Search Success: Sher Omerovic Named JVS’ New Chief Program Officer!

JVS Boston and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, the appointment of Sher Omerovic to the position of Chief Program Officer.

This is a well-deserved promotion from Sher’s most recent role with JVS as Senior Vice President of Programs. Sher joined JVS in 2016.

Reporting to JVS’ CEO, Kira Khazatsky, Sher will lead the core of JVS’ work – the development, quality, and delivery of JVS’s services. Sher will provide strategic leadership to the programmatic Vice President team to ensure alignment with the organization’s mission and goals, and support and develop the programmatic VP team to achieve programmatic outcomes. She will collaborate with other principal executives to ensure long-term strategic planning and board management align with the organization’s mission and goals.

Sher brings extensive program, workforce development and leadership experience to the Chief Program Officer role. Prior to JVS, she worked at the Fish Family Foundation, where she developed and implemented a statewide citizenship initiative partnering with multiple community organizations, immigration attorneys, and volunteers to organize large-scale citizenship events across the commonwealth, and held roles in immigration and employment with Catholic Charities of Boston and in grants with United Way. Sher earned her master’s degree in nonprofit project management from Northeastern University and her bachelor’s degree in international relations and modern languages from Beloit College.

About JVS Boston: For 80 years, JVS has helped tens of thousands of individuals with barriers to economic success secure financial independence through training, education, and employment services.  As the largest provider of adult education and workforce development services in the region, JVS is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, and is a key part of the poverty alleviation strategy for the greater-Boston area.  In order to reach people in need of assistance on their pathway to meaningful employment and financial independence, JVS targets most of its services to low-income individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and to low-wage workers in need of career advancement services.  Many have multiple support needs ranging from limited English proficiency and lack of education to disabilities, criminal records, lack of childcare and transportation.  JVS operates on annual budget of more than $15 million, of which is derived equally from public and private sources. For more information, please visit www.jvs-boston.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.

New Search: Vice President, Donor Engagement

Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) has partnered with Pillar Search & HR Consulting in their search for their new Vice President, Donor Engagement. This is an exciting role for an experienced professional with donor engagement and nonprofit leadership experience. 

Who We Are       

MaineCF’s mission is to bring people and resources together to build a better Maine. We hold assets of over $775 million and work statewide with donors and other partners to provide grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships for Maine students. Our 48 employees work from our main office in Ellsworth, a second office in Portland, and remote locations throughout the state.  We have a commitment to equity and expect all staff will use equity to inform their work with us. Please learn more about us by visiting our website: https://www.mainecf.org.

Position Summary

The Vice President, Donor Engagement leads the Foundation’s donor engagement and planned giving departments and is a member of the Foundation’s management team. Reporting to the CEO, the VP of Donor Engagement provides strategic vision and direction to all aspects of the Foundation’s work with existing donors. The overarching goal of this position is to provide high-quality customer service, strategic grantmaking, and learning opportunities to and with donors. This position will be instrumental in developing and executing new strategies to engage donors to participate in broader initiatives and make unrestricted grants that will further MaineCF’s mission of building a better Maine. The ideal candidate will be relationship-focused and committed to lifelong learning. They must be an experienced leader with the ability to lead their own team and to partner with other teams across the Foundation.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

  • Develop, deliver, and evaluate the Foundation’s donor engagement strategies, policies, and activities with a focus on relationship-building.
  • Advise and prepare CEO for donor interactions by providing succinct descriptions of donors’ preferences, goals, and grantmaking history.
  • In partnership with VP of Philanthropy and Director of Planned Giving, develop, deliver and evaluate the Foundation’s planned giving strategies, policies, and activities.
  • Works closely with VP of Philanthropy to develop and implement advancement goals and strategies particularly as they relate to donor advised funds.
  • Cultivate and build relationships with current donors to create an organizational culture that focuses on relationship-building.
  • Develop and execute strategies to increase engagement and grantmaking from current donor advisors.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of issue areas, initiatives, and community networks throughout Maine in order to guide donors and inform their grantmaking.
  • Support donors’ grantmaking by providing expertise that connects their desired goals with initiatives in Maine.
  • Understand and communicate grantmaking policies and practices in support of donors and in line with the current procedures of the organization.
  • Maintain and record major interactions with donors in Foundation database.
  • Perform the duties of a department manager, including interviewing, hiring, scheduling, training, supervising, evaluating, recognizing, and disciplining direct reports, setting employee goals and objectives, resolving employee issues, and ensuring compliance with the Employee Handbook and related personnel policies.
  • Participate and provide leadership in organizational management as a member of MaineCF’s management team.
  • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications needed for position:

  • Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience preferred, at least 2 years management experience.
  • Degree strongly preferred or demonstrated equivalent work experience.
  • Exceptional planning and organizational skills, with the ability to think strategically in the design and execution of projects and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities.
  • Commitment to and experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Proven record of managing, motivating and mentoring a team of professionals to achieve positive outcomes.
  • A relationship builder, with exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups and individuals.
  • Proven track record in donor services/customer service and outreach, in particular with high-net-worth individuals.
  • Experience in asset development, including unrestricted, targeted, and planned gifts.
  • Knowledge of organizations and issues that may have long-term impact on communities across Maine.
  • Well-organized, self-motivated, and can-do attitude. Team player.
  • Willingness and ability to travel within Maine.
  • Willingness and ability to attend meetings and events outside regular work hours as needed.

Location and Schedule

This is a full-time hybrid position (2 days in office, 3 days remote), based out of either the Ellsworth or Portland office.

Compensation and Benefits

  • Salary range of $135K-$165K annually, based on experience and qualifications
  • Health Insurance, 100% employer-paid premium for individual coverage
  • Dental Insurance, 100% employer-paid premium for individual coverage
  • Vision Insurance, 100% employer-paid premium for individual coverage
  • Employer-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and term life insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 6-9% company contribution vested immediately
  • 21 paid days off per year (increases with tenure)
  • 13 paid holidays per year
  • Parental leave
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Wellness benefit

Hiring Process and Timeline

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to Cindy Joyce, Executive Search Consultant and Founder, Pillar Search & HR Consulting, at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

The deadline for submitting your materials is March 10, 2023. Ideally, we would like to have the new VP, Donor Engagement join in April.

New Search! Director of Community Impact with ONE Neighborhood Builders

ABOUT THE SEARCH

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to partner with Providence, RI’s ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) on the national search for their founding Director of Community Impact. Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their cover letter and resume to Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Community Impact is responsible for leading ONE|NB’s collective impact initiatives to drive measurable economic and social opportunity gains for residents in Central Providence. By serving as the backbone of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone (CPO-HEZ), ONE|NB brings to bear its community development, convening, resource development, and financial management capacities.

The Director is responsible for building ONE Neighborhood Builders’ identity as a respected convener among a broad spectrum of neighborhood residents, organizational partners, funders, and local officials/policymakers and as a capable backbone organization. Responsibilities include driving the external strategies and relationships, internal functions, community engagement, communications, and data/evaluation efforts that relate to ONE|NB’s collective impact initiatives. This is a highly strategic, collaborative, and facilitative role that requires a combination of strategic, communications, and relationship-building savviness.

ABOUT ONE|NB

The mission of ONE|NB is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors across greater Providence to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. At full complement, ONE|NB has 25 full-time equivalent team members. ONE|NB is a NeighborWorks America charter member and is governed by an active Board of Directors consisting of 11 members. The organization’s annual operating budget is $4.8 million, of which over $3 million is raised annually from government agencies, private foundations, corporations, and individual donors.

Over the next three years, they will accomplish our mission through:

  • Robust Housing Development and Quality Real Estate Management

ONE|NB will expand the availability of affordable, high-quality homes through the production, preservation, and acquisition of residential and mixed-used properties within our historic home of Olneyville and across Greater Providence.

  • Addressing Root Causes of Health Disparities

ONE|NB will engage residents and community-based organizations in our nine Central Providence neighborhoods to generate the social and economic conditions that prolong life expectancy and work to eradicate systemic barriers that lead to health disparities.

