Executive Director & CEO

The Position: Executive Director & CEO

The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of StepUp Wilmington and is directly responsible for all programs and operations of the organization. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is accountable for consistently achieving its mission and financial objectives. The Executive Director/CEO will ensure that StepUp remains fiscally and administratively sound with effective and well-managed programs. They will possess the qualities necessary to earn the respect of the staff, board, community, donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Executive Leadership and Organizational Management

• Provide thoughtful and visionary executive leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission as defined by the Board of Directors.
• Present strategic options and plans for organization impact and gain Board approval as needed to carry out the work of the mission of the organization.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization and ensure its overall successful long-term operations.
• Organize, motivate, and mentor internal team leaders to grow the organization’s impact, programs, fundraising strategically, and to effectively fulfill its important mission.
• Apply innovative thinking and performance measurements to analyze and support strategic decision-making.
• Continually foster a culture that encourages collaboration between departments and recognizes positive contributions.
• Contribute to the strategic plan and drive its implementation.
• Manage and motivate staff, overseeing processes such as hiring, separation, ongoing staff development, performance management, and compensation and benefits.
• Inspire a business-oriented, professional, results-driven environment across the organization.
• Perform general management duties overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization.
• Establish goals, objectives, and operational plans in collaboration with the Board of Directors, staff, and other leaders.

Board Governance

• Maintain regular and ongoing communication to build strong relationships with the entire Board, always providing leadership and support to members.
• Communicate effectively with the Board by providing members with all information necessary to continually function properly and make informed decisions in a timely and accurate manner.
• Attend all Board meetings and provide reports and updates on staff as well as all current work, project timelines, and project and organizational progress.
• Gracefully manage the board as needed to build consensus, remind of outstanding deliverables, and offer support.
• Implement Board policies and procedures and build support for Board decisions among staff.
• Work closely and openly with the Board and its committees, ensuring ongoing communication of risks, issues, as well as successes.

Development and Fundraising

• Drive development and fundraising in collaboration with the Development Director, leveraging the Board as needed.
• Initiate, cultivate, and extend relationships with the organization’s portfolio of individual, foundation, and corporate supporters.
• Ensure the organization’s financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves.

Fiscal Management and Administration

• Provide strategic leadership and hands-on management for all of the administrative and operational functions of the organization in accordance with the mission, objectives, and policies.
• Prudently direct resources and manage all financials within budget guidelines and according to current laws and regulations.
• Assume responsibility for the fiscal integrity of the organization.
• Monitor board-approved budget and manage daily financial operations to ensure maximum utilization of resources and optimum financial positioning for the organization.
• Ensure maximum resource utilization, budget management, and maintenance of the organization in a positive financial position.
• Build and administer the annual budget, with Board approval.

External Relations and Communications

• Represent the organization and serve as chief spokesperson publicly at events, conferences and partnership meetings.
• Present and promote the organization and its mission, programs, partners, and members in a consistently positive manner.
• Ensure high visibility to prospects and the public, and build interest in engaged philanthropy.
• Manage all aspects of the organization’s marketing and public relations.

Qualifications:

Candidates may emerge from nonprofit, foundation, government, or industry backgrounds and should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Five or more years of senior management experience.
• Strong business acumen and a history of providing visionary leadership at the executive level.
• Experience and skill working with a nonprofit Board of Directors and working with diverse groups of people.
• Familiarity with diverse business functions such as marketing, public relations, human resources, etc.
• Experience and success in motivating, recruiting, developing, retaining, and mentoring high performance, mission-driven, and results-oriented teams.
• Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.

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