Chief Executive Officer

About the Organization

Flourish Agenda is a national nonprofit consulting organization dedicated to improving the mental and behavioral health among youth of color by providing consulting services and educational programs to schools, youth organizations, foundations, and government entities. Their core mission is to foster environments where young people of color can thrive emotionally and culturally. Flourish Agenda’s approach is deeply rooted in healing-centered engagement, aiming to transform the practices and policies of organizations to promote healthy relationships and organizational cultures grounded in love and justice. After 30 years, Flourish Agenda has rapidly expanded from a regional to a national provider of consulting training. We are a mighty and passionate team of trainers, researchers, and educators who have fun and deliver for our clients.

Our key values include:

• Self-reflection: Taking responsibility, honesty, integrity, and the ability to engage in ongoing self-reflection.
• Possibility thinking: Bold creativity and creative problem-solving for our organization and clients.
• Transformative relationships: Cultivating ways to work collaboratively together. We are a team, and teamwork makes a difference for communities.
• Well-Being: Flexibility, fun, and work-life balance that supports the whole person.
• Justice: Fairness and belonging that recognizes diverse ideas, culture, ethnicity, and gender expression.
• Accountability & Grace: Accepting responsibility for one’s actions and compassion for people when making mistakes.

For those seeking to make a tangible impact in the lives of youth of color and the organizations that serve them, Flourish Agenda offers a pathway to transformative change grounded in a deep understanding of these communities’ unique challenges and strengths. Through its dedicated efforts and specialized programs, Flourish Agenda leads the way in nurturing environments where the next generation can thrive, heal, and grow. Learn more about their transformative work at the organization’s website here.

About the Role:

As Flourish Agenda embarks on a pivotal transition, welcoming a new CEO to succeed Dr Shawn Ginwright, the co-founder and current CEO, it stands on the cusp of significant organizational evolution. The incoming CEO will inherit the mantle of leadership when Flourish Agenda is poised to implement an ambitious strategic plan to amplify its impact and expand its reach within school districts, city, and statewide agencies. This period of transformation will also see the organization focus on board expansion and enhancing governance structures to support its strategic objectives and growth ambitions.

The ideal candidate will bring a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector and consulting business models, particularly in racial equity, youth empowerment, and healing-centered practices. Armed with an advanced degree in Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field and at least 15 years of leadership experience, the new CEO will be tasked with steering Flourish Agenda through this exciting development phase.

Key responsibilities will extend beyond the organization’s day-to-day management to include executing the new strategic plan, which will set the course for the future of the Flourish Agenda. The plan encompasses a holistic approach to empowerment, emphasizing not only educational programs but also consulting services aimed to offer solutions to the mental and behavioral health crisis among youth of color in the United States. The CEO will play a crucial role in ensuring that these initiatives are implemented effectively, aligning with the organization’s core mission while responding to the evolving needs of the communities served.

Moreover, the CEO will lead efforts to expand and diversify the board, bringing on individuals who can contribute diverse perspectives, expertise, and resources to Flourish Agenda. This expansion is vital to enhancing the organization’s strategic capabilities and ensuring robust governance structures are in place to support sustained growth and impact.

Inheriting Dr. Ginwright’s legacy, the new CEO will be expected to embody the spirit of innovation and commitment defining Flourish Agenda’s success. This includes championing the healing-centered approach at the heart of the organization’s work, fostering an inclusive culture that values empathy and resilience, and driving strategic initiatives that promise to elevate Flourish Agenda to new heights of effectiveness and influence in empowering youth of color.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Develop and Execute Strategic Plan: Lead a comprehensive strategic plan aligning with the organization’s healing and community empowerment mission. This involves identifying critical strategic priorities, setting long-term objectives, and defining the tactical approaches to achieve these goals.
• Goal Setting: Establish clear, measurable goals that advance the organization’s mission and strategic vision. Ensure these goals are communicated effectively across the organization and that all teams understand their role in achieving them.
• Metrics for Success: Develop a robust framework for measuring the success of strategic initiatives. This includes selecting key performance indicators (KPIs) that accurately reflect progress toward strategic goals and ensuring regular monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place.
• Adaptability: Embed adaptability into the strategic planning process to ensure the organization can respond effectively to changing external environments and internal capacities. This duty includes regularly reviewing and adjusting strategic plans and goals to address new challenges and opportunities.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with key stakeholders, including board members, staff, community leaders, and beneficiaries, in the strategic planning process. Facilitate open dialogues to gather insights, foster buy-in, and ensure the strategic plan reflects diverse perspectives and needs.
• Leadership and Direction: Provide strong leadership and clear direction to the organization through the strategic planning and execution phases. This involves inspiring and motivating staff, ensuring alignment and coherence across different work areas, and focusing on the organization’s mission and values.
• Innovation in Strategy: Champion innovative approaches within the strategic planning process to explore new opportunities for achieving the organization’s mission. This duty includes encouraging a culture of creativity and flexibility, allowing for the exploration of new ideas and approaches to enhance impact.