  • Embracing Innovation and Building the Community Development Field

ONE|NB will emerge as a thought leader in the field by distilling the lessons learned from developing and managing housing and convening residents and community organizations. We will participate in local and regional community development conversations, produce research and case studies, and amplify the impact of our community partners.

ABOUT CPO-HEZ

Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone is a place-based, collective-impact effort that is convened by ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) with the goal of closing ‘opportunity gaps’ experienced by residents in the nine neighborhoods located in the 02908 and 02909 ZIP codes of Providence, Rhode Island: Elmhurst, Federal Hill, Hartford, Manton, Mount Pleasant, Olneyville, Silver Lake, Smith Hill, and Valley. CPO-HEZ seeks to close opportunity gaps related to income, health, wealth, and safety through a focus on five strategy areas: affordable housing, supportive services, quality jobs, local business development, and early education. While these are not the exclusive domains of CPO-HEZ, they are the essential components.

CPO-HEZ brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions. ONE|NB is the backbone organization of this collective-impact initiative to increase economic mobility for residents in Central Providence.

In 2022, ONE|NB is leading the creation of a 10-year Central Providence Road Map for the sustainability and scaling of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone.  The Director will be charged with successfully leading implementation of the Road Map.

Learn more at https://oneneighborhoodbuilders.org.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Community Impact is responsible for:

Leadership

  • Providing visionary, adaptive leadership, modeling the values of collective impact and fostering a culture that reflects them.
  • Overseeing systems to share governance, decision-making, resources, communications, and coordination of programs across the partnerships.
  • Helping resolve disputes or disagreements in direction or miscommunications among workgroups and partners.

Strategic Coherence

  • Articulating the “big picture” of the collective vision and strategies that contribute to success to build support and engagement.
  • Guiding community analyses in order to understand gaps, needs, and opportunities, and developing priorities and coordinating supporting activities of partners.
  • Moving the Central Providence Road Map from vision to implementation.
  • Orienting and motivating all partners toward outcomes while ensuring strong processes.

Working with Community Partners

  • Coordinating research, programs, and other activities with initiative partners to minimize redundancies and align strategies and resources.
  • Updating outreach and resource development strategies as new needs emerge.
  • Develop sub-granting relationships to ensure accountability.
  • Coordinating with other projects and coalitions in the neighborhood and issue areas to maintain a full understanding of the current landscape of relevant activities and integrating their work appropriately into the Central Providence vision.

Community Engagement

  • Establishing and maintaining visibility in all Central Providence neighborhoods.
  • Connecting residents to the CPO-HEZ strategies and initiatives in ways that allow for genuine resident voice and governance
  • Creating strong relationships with community leaders.

Communications

  • Communicating the objectives of the Central Providence Road Map to the community and potential partners, including foundations and major donors.
  • Facilitating communications between partners, other organizations, policymakers, and residents through regular meetings, calls, email updates, reports, or more.

Facilitation and Backbone Support

  • Coordinating the internal capacities and resources needed to serve as a backbone organization.
  • Cultivating excellent working relationships external senior leaders involved in this initiative in a way that can inspire collective actions without formal authority.

Data Collection, Analysis, and Learning

  • Overseeing the development and implementation of a shared measurement system that will track common outcomes and indicators across the initiative and use results to inform learning and continuous improvement.
  • Monitoring results of macro-level economic mobility data points, as collected by the RI Data Ecosystem, and use this data to inform initiatives.

Management

  • Supervising the Assistant Director of Place-Based Initiatives, Assistant Director of Community Impact, and the Community Engagement Specialist.
  • Serving on the ONE|NB leadership team.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will be a self-directed, highly organized, exceptional communicator and professional who is committed to the vision and values of ONE|NB and the collective impact approach. We are seeking candidates with a minimum of ten years of work experience in a relevant field, with at least three years of experience providing effective support to a collaborative or collective impact initiative in a highly visible role. A Bachelor’s degree and advanced degree, or equivalent work experience, strongly preferred.

