that challenge and support all children to engage deeply in their learning via real interests and real tools. IAT's impact comes from working directly with kids and educators to develop, practice, and demonstrate the efficacy of an alternative path in education, primarily through the Brightworks and Tinkering School programs

Established in 2008, IAT is moving out of the "wild startup years" (as stated by its Board Chair in the 2022 Annual Report) and becoming a more mature, confident, and capable organization. With a new building to house activities, a new Mars Mission STEM project, and increasing workshops and training sessions for educators across the globe, IAT is elevating its mission with an expanded vision for societal impact.

Brightworks is a progressive, engagement driven K-12 school that fosters students’ growth through authentic project-based learning experiences that grow agency, selfadvocacy, and a love of learning Founded in 2011, this school reimagines education, meeting students’ needs in a flexible, mixed-age environment that breaks the conventional walls between school and the community outside the classroom Brightworks offer a broad-spectrum learning environment designed to encourage creative capacity, tenacity, and citizenship

Using the Brightworks arc as a framework for deeply engaged learning, children develop the ability to find wonder and delight in the exploration of any topic Students practice working together to turn ideas into reality, and to learn how to communicate what they have done and why – all in the context of a diverse community of collaborators, families, volunteers, and supporters

Founded in 2005 by Gever Tulley, Tinkering School believes that kids are more capable than they know, and to prove it, we give them real tools to solve real problems By learning through doing, we strive to make mistakes and learn from them, collaborate and make friends, and try harder than usual We also believe that adults can learn, and we work hard to help them learn how to make more space for kids, and to explore and build with them With wood, with metal, with cardboard, and sometimes with paint, Tinkerers work with one another, as well as our unique staff, to team-design and team-create amazing projects

SEARCH TEAM

Envision Consulting has been retained by The Institute for Applied Tinkering to conduct the search for their incoming Executive Officer

Click {link} to make recommendations or to be considered for the role

IAT is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law with respect to employment opportunities

Envision Consulting is a minority-owned firm specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration, and executive leadership transitions With offices in Denver, New York and Los Angeles, our partners and consultants are former executive leaders within nonprofit organizations who are truly inspired by our collective power to lift up the communities we serve Our broad spectrum of services helps increase revenues, expand awareness, and strengthen service delivery to the clients who need us the most

Learn more at www.envisionnonprofit.com.

ALLISON FULLER MANAGING PARTNER