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Schooner Adventure is Hiring a Development Director!

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Schooner Adventure, a client of Pillar Search & HR Consulting, is hiring a new Development Director.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Gloucester Adventure, Inc. (“Schooner Adventure” or “Adventure”) is a 501(c)(3) maritime historic preservation and educational organization. We are the stewards of the 1926 dory-fishing Schooner Adventure, a National Historic Landmark. Our mission focuses on preserving the vessel and using her for educational and community experiences on the water and dockside. In this small and growing organization, the Director of Development is responsible for planning and directing all of Schooner Adventure’s fundraising endeavors including the annual fund, membership program, major gifts, special events, planned giving, and implementing the donor management software to support the function. Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director, the Director of Development will spearhead development efforts as Schooner Adventure continues to transition and grow.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors on establishing development goals and budgets;
  • Lead and manage the organization’s efforts to meet such goals, financially and otherwise;
  • Participate in monthly evening Board meetings and related Board Committee meetings, including presenting reports;
  • Direct the annual fund and membership program, including mailings and annual fundraising drives;
  • Coordinate special events and sails, including a major annual spring fundraising Gala and donor receptions throughout the year;
  • Manage fundraising tracking systems and database (Donor Perfect), and oversee data entry and gift processing;
  • Initiate a well-considered plan for donor visits and fundraising calls, assign these to key staff and board members, and follow up where necessary;
  • Meet prospective donors and supporters on a continuous basis and establish effective communications with such supporters;
  • Motivate staff, board members and volunteers to promote the mission and to engage in development activities;
  • Grow our Captain’s Circle, a dedicated group of donors with larger annual donations, including identification, cultivation and solicitation of major donors;
  • Work with other members of Adventure’s board and staff, researching and identifying grants, and following up on applications and proposals, including writing, and reporting requirements;
  • Grow our corporate sponsor program and maintain strong relationships with our existing sponsors;
  • Lead any new development efforts that may be initiated, such as capital campaigns and planned giving;
  • Work closely with the bookkeeper to ensure data accuracy and reconciliations between Donor Perfect and QuickBooks;
  • Serve as a key part of Adventure’s marketing team, in collaboration with other staff and board members; responsibilities may include: creating and sending emails via Constant Contact, working with designers to create and place advertisements, and posting on social media;
  • Participate in and speak at community events to share information about Schooner Adventure with the community;
  • Perform other related duties as requested.
QUALIFICATIONS:
  • A minimum of five years’ experience in professional fundraising;
  • A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • The ability to project enthusiasm and dedication to the mission of Schooner Adventure, even in challenging situations;
  • Demonstrated experience in donor cultivation and stewardship, and in building partnerships;
  • Advanced competency in spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets); fluency with Donor Perfect (or comparable CRM software); experience with social media, Constant Contact;
  • The ability to learn and gain comfort with a variety of online platforms for the purpose of promoting Adventure and managing donor activities.
SALARY/BENEFITS:
Salary ranges from $57k – $73k based on skills and experience. Benefits include 75% of health care costs, three weeks paid vacation, one week personal leave, and a flexible work schedule. We also support professional development opportunities to help you grow in your skills. Staff are encouraged to bring guests to sail on Adventure with them.

TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their resume as well as cover letter to Stuart Siegel, Executive Director, at stuart@schooner-adventure.org.

executive search nonprofit boston, Families First

Search Success: Maridel Perdomo Joins Families First as the Senior Director of Programs!

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Families First and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, that Maridel Perdomo has joined Families First as the Senior Director of Programs.

This is an exciting time for Families First, as they are seeing incredible outcomes from their programs and are in the process of expanding across the state. With the launch of a 5-year business plan, the organization looks toward significant growth in the coming years.

Reporting to Family First’s Executive Director, Sue Covitz, Maridel will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of Families First’s regional programming in Greater Boston and Western MA. Through this work, she will prioritize Families First’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by engaging parents and the Families First team to inform regional and programmatic growth as the organization expands.

In addition, she will oversee Families First’s alumni services, support the evaluation and quality strategy, and support the program curricula and training strategy. She will serve on the leadership team to advance organizational goals and cross-departmental priorities and will execute and monitor expansion plans as a part of the 5-year business plan.

