Executive Director

Genesys Works • Chicago, IL

11d • $175,000 - $200,000

About The Position

Genesys Works is a national leader in providing pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Currently in 8 cities across the country, we are positioning ourselves for future growth and have an exciting opportunity for a Genesys Works is seeking an experienced leader capable of growing, establishing, and maintaining strong relationships with corporate partners, philanthropic and community leaders, while ensuring programmatic quality, operational excellence, and ongoing enhancement of the Genesys Works brand in the local market. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working collaboratively with the National Office of Genesys Works, the Executive Director has overall strategic and operational responsibility for implementing the Genesys Works business model in Chicago. Specifically, the Executive Director is responsible for executing and growing the program; developing, coaching, and managing the professional staff; establishing authentic, genuine, and commercially relevant relationships with donors and corporate partners; and driving both programmatic quality and organizational growth.

Requirements

• Passion and Mission Alignment: Genuine passion for the mission of Genesys Works and making a measurable difference in the lives of students from underserved communities; commitment to opening up opportunities and creating pathways to career success
• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree from an accredited university required
• Senior Management Experience: Eight to ten years of senior management experience in either the private sector or not-for-profit space (experience in both strongly preferred)
• Leadership Track Record: Proven track record of effectively leading and scaling a performance and outcomes-based organization and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth
• Team Building and Management: Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and create culture; proven team leadership and external stakeholder relationship management experience
• Financial Acumen: Solid financial acumen and prior P&L management experience; ability to manage a multi-million dollar budget
• Corporate Partnership Development: Proven experience selling or fundraising consultatively with C-level leaders and senior-level executives at Fortune 500 employers, mid-tier companies and smaller companies as well, capitalizing on these relationships to serve more students and corporate partners with greater experiential impact
• Fundraising and Marketing: Strong marketing, sales, and fundraising experience with the ability to effectively engage a diverse range of stakeholders and cultures; experience overseeing marketing and fundraising activities
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Leadership Style: Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning and execution; collaborative leader committed to the success of the overall organization
• Personal Characteristics: High level of integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed; passionate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Nice To Haves

• Educational Background: advanced degree preferred
• Board Governance: Past success working with Boards of Directors and/or C-level leaders, with demonstrated ability to build/rebuild boards and cultivate deep, existing board member relationships (strongly preferred)
• Professional Network: Existing network of senior level leaders in business or other sectors with the potential to support the Genesys Works mission (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Refine, enhance, and execute strategic growth plans to expand student internships and deepen organizational impact
• Create and maintain a positive, multi-cultural work environment that attracts, inspires, and retains diverse staff
• Lead, coach, develop, and retain a high-performance leadership team
• Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence, particularly student and corporate partner experiential impact, while executing growth plans
• Demonstrate unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation, focusing on quality outcomes in addition to growth
• Build and steward a diverse and inclusive Board/Advisory Board representative of the community, that is highly engaged and willing to leverage and secure resources
• Implement performance management and development programs across the team to ensure employees are engaged and have a strong sense of belonging
• Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the Board/National Office and other site leaders, ensuring open communication of financial, programming, and impact performance against stated milestones and goals
• Serve as the primary face of Genesys Works to the market, advocating for the students served in the community
• Establish strong relationships with C-level and senior-level executives at Fortune 500 employers, mid-tier companies and smaller companies as well, capitalizing on these relationships to serve more students and corporate partners with greater experiential impact
• Develop and commercialize existing and new relationships with executives and decision makers to secure work placements for students
• Build capacity and capability of the sales and program team to enable persistent growth and increase retention of high school interns
• Develop and strengthen relationships with senior leaders of local school districts and schools to align Genesys Works program with career readiness initiatives
• Grow the organization's sustainable business model by increasing both annual philanthropic giving and long-term capacity building funding, deepening relationships with major individual, foundation, and corporate donors
• Ensure compliance with contractual National Shared Standards and best practices across all functional areas including program execution; finance, planning, and accounting; corporate partnerships; philanthropic development; human resources; marketing and communications; and legal and compliance

Benefits

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Generous paid time off policy, (10) company paid holidays, and Soft Close between Christmas and New Years.
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with company match
• Communications allowance
• Focus Fridays and Flexible work arrangements

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive