YWCA of Boulder County
 
The YWCA of Boulder County has been providing vital services to the women, children, and families of Boulder since 1922.  Beginning in the 1980s, community members could count on the YWCA of Boulder County to provide low-cost child care and valuable resources to support healthy self-esteem and economic self-sufficiency. In 2015, the YWCA of Boulder County assisted more than 5,000 individuals from all walks of life, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Its wide range of programs continue to provide a safety net of services to those who need them.
 
The YWCA’s largest and most well-known program is Children’s Alley. It is the only drop-in, sliding scale childcare center along the entire Front Range. For more than 30 years, Children’s Alley has offered a nurturing environment for children and enabled parents to work or apply for work on short notice. Fees are based on family income and Colorado Childcare Assistance Program funds are happily accepted, making services affordable for all parents. In 2015, the YWCA served over 600 children through 7,500 visits.  Children’s Alley is the childcare provider for women at Boulder Safe House. 
 
Another marquee program of the YWCA’s is Reading to End Racism (RER).  It is a program that brings volunteer readers into K-8 classrooms to read stories focused on discrimination and bullying. Readers facilitate discussions and activities to empower students to work to put an end to racism, prejudice, and bullying in their own communities. In 2015, RER volunteers reached 3,338 students throughout Boulder. After a RER reading, students overwhelmingly responded that they would treat others with respect, and would stick up for other kids who were being harassed at school. Of the teachers who welcomed RER into their classroom, 98% said they would recommend the program to other teachers.
 
Other programs include Career Services, Financial Literacy, Latina Achievement Support, Parent Engagement, and Youth Camps. 
 
Earlier this year, the Executive Director announced her retirement, effective this fall, after 30 years of service (for more please see http://www.ywcaboulder.org/executive-director-retirement-announcement/).  The Board of Directors is grateful for her dedicated service and looking forward to the next chapter in the YWCA of Boulder County’s history as it undertakes the search for her successor.       
 
The Opportunity: Chief Executive Officer
 
This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary, mission-driven and charismatic professional.  The YWCA of Boulder County seeks leadership to guide the organization toward the next level of growth, success, and action.  The CEO will report to the Board Chair, and work closely with the Board of Directors to enact vision and strategy for the organization.  The new CEO will lead strategic efforts to inform and educate volunteers, donors, prospective donors, and the larger community about the mission and unique impact of the YWCA of Boulder County; oversee and ensure implementation of all programs and services; direct the YWCA’s fund development function; and enhance the public image of the YWCA of Boulder County.  The CEO will create and maintain highly productive relationships with board members, donors, volunteers, community partners, and clients, as well as provide oversight to operations and staff, including five direct reports. S/he will need to be charismatic and maintain a strong external presence in an ongoing effort to be well-known throughout the Boulder community as the face of the YWCA, and lead with an emphasis on maintaining and increasing diversity in all aspects of the organization.   
 
The Board of Directors has recently undertaken a strategic planning process, which the new leader will be charged with evaluating and finalizing as needed to include both the development of a clear and exciting vision as well as an action plan to achieve well-defined goals and metrics.   
 
Performance Objectives
 
Visionary Leadership

• Provide leadership in the formulation and successful execution of YWCA goals and strategies in furtherance of YWCA priorities and mission-based programs and services, including: advocacy for women, girls and persons of color focused on the elimination of racism, social justice, financial literacy and other women’s empowerment initiatives.
• Provide collaborative leadership in maintaining a positive and productive organizational culture among the Board, volunteers and YWCA staff.
• Serve as a community leader by building and maintaining relationships with other organizations and the broader Boulder community, and actively contributing in civic and social circles to represent the YWCA
• Work with the Board of Directors to finalize the strategic planning process with long-range and short-range goals and objectives, which identify the needs of the community and addresses these needs through program and services, public policy and advocacy.
• Create YWCA’s annual business plan with measurable outcomes, programmatic and fundraising strategies, and budgets.
• Serve as the liaison and connection to the national YWCA, ensuring positive working relations with the organization as a whole.

