Position Guide Chief Executive Officer

Transcription

1 Position Guide Chief Executive Officer

2 POSITION: REPORTS TO: LOCATION: Chief Executive Officer Board of Directors Evanston, IL MISSION Youth & Opportunity United, Inc. (Y.O.U.) is a youth development agency that provides services and leadership to meet the emerging needs of young people and their families in our community. VISION It is our goal that all young people acquire the skills, self-confidence, and opportunity to participate fully, freely, and responsibly in the life of the community. ABOUT Y.O.U. Youth & Opportunity United is a premier youth development organization located in Evanston, Illinois, a north suburb of Chicago. Established in 1971, Y.O.U. works to ensure every young person has the opportunity to succeed by working with families, schools, and community partners to provide academic, social, and emotional support where it is most needed, closing the gap between youth and opportunity. The last five years have been exciting at Y.O.U. as it has grown in scale and strategy to meet the needs of young people in their community. Y.O.U. now serves over 1,600 low-income youth and reaches over 4,000 family members through three integrated strategies: Out-of-School-Time Learning: Y.O.U. provides daily afterschool and summer learning programs at eleven high-need schools in Evanston and Skokie. Youth receive individualized academic assistance, participate in experiential learning programs, learn life skills, and enjoy high-quality recreational, social, and emotional enrichment activities. Other projects have included efforts to reduce bullying, promote healthy lifestyles, and prevent violence. Mental Health Counseling: Y.O.U. counselors deliver thousands of hours of mental health counseling each year to youth in its programs through group therapy sessions, case management, crisis intervention, and individual and

3 family counseling. Counselors also provide referrals to parents in need of health and career resources, linking them to local hospitals, government agencies, churches, and social service agencies such as St. Francis Hospital, Howard Area Community Center, Youth Job Center of Evanston, Response Center, Turning Point, and the Department of Human Services. Y.O.U. is also a service provider for CCBYS (Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services) in its area, operating a 24/7 hotline for youth that need emergency housing assistance. Parental Leadership and Engagement: Y.O.U. supports parents and caregivers in creating safe, healthy, and nurturing homes by engaging them in regular family nights, leadership development opportunities, and peer learning exchanges. Y.O.U. engages parents through one-on-one meetings during the intake process and then maintains regular contact with parents through progress reports and phone calls. Based on Y.O.U. s ongoing evaluation of its programs, its current success is attributed to four core characteristics of its program model: Accessible: Y.O.U. offers its services for free at school-based sites that are familiar and convenient to families. Holistic: Y.O.U. s model of integrating learning, counseling, and wraparound supports ensures that youth are successful academically, socially, and emotionally. Trauma-informed: All of Y.O.U. s services incorporate clinical practices in order to recognize and address the mental health needs of its youth. Collaborative: Y.O.U. partners with schools, families, and more than 50 community-based agencies to provide its youth with opportunities across all their environments: in school, at home, and in the community. According to the evaluation data from the program year: 96% of Y.O.U. youth are improving or maintaining in their ability to make healthy choices; 93% of Y.O.U. youth are building their confidence; and 85% of Y.O.U. youth are improving or maintaining their academic performance (according to teacher surveys). Meanwhile, Y.O.U. has been widely recognized for its high-impact program model. In the last three years: Y.O.U. was awarded the Education Impact Award by United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (UWMC). Y.O.U. was the single recipient of the award (out of hundreds of agencies in the region) because of its holistic and transformative impact on youth and families. Y.O.U. was competitively selected by Invest For Kids (IFK) for its cost-effective impact. Y.O.U. was the first north suburban agency to receive the award in IFK s history. 3

