Opportunities

Search Success! Kimberly Scharf is the New CEO of The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod!

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The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Kimberly (Kim) Scharf to the position of CEO.

Kim brings a deep and unique connection to the organization’s mission. For more than two decades, The Arc has been part of her life—first as a parent, then as a volunteer and consultant, as a member of the leadership team, and most recently as Senior Vice President, Community and Family Services. This personal and professional journey gives Kim a profound understanding of the impact the work has on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the broader community.

During her time at The Arc, Kim has demonstrated strong, value-driven leadership. She has played a key role in transforming programs, building and supporting dedicated teams, and strengthening The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod’s presence and partnerships throughout the community. Her ability to lead with compassion, clarity, and accountability has earned the trust and respect of staff, families, and community partners alike.

According to the Board of Directors, “Kim is the right leader to guide The Arc into its next chapter. Her commitment to our mission, combined with her operational experience and collaborative leadership style, will help ensure the continued strength, sustainability, and impact of our organization”.

About The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod: The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries (ABI), and their families/caregivers.  Through a wide range of services including residential programs and employment services, day programs, family resources and advocacy, The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod ensures that people with disabilities have the tools, opportunities, and respect they need to live full, self-directed lives. The mission of The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod is to empower and support people with disabilities and their families to belong, contribute and thrive. For more information about The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod, please visit The Arc of Plymouth and Cape Cod.

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 about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Opportunities

Search Success! Katherine Davis Wheeler Joins Boston Preservation Alliance as Executive Director

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Boston Preservation Alliance and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine Davis Wheeler to the position of Executive Director. Katherine Davis Wheeler (she/they) is a nonprofit leader, public historian, and historic preservation professional with over 18 years of experience working at the intersection of organizational strategy, community engagement, and cultural stewardship.

Her work centers on preservation and adaptive reuse, with a particular focus on the history and evolution of the preservation movement in the United States. Drawing on both academic and technical experience, she approaches preservation as a people-centered, equity-driven field—one that connects policy and advocacy with storytelling, community engagement, and neighborhood-based action.

Katherine joined the Boston Preservation Alliance as Executive Director on August 4, 2025. In this role, she champions the organization’s mission, leads staff and programs, and stewards its fiscal health. Collaborating with the Board of Directors and its committees, she manages day-to-day operations and serves as the Alliance’s principal spokesperson. Highly visible in the community, Katherine builds relationships across sectors to advance the Alliance’s advocacy and education work.

Over the course of her career, Katherine has supported arts, history, and culture-focused organizations through periods of growth and transformation. She has held executive leadership roles and consulted with museums, historic sites, and nonprofits. Her work spans executive coaching, strategic planning, interim management, operational alignment, fundraising strategy, and advising organizations on DEIA practices grounded in accountability and structural change.

She holds an undergraduate degree in art history, a master’s in architecture and design with a focus on historic preservation and adaptive reuse, and a graduate certificate in public history and museum studies from the University of Massachusetts. Katherine has served in volunteer and advisory roles with numerous civic and preservation-focused organizations, including the Amherst Historical Commission, Amherst Design Review Board, Downtown Waltham Partnership, Preservation Massachusetts, and the Northampton Arts Council.

About Boston Preservation Alliance: The Boston Preservation Alliance (The Alliance) is an independent, nonprofit organization that exists to advocate for and empower Bostonians to play an active role in preserving the places and stories that are important to Boston’s history. They envision Boston as a place where the stories of its diverse residents and cultures are reflected in its evolving built environment. Through advocacy and education, they guide thoughtful change that simultaneously stewards the historic character that defines the city.  Learn more at www.bostonpreservation.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 the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

Opportunities

Pillar Search & HR Consulting Turns 10 Today!

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Today, Pillar Search & HR Consulting celebrates 10 years in business, and oh, what a journey it has been! On one hand, it feels like the decade went by in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, it’s been a hard-earned milestone, with so many lessons learned along the way.

I am eternally grateful to Pillar’s nonprofit clients across the country who have entrusted Pillar Search & HR Consulting with their leadership hiring and HR needs, to the wildly talented professionals placed in exciting  roles who have advanced inspiring nonprofits, and to the friends, family, former colleagues, and more who have supported Pillar Search & HR Consulting along the way with referrals, words of encouragement, and sage advice. It truly takes a village.

While today is a time for me to personally reflect on the past ten years, I am also excited and energized for what the next ten years will bring. They say that if you do what you love, you will never work a day, and today – and every day – I know what a gift that truly is.

Thank you for following along on this journey. Onward!

Cheers,

Cindy Joyce, Founder, Pillar Search & HR Consulting

best executive search nonprofit, best nonprofit recruiter, best nonprofit search firm, Opportunities

Landing a Job With Your Professional “Crush”

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We’ve all seen them: The job posting that grabs your attention and you cannot get it out of your mind because it is your dream job. Be it working for a cause you adore, as part of a celebrity nonprofit whose founder you admire, on a fantastic product team, or with an artist who you are a huge fan of, the dream job does not have to be merely a dream. Before zipping off your resume, take a deep breath and follow some of these tips to ensure that you showcase your killer talents and skills in the best light. Drumroll, please:

 

  • Look at the job description very closely. If it is truly a match, pass go, collect $200, and apply immediately! If not, think before you apply. I have done searches for a celebrity-related organizations, rock star status money managers, and arts organizations that receive literally hundreds of unsolicited resumes each week because people are so excited to work there, but for the most part they are not a match in terms of experience fit.  Sending a resume to a job that you are not qualified for will not get the results you want. Wait for a job that fits your skills, as the competition for these “sexy” positions will be fierce.
  • Research the role and the company or organization. Go beyond their website. Who do they partner with? Are they on social media? Do they do a signature event? Check out similar organizations as well. If it is a non-profit, look at Guidestar. If it is a for-profit, check out their annual report. See what press is available about them so that when you craft the cover letter, and hopefully when you have an interview, you can demonstrate that you walk the walk and talk the talk.
  • Write a thoughtful cover letter that highlights your skills and what makes you the ideal candidate. In the cover letter, do not tell the designer that you love her shoes. Do not tell the movie star that you loved their latest movie. They have fans. They need an Executive Director, PR pro, Personal Assistant, or whatever role they have open. Their focus will be on the person who is best equipped to fill that need, not on the one who is most star-struck.
  • If it is a mission-based organization (i.e., nonprofit or foundation), you can and should share if you are a believer in their cause and how their mission resonates with you, but be sure to temper it. Human Resources and Executive Recruiting firms will see right through if it is not sincere. I know someone who worked in the marketing area of a Major League Baseball team’s charitable foundation and she applied despite the fact that she despised baseball. She shared with me that she adored their mission and the work they did with children’s health and education and said she was willing to “put up” with the baseball to get the job working on a cause she loved. That kind of passion shines through.
  • Do not use social media to announce that you are interviewing with a company or organization. It happened during a search and let’s just say that it was not viewed kindly. Organizations with celebrity and/or brand name affiliation will expect discretion.
  • Most importantly, be yourself. Yes, this may be a dream job, and you are probably chomping at the bit to get it, but be real. Be you. I have seen finalists in incredibly competitive searches who meet with the top person or board hiring committee and do incredibly well by relaxing, letting their guard down, and showing their true and talented self.

 

Best of luck in your job search!

 

Cindy Joyce, Founder, Pillar Search