CEO

KEY DELIVERABLES 

Develop, Implement and Lead Alliance Strategic Plan: Work effectively with CEOs, and key Alliance staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the Ys in the Alliance and includes defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management

Elevate and Advance the Alliance’s Advocacy Efforts: Work in partnership with all Ys in the Alliance on critical state, regional and federal issues. Work with the Alliance Board Members to advance statewide and federal legislative priorities. Create and disseminate annually a community benefit document to key stakeholders and elected officials that highlight stories, statistics, and funding that communicates the true value of local Ys community benefit as well as collectively as an Alliance. The Alliance identifies and advocates for public policies that address critical social issues in the Y’s areas of impact while also activating community leaders, policy makers, influencers, and the public to foster dialogue and catalyze positive change. Conducts advocacy events and training opportunities for Y leaders that raise the visibility of Ys in the Alliance as valued resources to respective state partners and groups in the Y’s areas of impact. Manage contract lobbyist (if applicable) to set and meet the contract’s deliverables. Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication and Influence, Collaboration

Build and Lead Alliance Staff Team: Ensure a talent development system is in place and executed effectively with cultural competence. Hire, motivate, nurture, retain, and hold Alliance staff accountable for key objectives. Work towards recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting staff Encourage the team by creating a spirit of camaraderie, inclusion, and sense of mission and purpose. Create a learning organization to help staff achieve their highest potential. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership

Steward State and Federal Funding Efforts: Identify and determine potential statewide and or federal funding opportunities that support the Alliance’s strategic plan and the work of Y’s collectively in the Alliance. Key competencies: Critical Thinking and Decision-Making, Engaging Community, Communication & Influence

Position the Alliance and its Member Ys Vital Partners for Community and Statewide Change: Serve as an ambassador for the mission, purpose, and vision for the Alliance. Possess the ability to develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, while always upholding the highest standards and values of the Y and the Alliance. Ensure the Alliance is seen as one of the leading nonprofits committed to strengthening community by connecting elected officials and community stakeholders to the Alliance, and each other. Serve to educate and inform Board Members who are the key stakeholders so they can advocate as a collective unit. Key competencies: Communication & Influence, Engaging Community, Collaboration

Be a Strategic Partner: Demonstrate competence through discovery, knowledge of the work, and the ability to translate organizational needs of Ys into strategic work. Ability to access those accountable for achieving results; build and ensure credibility with Y leaders (CEOs, colleagues, other Alliance Leads, YUSA staff); build trust for delivering results, work with integrity, and support the Y’s values. Key competencies: Developing Self and Others, Critical Thinking and Decision-Making, Change Leadership, Communication and Influence, Collaboration, Emotional Maturity, Project Management

Build organizational capacity of local Ys

• Facilitate strategic planning and board governance, consistent with Y Movement best practices.
• Understand additional resources and scope of delivery partners and coordinate services.
• Identify and facilitate management agreements, shared services and interest in mergers between Ys consistent with movement best practices.
• Identify local Ys for referral and Association Advancement Unit as needed based on defined criteria.

Build strong networks to provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and support

• Manage ongoing volunteer engagement and relationship-building among Ys through in-person events and virtual networks.  Actively engage CEOs, volunteers and staff from all Ys.
• Work closely with YPN leadership to strengthen network and utilize peer communities (and neighborhoods if applicable).

Provide leadership and manage effective operations of state alliance

• Strategic Direction: Work with state alliance leadership to create and achieve goals outlined in the strategic plan.
• Provide fiscal management to achieve state alliance priorities: set fiscal goals including supervising and maintaining the Alliance’s operating budget and securing multiple funding streams providing a stable financial foundation and the opportunity for impactful statewide programs and initiatives.
• Effectively communicate to internal and external audience and ensure that the alliance’s mission, vision, value and goals are easily understood.
• Provide guidance on board governance and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and Y movement best practices.

Form collaborations to advance the state alliance’s strategic goals

• Identify and participate in strategic alliances and coalitions of like-minded organizations to meet state alliance objectives.
• Connect and align with Y movement priorities, sharing opportunities and challenges with other state alliances.
• Support statewide program initiatives, such as Youth and Government.

Advocate and advance the state alliance’s legislative priorities

• Set legislative agenda and track and advocate on key issues.  Target and cultivate relationships with key policymakers and elected officials.
• Manage contract lobbyist and organize events to raise visibility of the Y as a valued resource on healthy living, youth development and social responsibility.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE OR LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

The CEO must display strong communication skills and be intentional about establishing meaningful relationships with Illinois CEOs and strongly advocate on their behalf.  He or she should also have extensive experience in change management and navigating through ambiguity.  Other desired characteristics of the CEO that have been offered by YMCAs throughout the state include: 

• Demonstrated success in building bridges and mending relationships
• Facilitation, consensus building, advocacy, legislative lobbying, and political savviness on all fronts
• Visionary
• Ability to lead high-level leaders within a decentralized environment in remote locations
• Organizational development and strategic planning
• Fundraising
• Nonprofit management and board relations, preferably YMCA leadership experience

The CEO would not necessarily be expected to perform in all specialized areas below but should provide access to such specialized services through the Alliance.

• Mission and cost studies
• Advocacy for local Ys and CEO
• CEO coaching
• CEO search as a partner to the Executive Leadership-CEO Search team through Y-USA
• CEO and CVO onboarding
• Alliance/neighborhood programs and events
• Strategic planning