4 Y.O.U. received the Philanthropy Award for Best Human Services Family, Youth and Child from Make It Better magazine for utilizing innovative practices to make an impact. Y.O.U has an annual budget of approximately $4.7M and 76 full and part-time staff. Y.O.U. is governed by an active, engaged, 25-member Board of Directors. Y.O.U. also benefits from its Associate Board, which consists of individuals (typically former Board members) appointed to serve in an advisory capacity, as well as from the advice and counsel of community members who serve on standing committees and work groups. THE OPPORTUNITY Y.O.U. has been in a period of transition and transformation over the past five years. Critical changes and growth in programming have been magnified by the recent success of its $16M Campaign for Youth Opportunity, which included launching an endowment and building Y.O.U. s new home in central Evanston across the street from Evanston Township High School. Just opened in February 2017, this new facility will serve as a new hub of activity for children and youth in the community. The success of this campaign has elevated the profile of the organization both in Evanston and Chicagoland. The campaign also strengthened the programmatic outreach of Y.O.U. For example, Y.O.U. piloted a set of psycho-education groups in areas ranging from culinary therapy to wilderness therapy that have now become a flagship of its programming. The campaign s success also allowed for the creation of a $2 million endowment. With the Board of Directors committed focus on growing this endowment, the Chief Executive Officer will play a prominent role in the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, both for the endowment and for the continued resources coming from private sources, which constitutes almost half of Y.O.U. s funding. As Y.O.U. moves forward, the Board of Directors has agreed upon a singular goal for all of Y.O.U. s services: to close the opportunity gap by preparing youth for postsecondary and life success. Grounded in the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research Framework for Young Adult Success, this vision aims to advance youth success through Out-of-School Time Programming, build youth resilience through Clinical Counseling and Outreach, and cultivate deep parental engagement through Family Support and Empowerment. This vision will be realized through a pathway approach that reaches children and youth in elementary, middle, and high school through a comprehensive, interest-driven, and age-appropriate program structure. Y.O.U. seeks a Chief Executive Officer who will leverage the opportunity to execute this vision, growing the scope of services and the impact of the organization as it 4

5 continues to transform its role in advancing youth success. Supported by an energized, committed Board of Directors and working with a dedicated staff, the Chief Executive Officer will be charged with furthering the growth and impact of Y.O.U. while successfully managing the organization through a period of change and innovation. POSITION SUMMARY The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership of the organization, ensuring delivery of the highest quality services while safeguarding its financial stability. As the leader of the organization, the CEO reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for: implementing a sound strategic plan to address the growing needs of Y.O.U. and its community; representing the organization as its key spokesperson and chief fundraiser; developing and managing the organization s overall finances; collaborating with other leaders and decision makers in the broader civic, education, business, youth development and human services community of Evanston, Skokie, Chicago and the region; providing the vision to address future challenges and opportunities; managing and leading the staff and fostering an organizational climate to develop and build staff competencies and equitable policies and practices; and supporting innovation and strengthening community. CANDIDATE PROFILE We seek a proven leader whose passion for service is demonstrated by a genuine dedication to improving the lives of children and youth. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in leading strategic and high-level decision making, particularly in times of organizational change and transformation, and will bring novel approaches and ideas to the organization. The candidate will be adept at using keen interpersonal skills to coalesce multiple internal and external stakeholders around common goals. He or she must embody the highest ethical standards and demonstrate a balance of business savvy with a commitment to responsible program delivery and mission. A demonstrated ability to develop and maintain highly professional relationships with business, government, civic, and nonprofit leaders is required. The person we seek is a big-picture thinker who can articulate a compelling vision for the organization in an ever-changing external environment. S/He will be able to act and react with flexibility and to use intuitive reasoning in decision making. Experience in fundraising and securing long-term support through active relationship management is required. This person should demonstrate a high proficiency to organize, analyze and prioritize as well as the proven ability to delegate to and work with a highly professional senior leadership team. The ability to lead staff of a wide spectrum of ages, in an inspirational manner where employee development and recognition operate at a high level, is expected. The qualified candidate must demonstrate success in reaching out to and proactively engaging with a variety of stakeholders and constituents. Communicating effectively with people of diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds is a must. An ability to build rapport with and enfranchise those who have varying viewpoints and different 5

6 perceptions is a highly valued skill set. As the key spokesperson for the organization, this person must be able to speak extemporaneously and passionately about the mission of Y.O.U. A proven ability to direct and manage the finances, budget preparation and oversight, and grants administration within a complex organization is highly valued. First-hand experience in after-school programming and planning and/or public administration is a plus. Career experience in a top management position in an organization with a similar mission is ideal. Impeccable integrity and sound judgment are essential to success in this role. We seek a person whose strength of character is well demonstrated, whose demeanor is composed and unflappable, and who is open and accessible as well. Energy, natural optimism and the ability to be a good listener and quick learner are important personal attributes. A master s degree from an accredited academic institution in a related field is strongly preferred. Evidence of continuing education, certification and executive level training is desirable. To apply, please send a current resume and letter of introduction to Kittleman & Associates, LLC at For more information about Youth & Opportunity United, visit 6