Maridel joins Families First from Schools for Children, where she was the Director of Extended Learning Programs. There, she was responsible for multi-site programs for 200 students and leading 30 staff members. Prior roles have included Site Director of YMCA at Gardner Pilot Academy, Preschool Director at Pine Village Preschool, and roles as Job Developer and Youth Program Director with Centro Latino. Maridel earned her master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University, her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salem State University, and also holds a degree in Human Resource Administration from Cecilio Acosta University in Caracas, Venezuela. Recently, Maridel served on the Board of Trustees of Watertown’s New Rep Theatre, where she was a member of the Diversity Committee and was involved in fundraising, budgeting, and the annual planning process.

About Families First: Families First’s mission is to partner with parents to amplify their power so they can positively impact the lives of children and communities through their groundbreaking programs. Their model includes parenting education and support, parent leadership, family engagement, and alumni services.

For more than 35 years, Families First has been a leader in providing parenting education across the Greater Boston area. The organization was founded in 1988 with the goal of helping parents navigate the diverse challenges of raising children by providing research-based parenting education services.

Today, Families First provides Massachusetts’s most comprehensive model for early childhood parenting education, family engagement, and parent leadership: The Power of ParentingTM program and The Ripple Program TM.

As a result of Families First’s high-impact, multi-tiered program model, parents will support the development of their children’s social-emotional and cognitive skills, embrace their role as the most important force in their children’s learning and well-being, and gain new skills and resources to support and advocate for their children as they grow. Learn more about this amazing organization at www.families-first.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

JVS Boston jobs, nonprofit executive search firm boston, nonprofit hire boston

New Search: Major Gifts Officer with JVS!

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Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to partner with JVS on the search for their Major Gifts Officer. This is an exciting new role, and a great fit for an experienced development professional looking to make a significant impact with an outstanding organization.

ABOUT JVS:

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency. Their mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers; and to partner with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces. JVS provides a broad range of workforce development services including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement, and support, and access to post-secondary education. JVS assists employers in their search for well-qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce. JVS’s unique education and career pathway model has been widely recognized by funders, policy makers, and practitioners in Massachusetts and nationally.

ABOUT THE MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER OPPORTUNITY:

The Major Gifts Officer will play a critical role in increasing major donor support, and acts as an ambassador for JVS Boston across the community.  Responsibilities include: new donor identification, cultivation and stewardship of existing donors to increase overall retention and giving, and relationship management between donors and others on the board and staff who work with them. The Major Gifts Officer will also be responsible for formalizing and growing the organization’s planned giving program.

The Major Gifts Officer reports to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and will work closely and collaboratively with the CEO, Mid-Level Gifts Officer, board members, and other external stakeholders.

Essential Functions

Donor Management

  • Maintain a personal portfolio of 50+ major donors and prospects (defined as those giving a gift of $10,000+), as well as those donors and prospects that have the capacity to give at this level or higher.
  • Serve as the primary relationship manager for this portfolio of prospects, developing and implementing a written donor strategy and relationship record (using Salesforce) of all interactions.
  • Communicate with portfolio through face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings, as well as verbal and written strategies; ensure that each major donor and prospect has a clear strategy and timeline for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Develop solicitation strategies for donors / prospects in support of the organization’s annual fund, planned giving, and growth campaigns; ensure strategies are compatible and maximize opportunities with other existing campaigns.
  • Support the fundraising efforts of the CDO and CEO in securing new and renewed gifts.
  • With the CDO, create and manage individual giving revenue targets across streams; track and report on progress to goal to CDO, CEO, and CFO including contracts, gifts, and pledges.
  • Work with the Mid-Level Gifts Officers to screen and prepare profiles of current and prospective donors; establish and refine benchmarks for department research processes as needed.

Campaign Strategy

  • Work with the CDO to manage revenue projection and expense budget, as well as pledges and pledge fulfillments.
  • Work with CDO to plan and execute major gifts campaigns.

Events

  • Work with the Communications Manager and Mid-Level Gifts Officer to strategize and help execute cultivation events for major donors and prospects.
  • Be a visible presence at development department special events, such as major donor cultivation events and fundraisers.

