POSITION DESCRIPTION YAVAPAI BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS (YBBBS) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER The Board seeks an experienced executive to inspire, lead and strengthen YBBBS as it continues to support our youth with one of the most effective mentoring programs in the country. Founded in 1971 with a Vista Volunteer Grant and sponsorship of the Prescott Youth Center, Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters has been stewarded by community leaders and led by its respected CEO Kathleen Murphy ever since. With Ms. Murphy stepping down from the position and wishing to support a smooth transition, the Board seeks a leader able to build upon 40+ years of success. YBBBS has one of the highest rates of matched youth per capita in the country, and the primary goal of the new CEO is to double the number of children mentored annually from 500 to 1,000 over the next five years. YBBBS operates in the belief that every child has the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Recognizing that some children need added support as they grow and explore the world, Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteers step up to provide that help. YBBBS evidence based programs pair each child with a role model in one-to-one relationships built on trust and friendship that can blossom into a future of unlimited potential. Most children served by YBBBS are in single-parent and low-income families, and the positive impact of YBBBS mentoring is both clear and profound. This is particularly true for mentored boys who experience dramatically fewer interactions with law enforcement and dramatically improved school performance. Mentored girls experience similar beneficial impacts. Meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ( Bigs ) and children ( Littles ), ages 6 until age 18 form the core of the program. Bigs go through an application and thorough interview process, are trained and supported by an experienced staff, join a mutually supportive community of volunteer leader/mentors, and experience the joy of transforming the lives of children. Littles are enrolled by parents and teachers, and as they are themselves mentored they also transform the lives of their Bigs. YBBBS also serves as an information clearing house for all involved, connecting children and their parents to various other support organizations, education professionals, social service, health and other partners. In this way YBBBS is at the center of a virtuous circle that improves the lives of all involved across Yavapai County. Yavapai County has a total area of over 8,100 square miles, which is just a bit smaller than the area of New Jersey. The geography is incredibly diverse with a stunningly beautiful landscape, spanning the Sonoran Desert to the south and mountains that reach almost 8,000 feet. County population is approximately 220,000, with a median age of 49 that is older than Arizona and the USA as a whole. Yavapai s population clusters around Prescott and Verde Valley, and YBBBS serves children in 19 communities throughout Yavapai County, through administrative offices in Prescott and a smaller Verde Valley office in Cottonwood. YBBBS has an annual budget of approximately $1.2m, 30 staff and a committed Board of 16 with 5 on the Executive Committee. YBBBS is always mindful of the awesome responsibility that adults bear for the safety and security of children and for the joyful positive experience of children being mentored. YBBBS new CEO must have vision, management experience with a proven track record of quality execution, be evidence-based, and have a track record of fundraising success.
BASIC FUNCTION The will provide the overall leadership and strategic direction for the organization. Supported by a capable management team, staff and volunteers, he/she will manage the organization s operations, security for children, personnel, programs, fundraising, infrastructure, and finances. The CEO will lead and build relationships with appropriate public and private agencies across the county and at the state and federal levels; and will increase the beneficial impact of YBBBS's programs on children and families in the community. The CEO s primary responsibility will be to strengthen the organization and drive the evolution of programs and services. The CEO will ensure that YBBBS is fiscally sound, and that its programs continue to be of the highest quality and provide a secure context for mentoring, while also evolving to address the changing needs of children currently served and those outside of the current circle of service who require support. The CEO will be the chief advocate for Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters, its programs and operations, and is expected to speak prominently and passionately about YBBBS and the children and families served by the organization. Immediate priorities include: Thoroughly understand YBBBS s history and culture; its Board, staff, volunteers, families and children served and associated organizations within Yavapai County and across Arizona; YBBBS s finances and funding; and programs, services and advocacy; Regularly update the Board on YBBBS finances and activities; provide timely and concise state of the organization assessments; evolve a strategic roadmap for the organization s continued growth; Establish collaborative working relationships with the organization s leaders, staff, community partners, and constituencies, paying special attention to the volunteers who form the backbone of the organization; foster and sustain a culture of cooperation, trust, communication, mutual support, teamwork and integrity; Be the driving force for all fundraising that is pursued in collaboration with Board members and volunteers throughout the community; establish personal relationships with individual donors, foundations, and businesses that are able to fund YBBBS programs; develop and periodically update a fundraising plan that includes staff and Board roles and responsibilities, and that is focused on developing increased individual, foundation, business and government support for YBBBS programs and services. Ensure that YBBBS maintains a solid, safe and secure operational foundation in support of its mission; provide continuing assessment and professional development of staff to ensure organizational growth, doubling the number of children and youth mentored over the next five years. Ongoing responsibilities of the CEO will include: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT Plan, lead and implement programs designed to strengthen and increase the number of Big and Little match relationships, while setting high standards for a safe and secure 2