Candidates must demonstrate experience in:

  • Effectively managing, organizing, and coordinating projects, programs, people, information flow, and resources in formal and informal structures.
  • Systems-level thinking with proven ability to make change within complex, integrated systems or ecosystems.
  • Balancing high-level strategy, day-to-day implementation, and reflection/learning.
  • Diplomacy, conflict resolution, relationship-building, and interpersonal savvy within a network-based environment.
  • Comfort in group facilitation.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving.
  • Managing a budget in a complex and changing environment.
  • Operating successfully within a senior leadership team and collaborative governance structure.

Successful performance of this role requires:

  • A balanced orientation towards results and good process.
  • Deep knowledge of place-based work in diverse communities with a focus on approaches that are collaborative, long-term, and contribute to a big-picture vision for long-term success
  • Proven experience building relationships and forging meaningful partnerships
  • Ability to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to connect the dots for yourself and articulate for others.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to give and receive feedback.
  • Willingness to work hard and take direction—but also creatively solve problems for which the answers are not always obvious.
  • Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Unquestionable ethics and integrity.

Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.

The Director of Community Impact will be required to work a full-time schedule with some flexibility required on nights and weekends.

ONE|NB offers a robust benefits package (including health, dental, and vision insurance), a retirement plan with matching contribution, a generous allotment of paid holiday and personal/vacation time, and an inspiring and innovative organizational culture.

This role offers flexibility to work remotely an estimated two times per week initially and greater flexibility once established in the role.

Candidates are not required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, though vaccination is strongly recommended.

The salary range for this role is $85,000-$125,000 annually. Compensation range is competitive and is commensurate based on experience.

ONE|NB works to dismantle all forms of discrimination. We fight the systems that oppress people from a vast range of identities and experiences. Cultivating a team that embodies the diverse experiences of Central Providence communities is essential to these aspirations. We strongly and sincerely encourage applications from people of color; immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals; people with disabilities; members of LGBTQQ+ and gender non-conforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy Joyce, Pillar Search & HR Consulting, via email to cindy@pillarsearch.com. Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Announcing Raising A Reader’s New Development Director

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is excited to announce that Frances Lee will be joining the National Office of Raising A Reader as Development Director.  In this capacity, Frances will be responsible for developing and leading Raising A Reader’s annual contributed revenue plan. Reporting to the President and CEO, she will lead a three-year growth fund campaign to support the organization’s new strategic plan and build relationships with institutional and major donors.

Frances joins Raising A Reader from Girls on the Run of the Bay Area, where she served as Development & Communications Manager.  In that role, Frances was responsible for events, marketing and fundraising campaigns to ensure the continued growth of the organization and creating meaningful partnerships with Bay Area companies and community members to further the mission of empowering healthy, confident girls. Before joining Girls on the Run, Frances served in a variety of roles including as a consultant with the San Francisco Bach Choir, Senior Manager, Field Development with Autism Speaks, and Community Engagement Representative with Be The Match, which is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. In addition, Frances is currently on the Board of Directors at Little Opera, where she serves as Development Chair, and has done event and fundraising consulting with San Francisco Marathon, A Runner’s Mind Productions, and OneCause.

Hire the best! Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides nonprofit human resources consulting and executive search expertise, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to find the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please contact Pillar’s CEO, Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

Congratulations to Year Up’s National Capital Team and Beth Guynn!

Pillar's Search Success

Pillar Search, a leading executive search firm working with nonprofit organizations, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Elizabeth (Beth) Guynn as Associate Director of Business Development with Year Up’s National Capital Region team. 

 

Year Up is an award-winning national 501(c)3 organization striving to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults ages 18-24 with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Through a one-year intensive training program, these young adults complete a unique combination of rigorous, hands-on technical and professional skills training, college credit, and corporate internships.

 

As part of the Corporate Engagement team, Beth will help to connect top corporations in need of talent with high-potential urban young adults, ensuring high levels of partner satisfaction.

 

Beth has an impressive background in sales and account management in the education arena. She joins Year Up following successful roles at McGraw-Hill and at Pearson. Beth earned her Master’s degree in Education from the University of North Carolina.

 

Hire the best! With personalized service and proven results, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides retained executive search services for exceptional non-profits and socially responsible for-profit firms. A woman-owned business, Pillar is based in Boston, MA, and works on the national level. To learn more about how Pillar can assist with your search needs, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.