Volunteer Liaison

  • Work collaboratively with the Volunteer Manager to ensure that volunteer opportunities meet the needs and expectations of current and prospective donors, while serving the immediate needs of JVS.
  • Serve as primary point of contact for corporate groups interested in connecting with JVS through volunteering.
  • Create feedback and improvement loop with all volunteer groups with a goal of ensuring positive experience, continued engagement, and moves management of volunteers toward making a financial commitment to JVS where and when possible.

Planned Giving

  • Working with the Chief Development Officer, develop a strategy for outreach to and stewardship of planned giving prospects and donors.
  • Develop all print and web-based supporting materials for planned giving program.

Additional Functions

  • Supervise the Mid-Level Gifts Officer
  • Manage Major Gifts Task Force in collaboration with the CDO
  • Manage Resource Development Committee with the Mid-Level Gifts Officer
  • Provide analysis and recommendations based on reporting.
  • Provide detailed prospect reports for solicitors.
  • Other duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience plus a minimum of 5-10 years (direct or equivalent) experience managing high level donor relationships with demonstrated success in closing gifts of $10,000 and above.
  • Ability to conceive, plan, and execute a major gifts program, including annual giving, special events, and special projects/campaigns.
  • Excellent grasp of Salesforce database software.
  • Willingness to be hands-on in a role that is demanding and requires a high level of energy and professionalism.
  • High level proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Teams, Word, and Excel, and a working knowledge of search functions for donor research purposes.
  • Superior interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally with a culturally diverse group of volunteers, co-workers, and donors.
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills and ability to prioritize workload in a timely manner to complete assignments with many deadlines and competing requirements.
  • Ability to work nights and weekends as needed.
  • Ability to pass a criminal background check.

JVS COMMITMENT:

JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities.  By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

JVS is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, JVS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because he or she has engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.

M/F/V/DV

TO APPLY: 

JVS has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for the Major Gifts Officer. Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy at cindy@pillarsearch.com

executive search nonprofit boston, nonprofit executive search firm boston, nonprofit hiring boston

Stuart Siegel Joins Schooner Adventure as Executive Director!

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Schooner Adventure and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Stuart B. Siegel to the position of Executive Director. Stuart joined Schooner Adventure on April 4, 2022.  

As Executive Director, Stuart will be responsible for the overall management of Schooner Adventure, working together with the Board of Directors to further their mission. He is charged with leading efforts to position Adventure as a focal point for education focused on themes of fisheries, maritime history, and the ocean environment. Building off of Schooner Adventure’s successes, he will drive program development and growth, enhance community awareness of Adventure’s programs, and activities, and develop diversified revenue streams.  

Stuart remarks, “When my wife and I decided to settle our family in Gloucester, I was determined to find work that connected me deeply to the city, in which I could promote Gloucester’s unique history and appeal. In my wildest dreams I couldn’t imagine a more exciting and compelling opportunity than with Schooner Adventure. Like the city she represents, she stands tall, resilient and beautiful. I am eager to see how we can work with local organizations and individuals to tell the story of Gloucester and ensure a bright future for our harbor.”

A new resident of Gloucester, MA, Stuart brings significant experience to the Executive Director role. Most recently, Stuart and his wife Emily wereirectors of the Sonoran Desert Inn & Conference Center in Ajo, Arizona. There, Stuart managed all aspects of this education-focused non-profit inn and event space including marketing, staff development, event/educational program planning and implementation, fiscal oversight, community partnerships and daily operations. Stuart was instrumental in the development and implementation of high-quality education programs, retreats, and cultural experiences.

Prior, Stuart was the Director of New Initiatives with the Brandeis University Office of High School Programs, where he designed and directed nine residential summer education programs serving hundreds of teens from across the U.S. and around the world. Stuart guided university professors and experiential educators in the development and implementation of program curriculum and service learning.

Stuart earned his Master of Hebrew Letters from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and bachelor’s degree in Film and Television from Boston University’s School of Communications. He lives in Gloucester with his wife Emily, the E.D. of the Gloucester Education Foundation, and their children Jonah and Bayla.

About Schooner Adventure: Schooner Adventure (d.b.a. The Gloucester Adventure) is a 501(c)(3) maritime historic preservation and educational organization. They are the proud stewards of the 1926 Schooner Adventure, one of the last surviving Grand Banks dory-fishing schooners. When Adventure was built in 1926 in the salt marshes of Essex, MA, no one thought that she would survive into the next century. Indeed, only a handful of the more than 4,000 wooden schooners built in Essex exist today.

