CEO

Leadership and Collaboration

Seattle is a vibrant and diverse community across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Working effectively across constituency groups including large and small businesses, not–for-profit organizations, civic leaders, and the YGS staff, this individual will:

• Use complex, coordinated influencing/negotiation strategies, adapted to people, organizations and/or the situation, e.g. networks
• Leverage direct reports to facilitate increased collaboration across the organization, tapping their motives and values to energize them
• Build partnerships based on a common agreement that acknowledges individual differences but creates a new commonality beyond root beliefs or culture
• Systematically build support at multiple levels and across groups
• Build ongoing partnerships with key stakeholders
• A hands-on, team-oriented leader with highly developed interpersonal skills, adept as an influencer and negotiator

Strategic Thinking and Partnership Mindset

YGS seeks to identify and develop strategic opportunities that widen the organization’s outreach and deepen impact. The successful CEO will lead these efforts by:

• Revising strategy for the organization and defining the evolving future of the local non-profit landscape
• Challenging assumptions and conventional wisdom with specific, supported, reasoned proposals
• Contributing to the development of an organizational strategy and justifying it with market insight
• Thinking 3-5 years ahead into the organization’s long-term strategy

Driving Results

With a track record of generating growth and consistently setting and delivering against targets, the CEO will:

• Enable higher performance by incrementally improving approaches based on internal and external feedback
• Benchmark own performance against industry best practices
• Proactively seek to improve programs and align with the organization’s mission
• Identify new ways to broaden the impact and reach of the organization

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Embody the YGS mission with a passionate and empathetic voice. Articulate his or her interest in youth development with colleagues, partners, funders, and community stakeholders.
• Lead YGS in achieving its mission and goals in a financially sustainable manner. Partner with senior leaders to optimize the operational effectiveness of the organization, including:
  • Oversee/manage the Y’s business operations, which includes a vast and diverse program portfolio 
  • Align the organizational structure to meet strategic needs, and ensure the right talent is in place to build, lead, and mentor a thriving leadership team that instills an energizing culture 
  • Foster clear accountability with goals and metrics to measure progress
• Lead the process of developing, iterating, optimizing, and communicating long- and short-term strategy. Create alignment and build consensus with the executive leadership team and Board of Directors on a strategic plan that incorporates aggressive targets for growth and portfolio management (i.e., scaling up existing initiatives, building new initiatives, and discontinuing initiatives when needed) to drive focus and optimize impact.  
• Lead the development and execution of YGS' strategic growth plan, including the change management and communications efforts required to maintain excellent relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Be a dynamic leader of the entire YGS team. Attract, build, inspire, and retain a highly driven, diverse, and passionate staff. Relentlessly provide opportunities for existing employees to develop their skills, and recruit new talent where appropriate.
• Be a trusted leader on diversity and inclusion-related issues, programs, and trends. Set clear expectations and work across the organization to attract and engage the increasingly diverse team YGS needs to achieve its mission.
• Work effectively, transparently, and collaboratively with the Board of Directors to ensure wise governance, alignment on key decisions and strategic direction, and properly calibrated expectations about financial and operating results.
• Cultivate a trusted relationship with funders and partners by properly communicating and managing expectations related to YGS strategy, investment plans, financial results, and mission impact.
• Thoughtfully pursue strategic partnerships and ensure their successful execution to realize mutual benefit.