Thank you for your interest in our organization. We are accepting applications until January 31, 2026. Feel free to reach out if you are interested in learning more about us at info@mvmediation.org.
To Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to MV Mediation Succession 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. The Board of Directors are looking for a well-organized leader who understands organizational structures and has a deeply held commitment to our mission, vision, and core values.
The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors, manage the day-to-day operations of the Center and provide collaborative leadership with eight part time staff members. This is not a remote position. The Executive Director will be dedicated to serving community conflict resolution needs and building knowledge of the unique cultures of Martha’s Vineyard and South Coast Massachusetts. Support for our organizational guideposts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Justice will be a core responsibility.
About MV Mediation
MV Mediation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit founded in 1984 to serve Martha’s Vineyard. Following decades of operating as a small organization and working mainly in collaboration with the Edgartown District Court, we now offer an expanded array of dispute resolution services including court referred matters and community-derived cases including consumer, housing, family, divorce, agriculture, estate, generational, and workplace conflict. We offer conflict resolution instruction in the local schools. We serve as the statewide overflow center for the Attorney General’ Local Consumer Program. Since 2013, we have been a core partner with the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) as part of a network of Community Mediation Centers.
Coming from a 2010 budget in the $30,000 range, our budget for FY26 is close to $500,000. Sixty percent of our funding comes from government grants. The remainder of the MV Mediation budget includes twenty percent from fee-for-service, project contracts and course fees along with 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 incoming Executive Director’s work.
We are a dynamic, entrepreneurial, 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. We offer mediation, coaching, facilitation, consumer advocacy, research, workshops and classes. MV Mediation is proud of our high success rate for mutually satisfactory outcomes thanks to our professionally trained service providers.
Plan for leadership transition
For many years, MV Mediation did not have an Executive Director. In 2017 our Lead Mediator took on the newly created position added to her duties as mediation supervisor. Today she holds the dual titles of Executive Director and Education Director. Our goal is to select a successor and provide an opportunity for the incoming Executive Director training in a paid position for up to 3-6 months, as needed. Following a successful transition, the outgoing Executive Director will continue in her existing role as Education Director, supervising and training service providers, continuing teaching classes and workshops, and providing services and consulting as needed.
Summary of Executive Director Responsibilities
Uphold the organization’s mission, vision and core values.
Build a working knowledge of our services, participating in conflict resolution training to deepen expertise, if not already obtained.
Provide steady leadership, collaborate with the Board, staff, and volunteers to develop and implement strategic plans.
Nurture meaningful relationships with community partners, courts, state and local governmental agencies, elected officials contributing to the organization’s positive community reputation while adhering to a complex set of state, organizational, legal and grant parameters.
Lead fundraising, donor, grant writing, publicity, marketing, outreach, and awareness campaigns and projects.
Manage staff; develop and administer personnel policies; conduct periodic performance reviews while preserving and enhancing our collaborative decision-making structure.
Provide financial leadership in partnership with the Board of Directors and Treasurer.
Collaborate with the Director of Education regarding our array of dispute resolution services, courses, projects and research.
Travel as needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/COMPETENCIES
Bachelor’s Degree.
Competent in office management, financial management and budgeting.
Strong writing and verbal skills with ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Experience with staff supervision including collaborative and supportive staff development.
Proficient in email, Word, Excel, Zoom, and systems management.
Expertise in facilitating meetings and work groups.
DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED
Previous experience as an Executive Director, manager and/or supervisor.
Experience in mediation and conflict resolution.
Experience with managing volunteers.
Proficiency with components of a modern office functioning including technology systems.
Masters, PhD or Law degree.
Bilingual/Bicultural.
Community service/non-profit experience.
Publicity and marketing experience.
TO BE DETERMINED WITH FINAL CANDIDATE
Compensation commensurate with experience.
Negotiated limited benefits.
Training and task hand-off, transition managed with present Executive Director.
Note about housing on Martha’s Vineyard
There is extremely limited and expensive housing on Martha’s Vineyard, and we urge applicants to research this matter fully before applying. MV Mediation does not have housing or a housing allowance available for the Executive Director.
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.