Board Collaboration:

• Strategic Refinement with the Board: Regularly engage with the board to review and refine the organization’s strategic direction. This includes presenting strategic proposals, discussing potential adjustments, and ensuring the strategic plan remains aligned with the organization’s mission and the board’s vision.
• Reporting and Accountability: Establish a systematic approach to reporting on organizational progress against defined strategic goals and objectives. This duty encompasses the preparation of comprehensive reports for board meetings, highlighting achievements, challenges, and areas requiring attention.
• Feedback Integration: Develop mechanisms to solicit and integrate feedback from the board into the organization’s strategic planning and operational execution. This involves actively listening to board members’ insights and concerns, facilitating discussions on feedback, and implementing agreed-upon adjustments to strategies and plans.
• Transparency and Communication: Ensure transparency in all communications with the board, providing them with the necessary information to make informed decisions. This includes timely updates on significant developments, financial status, and any issues impacting the organization’s reputation or operations.
• Financial and Ethical Integrity: Work closely with the board to oversee the organization’s financial performance and ethical standards. This duty includes collaborating on budgetary planning, financial oversight, and establishing policies and practices that uphold the highest integrity and public trust.
• Board Engagement and Development: Facilitate board members’ engagement in the organization’s activities and strategic initiatives. This involves organizing orientation sessions for new board members, providing ongoing education opportunities about the organization’s mission and work, and identifying ways for board members to contribute their expertise effectively.
• Partnership Building: Cultivate a strong partnership between the executive team and the board, fostering a collaborative environment where strategic decisions are made collectively. This includes coordinating strategic retreats and workshops that facilitate a more profound understanding and alignment of the organization’s key issues.

Team Leadership and Development

• Cultural Development: Lead the development and reinforcement of a workplace culture characterized by empathy, resilience, and innovation. This involves setting a personal example of these values and embedding them into the organization’s policies, practices, and daily operations.
• Inspiration and Motivation: Consistently demonstrate commitment to the organization's mission and vision to serve as a source of inspiration for C-level executives and all staff members. Encourage a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for the work being done, highlighting the impact of their contributions on the community.
• Supportive Environment Creation: Foster a supportive and inclusive work environment that enables all team members to thrive. This includes ensuring that resources, tools, and support systems are available to support staff well-being, professional development, and work-life balance.
• Professional Growth: Champion professional growth and development opportunities for team members at all levels. Implement development programs, mentoring relationships, and training workshops that cater to the staff’s diverse needs and career aspirations.
• Collaboration Enhancement: Promote a collaborative work environment where cross-functional teams work together effectively towards common goals. Facilitate opportunities for team members to collaborate on projects, share knowledge, and contribute to decision-making processes.
• Feedback and Recognition: Establish a culture of open communication where feedback is actively sought, respectfully given, and constructively received. Recognize and celebrate achievements and milestones, both at the individual and team levels, reinforcing the value of each team member’s contributions.
• Mission Alignment: Ensure all team members understand how their roles contribute to the organization’s mission. Regularly communicate the organization’s goals and progress, fostering a shared sense of purpose and alignment.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Lead efforts to build and maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce. Encourage practices and policies that support diversity in all forms, ensuring everyone feels valued and can contribute to their fullest potential.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Representation: Act as the primary spokesperson for the organization, adept at engaging with diverse executive audiences, stakeholders, and partners. Exceptional relationship-building skills are essential for expanding our network, securing funding, and establishing the organization as a leader in healing-centered practices.

Ideal Candidate Profile for the CEO Position

Key Qualifications:

• Educational Background: Possesses an advanced degree in Psychology, Social Work, Educational Leadership, or a related field, with specialized training or significant experience in healing-centered practices or trauma-informed care.
• Professional Experience: Brings a minimum of 15 years of leadership experience within the nonprofit sector, ideally with a focus on mental health, education reform, community development, or similar areas. Demonstrates a successful track record in developing and implementing programs that promote healing and resilience in communities.
• Consulting Expertise: Has a strong background in consulting, with proven abilities in enhancing organizational capabilities, streamlining operations, and increasing program impact through expert advice and stakeholder engagement.
• Strategic Leadership: Exhibits a deep understanding of strategic planning and execution, with experience in setting clear goals, developing metrics for success, and ensuring adaptability to changing community needs.
• Board Collaboration: Experienced in working collaboratively with boards to refine organizational strategy, ensure accountability, and maintain financial and ethical integrity. Demonstrates effectiveness in reporting progress and integrating board feedback.
• Team Leadership and Development: Known for cultivating a culture of empathy, resilience, and innovation. Skilled in inspiring and motivating teams, fostering professional growth, and enhancing collaboration.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace, with a track record of leading diverse teams and implementing practices that support an inclusive environment.

Core Competencies:

• Visionary Leadership: Able to articulate a clear and compelling vision for the future, inspiring others to engage in the mission of healing and community empowerment.
• Adaptability and Resilience: Demonstrates flexibility in strategy and problem-solving, with a capacity to lead through change and uncertainty.
• Communication Skills: Possesses exceptional communication abilities and can engage effectively with diverse executive audiences, stakeholders, and partners.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Exhibits strong analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and develop innovative solutions.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: High level of emotional intelligence, with the ability to connect with others, understand their needs, and foster an environment of support and understanding.

Personal Attributes:

• Passionate Advocate: Deeply committed to the mission of healing-centered training and the broader impact on communities.
• Collaborative Leader: Values collaboration and is adept at building partnerships and networks to support the organization’s goals.
• Ethical and Integrity-driven: Holds themselves and others to the highest ethical standards, leading with integrity and transparency.

At Flourish Agenda, we believe in taking care of our employees as much as we care for the communities we serve. We offer a supportive and inclusive work environment, along with a comprehensive benefits package that promotes your personal and professional growth:

• Health and Wellness: We provide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance to keep you and your family healthy and thriving.
• Retirement Plans: Secure your future with our 401(k) retirement savings plan, which includes employer-matching contributions.
• Paid Time Off: Enjoy a generous paid time off policy that includes vacation days, sick leave, and personal days to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Grow your career with access to workshops, training sessions, and conferences that enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: We understand the importance of flexibility. Enjoy flexible work schedules and remote work opportunities that fit your lifestyle.
• Employee Assistance Programs: Access our employee assistance programs for additional support, including counseling services for personal or work-related issues.
• Community and Culture: Be part of a supportive and inclusive culture that values community engagement, with regular events and activities to foster connection and collective care.