Search Success: Alia Peera Joins Aim High as Director of Partnerships!

Aim High and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Alia Peera to the position of Director of Partnerships. Alia joined the organization on July 17, 2023.

Alia will be a great addition to the team, advancing Aim High’s mission and vision forward with energy and passion. Alia’s background includes building deep relationships with partners and donors, working with educational partners and school districts, expanding nonprofits into new regions, and project management.

Most recently, Alia served as the Regional Partner for Northern California at Wildflower Foundation and previously as the Managing Director of System Partnerships at The Achievement Network. She is currently a member of the Nexus Fellowship Cohort with The Equity Lab.

Alia lives in the Bay Area and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She will be based in the Aim High’s San Francisco office.

About Aim High: Aim High embraces the raw beauty of early adolescence by focusing on middle school (ages of 11 to 14), a vital stage of maturation. It is also critical to educational trajectories: improving the college and career readiness skills students possess by eighth grade has the largest impact on high school graduates’ ultimate level of college and career readiness – even more than any single high school-level enhancement. Summer programs are particularly effective in mitigating the inequity caused by systemic barriers in education. Despite its importance, just 1.1% of the 5.5 million middle school students from low-income communities nationwide have access to free summer enrichment programs. Aim High’s multi-year, five-week summer program combines pedagogical rigor with emotional depth to ignite the boundless potential within young people navigating systemic barriers. They envision every middle school student having access to joyful summer learning, inspired and innovative teachers, and the support they need to succeed in school and life. Aim High was founded on the belief that every student has the right to a quality education. In 1986 they launched at one site in San Francisco with just 50 students. Over the last 35 years, they have expanded across the Bay Area in every direction, as far as Napa and Tahoe-Truckee. Along the way, their transformative summer enrichment program has empowered thousands of middle schoolers from low-income neighborhoods, igniting their love of learning and yielding real results – 98% of Aim High alumni graduate and go on to college. Learn more at https://aimhigh.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. Pillar’s founder, Cindy Joyce, is a Certified Diversity Recruiter. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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.

New Search: Vice President of Technology with Sandy Hook Promise!

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to partner with Sandy Hook Promise on the search for their new Vice President of Technology. This is an ideal role for a mission-driven senior technology professional who is strategic, able to identify technology solutions that solve the current and future needs of an organization, and has experience managing high-performing teams. This position is remote within the U.S.

About Sandy Hook Promise

Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to end school shootings and create a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. Through its lifesaving, evidence informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP educates and empowers youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be socially isolated and/or at risk of hurting themselves or others. SHP is a moderate, bipartisan organization that supports sensible policy solutions that address the human side of gun violence and make schools safer.

SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.

Commitment to Racial Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

SHP strives to ensure its culture and work environment reflect the values of race, diversity, equity, and inclusion (REDI) and is responsive to the views and issues of the diverse communities with which they live and work. SHP encourages individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to equity and inclusion to apply.

Position Summary

The VP of Technology will set the strategic and operational foundation for growth and scale of all relevant IT infrastructure.  The success of this position will depend heavily on the ability to visualize process and provide intuitive user interfaces to systems involved. This position requires a strategic thinker with experience in systems implementation and administration, ability to build and coach a team, Salesforce administration, and an ability to seek out and incorporate best IT practices.  The VP of Technology will own all aspects of data collection and storage, ensuring accuracy of inputs and clear reporting outputs from which organizational strategy can be planned and operational efficiency can be monitored and improved. This position will report to the Chief Operating Officer.

Job Responsibilities  

  • The VP of Technology will be responsible for technology thought leadership, which will include strategy, objectives, goals, vision, priorities, and technology decisions
  • Define and bring to life the best technology solutions that meet the needs of the organization today and establish the right foundation for future growth and ability to scale.
  • Lead a team of direct and indirect reports, building on a best-in-class culture with big-picture thinking that is adaptable and able to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs and goals of the organization
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate technology projects and new processes and systems in line with organizational objectives, and build Project Management expertise to manage these initiatives.
  • Streamline existing processes and technologies and spearhead the creation of automated tools designed to reduce bottlenecks and relieve pain points.
  • Owns data collection and reporting process; uses data to drive decision-making.
  • Collaborate with all departments, determining and addressing their technology needs and requirements, including those of a distributed workforce.
  • Direct the effective development and delivery of networks, understanding the obstacles inherent in using systems while in the field.
  • Oversight of all vendor platforms including our Anonymous Reporting System and Learning Management System
  • Identify and eliminate vulnerabilities with strategic solutions that increase data security for SHP and all relevant technology partners.
  • Prepares tech progress and budget reports for upper management.
  • Builds and maintains relationships with outside vendors.
  • Development and ownership of IT policies, including business continuity and IT security, and adherence to those policies.
  • Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications  