Adventure is a national treasure that has, following an extensive, two decade-long, nearly $6 million restoration to ensure her preservation, resumed active sailing as an icon of the American fisheries and as a floating classroom for maritime history and environmental education programs. Adventure is operated at sea, primarily along the New England coast, as a living monument to Massachusetts’ fishing heritage. As such, Adventure is important not only to Gloucester, but also to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and all of America. In 1994 Adventure was awarded National Historic Landmark status in recognition of the significant role of the vessel in the nation’s history.

The mission of Schooner Adventure/The Gloucester Adventure, Inc. is to:

  • Restore and preserve the Schooner Adventure for the enrichment of future generations and their love of the sea
  • Enable the Schooner Adventure to serve as a community resource for educational programming focusing on maritime, cultural, and environmental issues
  • Operate the Schooner Adventure at sea as a living symbol of America’s maritime heritage

This is an exciting new chapter for Schooner Adventure. With an extensive historic restoration of the vessel now complete, the organization is poised to launch its next chapter, focused on a robust offering of programs and educational opportunities.

Learn and see more about Schooner Adventure here.  

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

human resources boston, human resources nonprofit boston, nonprofit executive search firm boston

New Search: Director of People and Culture with Volunteer Lawyers Project

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Executive Search Boston

Pillar Search and HR Consulting is proud to partner with Boston-based Volunteer Lawyers Project in their search for a Director of People and Culture. The ideal candidate is a Human Resources leader with proven experience in Human Resources and promoting DEI initiatives, and an interest in helping Volunteer Lawyer’s Project to advance their mission of increasing access to justice by delivering high quality pro bono civil legal services to eligible clients in the Greater Boston area.

Pillar Search & HR Consulting

POSITION: Director of People and Culture

DAYS/HOURS: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM with one unpaid hour for lunch

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

LOCATION: Remote and 7 Winthrop Square, Floor 2, Boston, MA 02110

STATUS: Exempt

SALARY: $100,000

SUMMARY OF POSITION: 

Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) has grown in the last several years. Since 2015, the organization has seen an increase in the number of employees from fewer than 20 to more than 40. The organization’s human resources management function has historically been combined with finance and administration.  With the organization’s substantial growth, VLP has determined a need for a dedicated human resources professional.

The Director of People and Culture will manage all aspects of the organization’s human resources function, including hiring practices, recruitment, employee retention, organizational and professional development strategies. The Director will partner strategically with VLP’s leadership team to shape employee relations strategies and practices and ensure appropriate employee development and opportunities for advancement. The Director will assess organizational needs, and champion, promote, and continue to guide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) processes and initiatives.

Candidate must be able to commute into the office when we return to in-person operations and must have access to a secure internet connection.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Serve as the DEI subject matter expert on internal and external best practices and lead the culture change
  • Lead the development, implementation, and evolution of DEI initiatives across the organization
  • Manage organizational hiring practices, recruitment, and employee retention
  • Manage training and development, compensation, and employee benefits programs
  • Oversee performance evaluations to ensure merit-based, equitable compensation
  • Serve on the DEI Committee as the liaison between staff and DEI efforts
  • Develop and deliver content for diversity and inclusion education programs that will drive culture change
  • Develop metrics and reporting mechanisms to effectively measure, track and report progress to goals
  • Plan, organize, and implement various diversity outreach efforts and strategies
  • Manage onboarding and offboarding employees, including reference checks, new employee orientation, exit interviews, and ensuring appropriate coordination of continuing benefits
  • Manage hiring committees to ensure compliance with approved hiring process and attention to DEI
  • Manage communication of DEI content for VLP materials (website, recruiting materials, etc.)
  • Develop and foster positive relationships across the organization
  • Serve as reporting person for staff concerns, specifically related to DEI, hiring, or other related issues
  • Develop restorative conflict resolution process and other organizational processes, as determined necessary
  • Manage staff professional development programand make budgetary recommendations to the Executive Director for employee investment
  • Other program duties as needed or assigned by the Executive Director