mentoring environment, and for recruiting/training new Bigs; Provide day-to-day oversight of programs; monitor and report on operational effectiveness; identify, implement and continuously improve on best practices for mentoring services for children; Cultivate strategic partnerships that enhance services delivered to children and their families. COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY Provide visibility for YBBBS, by serving as a credible, articulate and effective spokesperson, in person and in writing; reinforce and build positive understanding of and reputation for YBBBS s work; actively cultivate and promote the YBBBS brand, ensuring that the organization remains the must-join nonprofit in Yavapai County; Ensure that YBBBS is recognized for its leadership, particularly in shaping and delivering safe and secure mentoring services for children and youth; develop and report on evidence-based outcome metrics, ensuring that the organization is covered by media outlets and is promoted through diverse civic organizations. FUNDRAISING AND DONOR DEVELOPMENT Be accountable for YBBBS s fundraising success, and view all activities, programs, board and staff members, events, contacts and relationships as opportunities to market and raise funds for YBBBS through: o major gifts from individuals, and business and corporate sponsorships, o grants from local and national foundations, o contributions associated with particular YBBBS events, programs and projects, o restricted giving campaigns, o planned giving, o matching gifts, o direct mail and web-based giving, o building relationships with individuals and an abiding interest in children, particularly children in different parts of the county, of diverse backgrounds and with different needs. Come to understand the current and prospective funding communities across Yavapai County, Arizona and beyond; a keen understanding of the needs and motives of donorinvestors in Yavapai and Arizona is critical to success; In consultation with the Board and the staff, create strategies to secure ongoing funds to support the organization s programs; actively drive fundraising solicitations; and be a major presence at development events; Continually explore new and creative marketing strategies that extend YBBBS support to a broader base; strategically develop corporate, governmental and nonprofit partnerships that integrate fund development objectives while creating new opportunities for branding and enhancing the image of YBBBS among donor constituencies. 3
TEAM DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP Lead a team that will continue its focus on program quality, safety and security, funding and expansion; develop staff and volunteer recognition and engender a collaborative environment; listen to staff and volunteer concerns, and the concerns of the children and families served; encourage staff opportunities for growth within the organization; Ensure that the day-to-day operations and programs of YBBBS are smoothly and effectively administered; provide appropriate management oversight of program and administrative staff; With the Board Chair, coordinate the efforts of the Board including strategic planning, development, fiscal oversight, and Board recruitment; provide ongoing communication to the Board on critical matters related to YBBBS. IDEAL EXPERIENCE The CEO will be an experienced leader with the following experience and qualifications: Proven senior-level managerial and operational experience, particularly with services provided to children; fundraising and fiscal management experience as an executive in the nonprofit, governmental, or private sectors; an effective team builder working across functions is beneficial; experience leading organizations with budgets of between $1.5m and $10m and significant staff is preferred, as is experience with an organization that attracts heavy volunteer involvement; a demonstrated commitment to family and children services is strongly preferred, as is experience working in areas with mixed rural and city environments disbursed across a broad geography. A track record in attracting financial support from foundations, businesses, individuals and government sources; a comfort level with fundraising and personally interacting with and cultivating donors; Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including the means to address issues in non-polarizing ways, but nevertheless with determination; a history of communicating effectively in writing and verbally, including excellent public speaking skills for formal and extemporaneous presentations; A demonstrated ability to work effectively with representatives, advocates and professionals with different backgrounds and from various communities, including educators and school officials, medical professionals, community and business leaders, various providers of family and children services, government representatives, clients and volunteers; Track record of setting high performance standards for both the organization and employees; proven ability to supply the tools, resources, and feedback for top-notch performance, and effectively hold employees and the organization at large accountable for actions and results. 4
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS The successful candidate should be: A mission-driven individual with a belief in and commitment to YBBBS s mentoring and community building mission; decisive and resourceful, with the organizational sensitivity to gain the support and confidence of the Board, staff, volunteers, parents, children and youth at all levels; A straight-forward team builder; shares information easily, listens, and respects the abilities of others; someone who imparts trust and integrity, and guides others in a similar vein, able to motivate and inspire while also leading by example; A good strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan; Results-oriented, adept at planning, prioritizing, organizing and following through; a team player, who values and models working collaboratively; a hands-on hard worker with a high energy level; For more information please contact: David Santore (310)943-9355 or davids@moppenheim.com Mark Oppenheim (415)762-2640 or marko@moppenheim.com m/oppenheim Associates 425 Market Street, Suite 1020 San Francisco, CA 94105 5