 
Community Engagement and Marketing

• Raise the profile of the YWCA while supporting the initiatives and needs of the clients it serves in the community.
• Serve as an articulate, passionate and visible advocate and spokesperson for the YWCA, and as the primary face of the mission and vision throughout the organization and in local communities.
• Maintain and cultivate a positive working relationship with the Boulder Community, local, state and regional partners, community foundations, and neighboring peer organizations in a collegial, assertive and creative manner.
• Provide strategic leadership to the organization’s efforts to effectively package and communicate the mission, goals, activities and accomplishments of the YWCA to donors, prospective donors, and the broader community.
• Create new and innovative marketing and outreach strategies using technology and social networks in order to increase visibility of the organization for new and existing audiences.
• Maintain active membership and a strong presence in professional organizations, community groups, and other spaces relevant to the work of the YWCA and its mission.

 
Revenue Development

• Lead overall organizational efforts, in conjunction with the Director of Development in the creation and implementation of a plan to identify and build strong relationships with key donors, community leaders and volunteers, and engage both present and potential YWCA partners.
• Manage a personal portfolio of individual, corporate and/or foundation donors and prospects.
• Develop and implement a major gifts program to expand the cultivation and engagement of new partners that will increase the number and size of gifts over time.
• Nurture partnerships and relationships with current and prospective funders, through donor recognition programs and stewardship activities. Cultivate long-term relationships to ensure continued funding and funder involvement.
• In partnership with the Board, mentor and grow staff capabilities in the areas of fund development.
• Explore other fundraising opportunities that can propel the YWCA forward into new areas of growth toward realization of its mission and vision.
• Build and diversify funding base and strategically match grant opportunities with programmatic priorities.

 
Board Relations

• Establish and maintain a strong, engaging relationship with the Board of Directors, with a focus on their role as leaders, ambassadors, in an effort to promote a cultural of philanthropy and stewardship.
• Communicate effectively and promptly with the Board; and serve as the strongest link of communication between Board members, staff, volunteers, YWCA USA and the community at-large/other stakeholders.
• Work with Board to ensure that Board Members’ goals are aligned with the new vision that has been established.
• Provide staff leadership to the Board as it relates to (1) the budgeting process, (2) the timely and accurate reporting of the organization’s financial position and (3) maintaining effective fiscal controls and policies.

 
Operational Oversight and Staff Management

• Lead, develop, and build a highly effective, productive and diverse professional staff that provides exceptional support to all of the organizations stakeholders.
• Provide the YWCA Program Directors with assistance in strategy development, outcomes-based goal setting, implementation timelines, evaluation guidelines, and budgeting.
• Promote and encourage professional growth and development of staff through education and training opportunities as appropriate.
• Maintain a positive organizational culture by ensuring effective communication
• Maintain overall responsibility for all aspects of fiscal management, including ensuring adequate financial stability for current operating obligations and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure that the organization remains in compliance with all Federal, State and local laws, regulations and reporting requirements.
• Create a positive work environment; facilitate employee relations and effectively resolve employee conflicts and grievances in a timely manner.

 
 
The Qualified Candidate
 
The YWCA of Boulder County seeks a mission-driven executive with strong programmatic, interpersonal, management, and leadership skills.  The successful candidate will have at least 10+ years of progressive leadership experience with evidence of managing, directly and indirectly, a team of similar size.  They will be a goal-oriented, accomplished leader who is passionate and committed to the YWCA’s mission and values the diversity of all people within the organization and the communities it serves. S/he will be visionary and visible with the ability to develop a strong external presence throughout the Boulder community.  Familiarity with the types of mission-focused programs and services offered by the YWCA is important, and multicultural experience is preferred. 
 
Specific requirements include:
 

• Passion for and commitment to the YWCA and its mission to eliminate racism and empower women, augmented by demonstrated experience in programmatic and mission-related areas.
• A proven track record of success and demonstrated competency in working with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability, and true desire to publicly represent the YWCA to multiple constituencies and stakeholder groups, with innate energy to build external relationships and engage others.
• Strong analytic and strategic-thinking skills, with demonstrated ability to create, implement and monitor complex plans, and translate those plans into goals and concrete strategies to achieve effective mission delivery.
• Career track record that shows stability with an organization and capacity to develop and nurture relationships culminating in overall success.
• Ability to work successfully with Board of Directors and other volunteers as well as civic and business leaders in a collaborative and effective manner.
• Demonstrated business and financial acumen in programmatic and operational areas of not-for-profit organizations.
• Ability to work well under pressure and respond to client/constituency crises.
• Proven success in building and maintaining high performance professional staff teams through mentoring and other types of staff development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 or more years of successful experience in nonprofit leadership and management.