  • Experience building systems to scale with a growing organization, ideally with an organization that, like Sandy Hook Promise, has a team and constituents who are geographically dispersed across the U.S.
  • Track record of managing a complex digital ecosystem; shows deep knowledge of the interconnectivity across all technology needs and how to leverage those connections for the greatest effectiveness and efficiency
  • Proven experience leading and managing high-performance teams, as well as managing teams remotely
  • Ability to envision a solution, communicate that vision clearly to others, and effectively plan and execute to bring that vision to life.
  • Experience with process automation.
  • Must have discretion and ability to handle confidential information.
  • Collaborative team-player with strong interpersonal skills and ability to independently gather, interpret, and analyze information.
  • Strong coaching and engagement skills.
  • Experience with change management within a complex organization
  • Salesforce Administrator experience strongly preferred.
  • Proficiency in data analysis and metrics.
  • Experience with Learning Management Systems.
  • Ability to project budget needs and manage vendor costs organization wide.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to communicate with both technical and non-technical colleagues.
  • Sandy Hook Promise is a Microsoft environment, and proficiency with Microsoft is essential (Office Suite and Microsoft Office 365, including Teams and SharePoint).

Benefits and Salary Range 

The starting salary for this position is $140K-$150K.

100% remote with occasional travel for meetings.

SHP offers a very competitive benefits package, including:

  • Generous paid time off and holidays, including unlimited vacation
  • Paid parental leave
  • Health, dental, and vision
  • Employer paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability
  • 401k match
  • Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program.

Sandy Hook Promise operates within a distributed workforce, allowing for location flexibility across the country for most positions. They provide remote office support for all staff, which includes a laptop, home office reimbursement, and monthly cell phone reimbursement up to $50.

Equal Opportunity Employment 

SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They strive to be an employer of choice: where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. They are focused on promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion and believe deeply in having a workforce comprised of people of all beliefs and backgrounds who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life. Members of all under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.

Note

The selected candidate will be required to provide professional references and pass a background check.

To Apply

Sandy Hook Promise has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for their new VP of Technology. Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

LIFT’s Chief Advancement Officer

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is pleased to have been selected to manage LIFT’s search for their new Chief Advancement Officer.

ABOUT LIFT
Founded in 1998, LIFT is a national nonprofit that empowers families to break the cycle of poverty. LIFT operates program sites in four major cities – Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. – where they connect hardworking parents and caregivers of young children to the people, tools and resources they need to achieve greater economic security and well-being. LIFT believes that by investing in families during children’s earliest years they can break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. To learn more, visit www.WhyWeLIFT.org.

LIFT seeks to hire individuals who are inclusive, results-oriented, and skilled at communication, teamwork, fostering positive working relationships, and problem-solving.

POSITION OVERVIEW
This is an exciting opportunity for a proven nonprofit leader to manage and build the development and communications functions at a high-impact organization, and to serve as a critical member of the organization’s executive team. Success for this role will be defined by LIFT’s fundraising success in the short and long-term, and LIFT’s national visibility as a leader in the anti-poverty space. The position may be located at any of the LIFT offices (Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Washington, DC, or Chicago, IL).

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is responsible for increasing LIFT’s fundraising capacity to achieve its vision and strategic goals. Working closely with LIFT’s CEO, the CAO will be charged with establishing and executing a compelling strategy for revenue generation at LIFT and for leading both national and regional fundraising teams to achieve ambitious development goals. Specifically, the CAO is responsible for the vision, successful organization and execution of all development initiatives including major gifts, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, public funding, and capital campaigns.

The CAO will also lead all marketing, and communications initiatives to ensure cohesive and impactful messaging that aligns with LIFT’s mission and strategic goals. The CAO is a chief spokesperson representing the organization to both internal and external constituencies.

With that, this position will lead and manage the National Communications and National Development teams.  This includes six geographically dispersed team members (with two directly reporting to this position) as well as dotted-line responsibility for other team members at the regional level. This individual will be a mentor and provide oversight of fundraising and communications efforts as well as identifying growth and learning opportunities for all members of the team.

The CAO will report directly to LIFT’s CEO, Michelle Rhone-Collins, and will serve as a member of LIFT’s executive leadership team. They will work closely with the Board of Directors, other senior staff and key stakeholders.

CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lead Fund Development Strategy:

  • Provide strong, strategic leadership of LIFT’s development function by setting ambitious, attainable goals that will increase annual operating funds; aligning fundraising strategies with LIFT’s strategic plan; and managing the development team to achieve and exceed their revenue targets.
  • Provide oversight of all development-related activities and lead coordination with the CEO, Regional Executive Directors, Chief Financial Officer, other senior staff and appropriate Board committees.
  • Manage and strengthen LIFT’s existing development strategies including major gifts, foundation and corporate funding, and special events.
  • Manage the expansion of the major gifts program, implementing systems and processes to build and sustain an effective pipeline.
  • Coach senior staff (Executive Director, Program Directors & Managers, etc.) and Board members on effective fundraising practices, helping them to identify, cultivate, and steward donors.
  • Collaborate across departments and regions to create an environment that nurtures a fundraising mindset throughout all levels of the organization.
  • Partner with the Chief Financial Officer for budget development and management; assure sound fiscal operation of the development function including timely, accurate and comprehensive development income and expense budgets, reporting, monitoring and implementation. Ensure strategic plans for fundraising and communications are integrated with LIFT’s near- and long-term strategies and priorities.

Lead Communications and Marketing Strategy:

  • Lead the Communications team in defining and building an aggressive marketing strategy that ensures consistent institutional messaging and strong branding aligned with LIFT’s core values.
  • Oversee the development and execution of comprehensive marketing strategies including brochures, annual reports, social media, and websites.
  • Actively seek opportunities for LIFT to share insights through media, conferences, and other public forums and serve as primary point-person for all opportunities and requests.
  • Provide messaging strategy and support for all brand ambassadors, public events and engagements.

Manage Performance:

  • Build a strong and nimble Development and Communications team through strategic recruitment, professional development, performance management, and motivational leadership.
  • Oversee performance measures and monitor results to help the CEO, Executive Directors, and Board of Directors evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’s fund development, communications, and marketing.
  • Foster an environment of cohesiveness, collaboration and achievement, develop and implement best practices, and ensure staff accountability for excellence through clearly defined and measurable goals.

Lead External Relationships with Current and Potential Donors & Partners:

  • Alongside the CEO, serve as LIFT’s lead fundraiser, generating significant, renewable funding.
  • Serve as an ambassador for LIFT and its programs, representing LIFT to external supporters, partners and donors and at the highest level in public forums.
  • Maintain a significant portfolio of principal donors, and facilitate relationships between donors and LIFT’s leadership team.
  • Lead relationship-building strategy and activities with major individual, foundation, and corporate donors, developing relationships with key partners and prospective donors.

LIFT’S IDEAL CANDIDATE

  • You are committed to LIFT’s mission and organization’s core values of equity, diversity, excellence, relationship, and hope.
  • You have 10+ years of non-profit development/fundraising and internal/external communications experience with 3-5 years of executive level experience. Experience working within an organization with a national/regional dynamic is strongly preferred.
  • You have a track record of success in raising significant amounts of money through major gifts from individuals, businesses, foundations, or corporations.
  • You possess a strategic understanding of various development campaign activities, including proposal and grant development, annual fund and planned giving, public funding, direct mail, event planning and management, direct solicitations, and more.
  • You have demonstrated experience building or strengthening the structures, supports, and teams required to support a high-performing development team.
  • You possess demonstrated experience securing and managing both restricted and unrestricted grants.
  • You have exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, and are able to use words to inspire in multiple formats.
  • You are committed to recruiting, mentoring, training, and retaining a diverse team, and you possess the foresight and ability to delegate appropriately.
  • Experience managing remote teams is strongly preferred.
  • You are able to operate with flexibility, creativity, fearlessness and determination while maintaining respect for others’ concerns.
  • You are resourceful in finding alternative ways of reaching funding objectives when barriers arise.
  • You are able to travel up to 50%.

WHAT LIFT OFFERS:

  • Competitive annual salary
  • Employer-paid healthcare coverage
  • 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer matching contribution after 1 year of employment
  • Employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage
  • Pre-tax benefits for transit, health and childcare
  • Monthly cell phone reimbursement
  • Generous paid-time-off policy. Employees may accrue up to 4 weeks of paid time off during their first year at LIFT, and all employees receive a one-week company-wide vacation over the winter holidays.

TO APPLY
LIFT has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for its new Chief Advancement Officer. Qualified individuals, please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter to cindy@pillarsearch.com. Please include your full name in the subject line.

LIFT and Pillar Search & HR Consulting believe that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success. LIFT and Pillar do not make hiring decisions on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, age, disability, religion, political affiliation, or ideology.