Employment Opportunities at the Goethe

Executive Director
•    Full-time
•    Compensation: Salary, Healthcare, Parking
•    Employment is at will
•    Currently located in Mid-town Atlanta, GA
•    Reports to Board of Directors 
•    Staff and organizational support include Language Director, Marketing & Outreach Director, Business Manager, plus Teachers and Volunteers
 

Organization

The primary focus of the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta, a nonprofit organization, is to foster cultural relationships between German-speaking people and the southeastern United States and to facilitate and present projects of national and international scope to promote a better understanding of German culture, language, and society within the larger context of European and American life. 

Responsibilities

The Executive Director has three major accountabilities. First, nurture and grow the German language program. Second, produce cultural events to engage and inform the community. Third, build and nurture reciprocal relationships with other German cultural organizations, benefactors and members. Success will require regular and open communication with the Board, and active leadership and management of the staff and volunteers. The Executive Director will report to the Board and its Chair.

Language Program

The Executive Director will be accountable for growing the German language program and maintaining the standards and affiliation with the Goethe-Institut. This will be led by the Language Director through curriculum, teacher staffing and development, class scheduling and enrollment, and recruiting and/or training certified examiners to administer Goethe-Institut certificate exams. The language program must be able to accommodate both in-person and remote learning based on student interest. The Executive Director will help to develop, attain and renew language training contracts for corporate clients within the Southeastern U.S. region.  

Cultural Events and Outreach

The Executive Director will be a representative of the greater German-speaking, German cultural and arts communities which will require hosting a variety of cultural events, some in liaison with various affiliates of the Goethe-Institut. This will require building relationships and collaborations with other German cultural and philanthropic organizations as well as individuals interested in the German language and culture.

Management

The Executive Director will be responsible for the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta daily operations, developing appropriate training for the staff and teachers, and offering support in organizational tasks and projects. Personnel decisions are the responsibility of the Executive Director with approval by the Board.

Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with an affiliated language business. The Board expectation is that the Executive Director will lead and manage the organization according to the standards of the Goethe-Institut and good business principles. This includes timely filing of personnel, financial, business licensing requirements. Regular and open communication with the Board and the Board Chair are key to success.

Financial Management

Together with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will work to ensure the organizational stability and overall financial health of the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta. This includes developing an annual budget and corresponding fundraising plan (complete with goals, objectives and activities). The Board and Executive Director will share responsibility for identifying and engaging new donors, sponsors, and partners.

The authority for approval for the Executive Director is in general determined by the Board and in alignment with the annual budget. Unbudgeted expenses in excess of $1,000 require separate board approval.

Should you be interested in this position please send your resume to director@german-institute.com. Only qualified candidates and candidates eligible to work in the U.S. for any employer will be considered.
 

Business Manager

• approx. 20 hours per week (hours are flexible)
• employment is at will

Organization:

The mission of the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta, a §501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to foster cultural relationships between German-speaking people and people of the southeastern United States as well as to facilitate and present projects of national and international scope to promote a better understanding of German culture, language, and society within the larger context of European life.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

The primary role of the Business Manager is to support the Executive Director in tasks related to Accounting, Human Resources, and Donor/Membership Management for the organization.  The Business Manager reports directly to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.

Tasks include but are not limited to:

Administrative and Accounting Duties

•  Prepare and record bank deposits
•  Process invoices and bill payments
• Record all incoming and outgoing financial transactions
• Perform monthly reconciliations
• Maintain vendor documentation, such as W9s
• Assist in preparation of budget(s) and forecasts
• Verify that transactions comply with policies and procedures
• Track compliance and other institutional deadlines
• Prepare month-end journal entries, financial statements, and  reports
• Prepare and review balance sheet, profit/loss statements, and other reports to summarize and interpret current and projected financial position of organization for the ED and the Board of Directors.

HR Management

• Maintain personnel files and other HR-related records
• Conduct onboarding of new hires
• Renew insurance policies
• Track PTO

Donor and Membership Management

• Organize Midyear and End-of-year Campaigns
• Issue donation receipts
• Process and track memberships
• Conduct end-of-year grant reporting

Team Effort

• Actively participate in team meetings
• Assist others on the team when needed
• Other duties as assigned by Executive Director

Qualifications and Experience:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Finance or Business Management preferred
• 4-6 years of relevant work experience
• Accounting or bookkeeping experience with U.S. GAAP
• Experience with accounting software, ideally QuickBooks and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Strong attention to detail
• High degree of confidentiality
• Ability to multitask, plan, organize, and prioritize work
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of a nonprofit work environment
• A strong interest in German culture
• Conversational German skills a plus
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds

How to apply:

Please send your cover letter and resume to Dr. Jennifer Gerndt at director@german-institute.org.
Only qualified candidates and candidates eligible to work in the U.S. for any employer will be considered.