REQUIRED EDUCATION/TRAINING/KNOWLEDGE:

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • 8-10+ years of leadership and management experience in HR, DEI, consulting, or related functions, with a demonstrated success designing and delivering DEI programs
  • Comprehensive knowledge of human resources management
  • Extensive understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices
  • Experience with HR compliance and employment laws
  • Experience designing and/or managing internal grievance programs
  • Experience with progressive discipline and termination of employees

PREFERRED EDUCATION/TRAINING/KNOWLEDGE:

  • SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management) Certification
  • Certification in Mediation
  • Law degree from an accredited law school and admission to state bar

REQUIRED MENTAL/PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Strong facilitation and presentation skills
  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Ability to manage stress and identify self-care as needed
  • Ability to balance multiple objectives
  • Ability to make informed decisions

Volunteer Lawyers Project is committed to a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Their ideal candidates is respectful of an inclusive work environment. VLP strives to ensure that those working in the organization reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. VLP encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions.

Volunteer Lawyers Project has partnered with Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the Director of People and Culture search. Please submit your resume and cover letter (required) in confidence to Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

ABOUT PILLAR SEARCH & HR CONSULTING:  

A woman-owned business founded in Boston in 2015, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations across the country, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization.

executive search boston, executive search new england, human resources nonprofit boston

Search Success! Kris Wuerdeman Joins Cooperative Elder Services as Program Director!

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Search success! Pillar Search and HR Consulting is pleased to announce the placement of Kris Wuerdeman as the new Program Director of Cooperative Elder Services, Inc., where she will be responsible for leading the Groton, MA and Acton, MA centers.

As Program Director, Kris will be responsible for oversight of program operations, providing leadership to and management of the teams in both centers, and agency-wide initiatives and projects, including quality assurance and process improvement.

Kris brings extensive experience in the adult day health field. Most recently, she was the Founder and Managing Director of That Place You Know, LLC, a social adult day program specializing in memory care. Prior, she was a Life Enrichment Manager, Memory Care Specialist, and Certified Validation Teacher for Family Services at Sunrise Senior Living.

Kris received her undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s College of California and her master’s in Human Resources Management, Training and Organizational Development from Golden Gate University. In addition, she is a Certified Dementia Practitioner.

About Cooperative Elder Services, Inc.: The mission of Cooperative Elder Services, Inc. (CESI) is to empower seniors and adults with medical or cognitive challenges to age-in-place by serving their health and socialization needs and providing support for families.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business founded in Boston in 2015, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. To learn more, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

boston events 2020, human resources event boston, inclusive hiring boston

The 8th Annual Raise the Bar HIRE! Conference

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I am excited to be presenting as part of a team at the 8th Annual Raise the Bar HIRE! Conference in October. This is the annual conference of Work Without Limits. Work Without Limits is a nonprofit network of employers, educational institutions, employment service providers, state and federal agencies, individuals with disabilities and their family members. Through collaboration and partnership, their goal is to increase the employment of people with disabilities until it is equal to those without disabilities.

The other presenters for this session includes Sean Driscoll of BB Squared Consulting, Lisa Drennan of Merge Consulting, and Meghan Steinberg of Steinberg HR.  We will join forces for The Challenge for Accessibility and Inclusion Amidst a Landscape of Pandemic Forces and Racial Unrest: Four Professionals: Four Perspectives. 

The realization that COVID-19 brought to our landscapes, combined with the nation’s unrest around race and racial inequities, have spotlighted the gaps and continued challenges for vulnerable communities. One of the earliest spotlights streamed onto the challenges around access and inclusion in the reactive necessity of remote connectivity during isolation. Challenges around access and inclusion are certainly not new to the Disability community, but have been elevated more during this time; new awareness around how and/or if we are creating accessible and inclusive enough spaces for the Disability diverse community and all diverse identities is evolving. As four peer small business consultancies, we found ourselves talking about these themes as we brainstormed and began working and existing in the remote landscapes which had escalated around us. Like everyone else, we’d had no time to prepare, but are living the experience in real time as we move forward. We’ve begun learning as we go, and we wanted to create a space to share our perspectives around this important theme. But we also want to elicit experiential observations, feelings AND contribution from all and any stakeholders who want to listen, talk and share.
A woman-owned company based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com