Careers
At Make Way for Books, we know that sharing stories changes lives – especially young ones. We have built an extraordinary team of committed, passionate individuals working to make a real impact in the lives of children, families, and educators in our community. There are thousands of reasons to work at Make Way for Books – the thousands of children, families, and educators we serve every year – but here are a few more reasons why we love to “make way” every day:
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- 4 weeks of paid time off during your first year of employment (including a paid week of winter break), with additional PTO every year you work here
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Retirement match (for full-time employees)
- Annual professional development provided
- More children’s books than you could ever read!
Make Way for Books is an equal opportunity employer. If you are interested in working with us, please see the list below for our current career opportunities.
Chief Executive Officer
Open date: 11/7/2025 Closing date: COB 12/8/2025
Make Way for Books (MWFB) is searching for our next CEO. This is an exceptional opportunity for a collaborative and strategic nonprofit leader who thrives on balancing vision with operational excellence, innovation with stability, and growth with authenticity.
Full-time; Competitive compensation range of $115,000 - $145,000 (DOE), plus comprehensive benefits.
Location: Tucson and/or Phoenix, Arizona (Hybrid with regular statewide travel)
About Make Way for Books
For nearly 30 years, Make Way for Books has been giving all children the chance to read and succeed. Each year, our award-winning programs reach more than 30,000 children, families, and educators across Arizona—empowering adults to inspire a love of reading in the earliest years of life. Through literacy programs, community partnerships, and innovative technology, MWFB ensures that every child—regardless of background—enters school ready to learn and thrive. As we look to the future, MWFB is poised to expand its reach and deepen its impact statewide and beyond. To guide this next chapter, we are seeking an inspiring and visionary Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will lead with integrity, heart, and strategy.
The Opportunity
The next CEO of Make Way for Books will inherit a strong, respected organization with an annual budget of nearly $3.5M and 23 staff. The CEO will work closely with a core leadership team to build upon a foundation of excellence. This leader will have the opportunity to:
- Advance early literacy equity in Arizona and beyond.
- Strengthen and diversify funding through innovative revenue models and partnerships.
- Grow visibility and impact statewide while maintaining MWFB’s vibrant, people-centered culture.
- Lead a talented and values-driven team that believes in the power of literacy to transform communities.
Qualifications
- At least five years of senior nonprofit leadership, including executive-level experience.
- Proven fundraising and partnership development record.
- Experience leading strategic planning, team development, and financial oversight.
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly between Tucson and Phoenix.
- Background in early childhood education, literacy, or human services preferred.
- Bilingual Spanish-English valued.