Language Program Director

Language Program Director: approx. 20 hours per week (may include weekends and evenings); can supplement position with teaching hours to reach near full-time status; employment is at will

Organization:

The primary focus of the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta, a nonprofit organization, is to foster cultural relationships between German-speaking and people of the Southeastern United States and to facilitate and present projects of national and international scope to promote a better understanding of German culture, language and society within the larger context of European life.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

Under the direction of the Executive Director and with the assistance of the Associate Language Program Director, the Language Program Director coordinates the activities related to the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta’s language programs, including, but not limited to managing a team of 15+ teachers and ensuring that students’ needs are met. In addition, the Language Program Director plays a key role in proposing and implementing strategies for the continuing expansion of the language program.

Tasks include but are not limited to:

Management of Teacher Team

• Recruiting new teachers (together with executive director)
• Ensuring the quality of instruction in compliance with the Goethe-Institut standards
• Building communication between teachers and staff
• Coordinating Goethe-Institut exams and – if certified examiner – administering these exams

Client Management

• Evaluating proper level placement for students
• Ensuring the continued satisfaction of students
• Identifying potential new individual and corporate clients

Growth and Strategy

• Working with the executive director to propose educational programs and policies which will lead to increased revenue
• Increasing student enrollment by proposing classes, programs and policies
• Representing the Goethe-Zentrum within the larger foreign language education community

Administration

• Overseeing the curriculum and policies (under the direction of the executive director)
• Managing classroom technology
• Assisting with language program marketing
• Managing teachers’ schedules (at the center and with corporate or private accounts)

Team effort:

• Actively participating in team meetings
• Assisting others on the team when needed
• Participating in and assisting with Educational Outreach programs
• Participating at Goethe-Zentrum events (may include weekends and evening)

Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Fluent in German and English (native or near-native
• Master’s Degree or equivalent in German or Education preferred
• Extensive experience teaching German as a foreign language (Certificate of Teaching German as a Foreign Language and Goethe-Institut examiner’s certificate a plus)
• Strong interest in and knowledge of German culture
• Excellent customer service skills
• Understanding of a nonprofit work environment such as a Goethe Institut/Zentrum or similar organization
• Experience managing groups of people from diverse backgrounds
• The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic employee who values the importance of and recognizes challenges associated with learning a new language.

How to apply:

Send cover letter and resume to Dr. Jennifer Gerndt, via e-mail: director@german-institute.org.

Deutsch Lehrende

Wir suchen engagierte, dynamische und kompetente Lehrkräfte für unsere Deutschkurse am Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta. Unsere Kurse finden überwiegend abends und am Wochenende statt. Wir bieten vornehmlich Erwachsenenkurse (Einzel- und Gruppenunterricht), aber auch Kinder- und Jugendkurse an.

Einstellungsvoraussetzungen / Lehrerqualifikation

• Muttersprache Deutsch (oder gleichwertige deutsche Sprachkenntnisse)
• fachbezogener Hochschulabschluss, vorzugsweise DaF und/oder Germanistik, ggfs. andere fremdsprachliche Philologie
• mehrjährige DaF-Lehrerfahrung, vorzugsweise im Erwachsenenbereich
• US-Arbeitserlaubnis (per Green Card oder US-Staatsbürgerschaft)
• Bereitschaft zur regelmäßigen Teilnahme an den Lehrertreffen
  
  Unter besonderen Umständen sind – nach Ermessen der Sprachleitung – Ausnahmen zu den oben genannten Anforderungen möglich.

Einarbeitung / Hospitationsphase und Lehrprobe

• Hospitation von mindestens sechs Kurstreffen auf zwei verschiedenen Kursstufen bei zwei verschiedenen Lehrkräften im Laufe eines Unterrichtsquartals (Winter, Frühjahr, Sommer oder Herbst)
• Durchführung und bestehen einer Probestunde (mit Vor- und Nachbesprechung) 
• Neue Lehrkräfte werden zunächst vorzugsweise in allgemeinsprachlichen Standardkursen der Niveaus A 2 und B 1 eingesetzt. 

Bitte senden Sie Ihre Bewerbungsunterlagen an: Dr. Jennifer Gerndt, Executive Director.