Chief Executive Officer

CEO

YWCA Boulder County

 

The YWCA Boulder County is seeking a CEO

 

The YWCA Boulder County is an institutional leader in advancing racial justice, gender equity, early childhood education, and community empowerment. Established in 1922, the YWCA of Boulder County has a multifaceted impact model. The Persimmon Early Learning childcare center that provides quality and affordable childcare to more than 70 families. The Reading to End Racism (RER) initiative engages 2300 local students across 11 schools annually. The community engagement and advocacy programs empower thousands of grassroots leaders and contributes to important public policy wins including SB25-001 (Colorado Voting Rights Act), SB25-003 (Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices), SB25-130 (Providing Medical Emergency Services), SB25-129 (Protections for Legally Protected Health Care Activity) and SB25-183 (Coverage for Pregnancy-Related Services).

 

YWCA Boulder County, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will help further the mission of YWCA USA to be the leading community voice for advocacy, support, and empowerment of women as we dismantle structural barriers at the intersection of race, class, and gender. Our foundation is built upon a history of mobilizing diverse groups of leaders to identify community problems, advocate for solutions, and create more equitable communities in Boulder County.

 

At YWCA Boulder County, we demand a world of equity and human decency and envision a world of opportunity. We recognize racism as a public health crisis and commit ourselves to the work of racial justice in communities across the country and at the federal level. We will continue to build and enhance a culture of respect, openness, equity, honesty, empathy, and empowerment, and maintain YWCA’s anti-racist and multicultural policy through fostering trauma-informed decision making to dismantle white-dominant culture and policies.

 

The Opportunity

 

The CEO will have the opportunity to steer a highly regarded women’s empowerment and racial justice organization through a period of organizational change and longer-term growth that will position the organization for greater impact and sustainability.

With our rapidly changing policy and fiscal environment, the CEO will develop and lead an organizational transformation that strengthens the existing earned revenue streams, adapt the business model for the organization’s Persimmon Early Learning childcare center, leverage prime real estate holdings in downtown Boulder, and grow and diversify its loyal philanthropic base of support.

 

The CEO will enjoy the active support of the Board of Directors and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish a legacy of leadership in advancing women’s empowerment and racial justice.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Provide effective executive leadership:

 

• Assess and streamline operations, provide executive financial management, diversify revenue streams to ensure fiscal sustainability.

• Manage and support staff for long-term success.

• Steward and build strong relationships with funders, donors, and community stakeholders to increase revenue streams.

• Ensure excellence of core programs and services during the initial transition period and into future growth.

• Align the organization’s efforts with YWCA’s mission and standards; ensure that the requirements of YWCA USA Membership are met and relevant, and that quality services with knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and consistent program leaders are provided.

• Deliver on annual goals in ways that advance the mission and vision of the organization forward through issue education, direct services, relationships, advocacy, and overall asset growth.

• Promote YWCA’s work and results of the work to increase engagement and financial support.

• Create and sustain a healthy, mission-driven internal culture rooted in transparency, accountability, anti-racism and inclusion.

• Abide by terms of policies and agreements as stated in the YWCA Membership Agreement.

 

Report to, and collaborate effectively with, the Board of Directors:

 

• Provide the Board of Directors with a thorough organizational and financial assessment, recommendations for areas of improvement and cost savings, and an organizational workplan to implement the recommendations.

• Leverage the board of directors’ skills and networks to reach fundraising and stewardship.

• Accountable for the development and implementation of a fundraising plan, including donor cultivation, annual giving, planned giving, major gifts program, and grant objectives.

• Collaborate closely with the Board of Directors to lead the establishment of priorities, communicate progress to key stakeholders and support effective governance.

• Assist in the recruitment of board members who are committed to the ywca mission and maintain the organization’s charitable purpose.

• Leverage, cultivate, inspire and build mission, governance, and fundraising skills among board members.

 

Provide excellent executive management and oversight:

 

• Provide executive management and oversight for all aspects of the YWCA of Boulder County operations and programming.

• Operational leadership and change management to pivot the organization to a more sustainable business model and increase philanthropic revenue.

• Formulate, recommend, and implement strategies to build organizational strength and grow financial assets.

• Determine/guide operational courses of action to sustain organizational strength and momentum.

• Ensure programs, service delivery, facility needs, and systems are regularly evaluated and changes made as necessary.