 
This position offers a competitive salary and benefits. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.
The YWCA of Boulder County, in keeping with its mission and the central focus of the YWCA of the USA regarding the elimination of racism, is firmly committed to the policy of providing equal employment opportunity and equal participation to all its employees, contractors and applicants, subject to the Bylaws and Constitution of the YWCA of the USA and in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local legislation, without regard to race, religion, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, marital status, disability or veteran status.  The YWCA of Boulder County also follows our equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to gender expression or sexual orientation.
 
This policy affirms that in matters affecting employment, the YWCA of Boulder County will ensure each employee and applicant will be accorded equal treatment with respect to employment, including recruitment and selection, placement, opportunities for advancement, salaries and other compensation, transfer, layoff or termination.
 
The Board of Directors, through the Board President and its Executive Director, is committed to the implementation of the Equal Employment Opportunity policy.  Cooperation of staff and Board are required for implementation of this policy.
 
To Apply
 
Candidates may apply by clicking the APPLY NOW button below. To assure confidential tracking, no resumes will be accepted via email.
 
This search is being managed by Evette L. Simon, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Vice President, Heather A. Eddy, President and CEO, and Kelly C. Monahan, Senior Associate of Alford Executive Search.  Questions may be addressed to Ms. Monahan at kmonahan@alfordexecutivesearch.com.
 
Alford Executive Search, a division of Kistner Eddy Executive Services (KEES), is a retained search firm that builds transformative teams and leaders in the nonprofit and public sectors. For more information, please visit www.alfordexecutivesearch.com.
 
YWCA of the USA
The YWCA is the oldest, autonomous women's membership organization in the world. As such, it has a strong and respected tradition of social change, community service and advocacy. Throughout its history, the YWCA has been in the forefront of most major movements in the United States as a pioneer in race and gender justice, and the empowerment of women. The YWCA has actively worked to eliminate racism and empower women since 1858. The YWCA was there through the women's suffrage movement. It held the first interracial conference in the South in 1915 and fought for civil rights and affirmative action.  The YWCA is on the leading edge, willing to act and move forward when it comes to what is important for the well-being of women and families in our community, in the nation and in the world.
The YWCA is a publicly funded, inclusive organization that welcomes everyone to participate, male and female alike. Building on a movement that began with the Industrial Revolution, the YWCA stands for the empowerment of women and the elimination of racism world-wide. The YWCA has evolved over the years from boarding house to social club and today is a human service agency. Throughout the last century, women have come to the YWCA to find housing assistance, business advice, career counseling, fitness classes, and affordable childcare.
 
The YWCA of Boulder County is a local association, of the YWCA of the USA.  Located in Washington, DC, the National Office works to enhance the organization’s collective presence and advance the agenda of all local YWCAs across the United States.  It does this through strategic and organizational development work, advocacy efforts, an energetic marketing and branding focus, enhanced fundraising activities, and through alliances with other organization and through its membership in the World YWCA.
 
The World YWCA is a global network of women leading social and economic change in over 120 countries worldwide. The World YWCA advocates for peace, justice, human rights and care for the environment. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
 
About Boulder County
 
Boulder County is home to nearly 300,000 residents and includes some of the most diverse, natural landscapes and sustainable development along the Front Range. From visionary open space, land use and sustainability policies to forward-thinking public services programs, Boulder County is a vibrant, healthy and active community.
 
At 5,430 feet above sea level, Boulder is a quaint city tucked into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by acres of vast open space, including 120 miles of trails. Combine that with the Boulder weather, known for more than 300 days of sunshine a year, and it’s clear why Boulder is one of the hottest outdoor destinations in the country.
 
Boulder County schools are a part of two main school districts - Boulder Valley and St. Vrain and score well above the state and national averages on the ACT and SAT college entrance exams. There are also multiple universities located in Boulder including University of Colorado, Boulder (CU), enrolling more than 30,000 students.