• Guide a strategic planning process that is equity and accomplishment based.

• Oversee the organization’s human resource function to ensure competence and excellence.

• Oversee the organization’s financial and physical resource functions to ensure ongoing vitality.

• Maintain responsible and reciprocal membership with YWCA USA.

 

As a Visionary/Resource:

 

• Sustain a strong, community/area-wide sense of YWCA’s identity as a mission-driven social change agent as well as a social service organization.

• Look to the future and pursue opportunities for resource development, infrastructure building, technical competencies, and possible regional expansion.

• Cultivate and sustain positive and productive relationships between the YWCA and other YWCAs across the nation, funders, community leaders, and YWCA USA colleagues.

 

As a Promoter, Advocate, and Collaborator:

 

• Steadily increase public knowledge of YWCA strengths and accomplishments, and attract and involve new members/supporters, while continuing to cultivate the existing supporter base.

• Represent and effectively communicate the organization to the public, the media, grant makers and current and potential donors throughout the communities being served.

• Make visible and forward the YWCA public policy agenda and sustain a strong, community/area wide sense of YWCA’s identity as a mission-driven social change agent as well as a social service organization.

• Network with YWCA and other nonprofit sector service and advocacy organizations, and advocate for mission-related policies at the local, state, and national levels.

 

Required Skills and Experience

 

This role is ideal for an experienced social-impact leader with proven success building a revenue-positive social enterprise, and adept at organizational change management in a mission-driven organization.  Successful candidates will have a track record of strong financial management and operational leadership and will be expected to demonstrate the racial and gender equity competencies necessary to lead and support a diverse team of 24 staff and consultants, and have experience reporting to a Board of Directors. In addition to the following requirements:

 

• 10+ years of proven executive leadership managing a social enterprise or other mission-driven organization with significant earned revenue, or corporate equivalent with proven leadership experience in mission-driven organizations.

• Strong track record of financial management with demonstrated success implementing and overseeing effective systems for budgeting, forecasting and expense management.

• Demonstrated ability to grow and diversify funding streams through philanthropy, public funding grants, and strategic partnerships.

• Excellent organizational change management skills.

• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Previous CEO, Executive Director or other executive-level leadership experience required.

• Demonstrated success bringing a strong racial and gender equity lens to an executive management role.

• Proven leadership managing change in an organization with a diverse staff team.

• Uphold and actively promote the YWCA mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

• Demonstrated understanding of and belief in the YWCA mission, YWCA USA aims, and public policy positions.

• Demonstrated ability to plan, motivate staff and volunteers, lead, implement, innovate, evaluate, and ensure excellent performance levels.

• Demonstrated knowledge of financial management and negotiation skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal and professional skills and motivation to be active throughout the community.

• Demonstrated computer skills, including word processing, database, and spreadsheet competence.

• Ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally.

• Flexible schedule and ability to meet needs that fall out of normal business hours.

 

Highly Desired Skills and Experience

 

• Prior experience reporting to a non-profit Board of Directors.

• Line-management experience at organizations that serve working families and low-income populations.

• 8-10 years’ experience supervising fundraising/development staff in the non-profit sector.

• Sustained success collaborating with a Board of Directors to meet key governance and development milestones.

• 10+ years of demonstrated commitment to advancing racial equity and empowering women with an ability to provide leadership that is aligned with inclusion and social justice values.

• Previous management of (or sustained exposure to) a childcare center or other direct services program that serve working families and other low-income populations.

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

This full-time direct hire opportunity will have a of starting salary range of $125,000 - $150,000 based upon experience and qualifications; with a compensation package and benefits that include:

 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid time off and holidays.

• Retirement plan contributions from YWCA Boulder County.

• Childcare discount for all full-time employees.

 

Timeline

 

This role is anticipated to close within 28 days from the date of posting. However, if the position has not been filled, the position may be kept open longer.

 

Other

 

The physical requirements of this position include sitting frequently, walking occasionally, use of hands frequently, hearing constantly, talking frequently, exerting up to 20lbs of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects. This is an exempt position.

 

How to Apply

 

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by completing the following steps:

 

1. Submit a current resume and reference sheet* through the application/survey link.

2. Complete the application survey. In lieu of a cover letter, candidates are asked to respond to a few short-form questions.

3. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only completed applications (resume + survey responses + reference sheet) will be considered.

 

*References will not be contacted until later in the selection process.