President & Chief Executive Officer

Boston is home to many firsts: the first public garden, the first subway system, and the first college in the United States. On March 3, 1866, thirty women came together in Boston to establish another historic first: the first YWCA in the nation, now known as YW Boston. 150 years later, YW Boston continues to work to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. The organization is at the vanguard of thought leadership on issues at the intersection of race and gender, helping organizations create more inclusive environments in which women, people of color, and in particular, women of color can succeed.

YW Boston is seeking a bold, experienced and innovative leader with deep knowledge and a passion for racial and gender equity to serve as its next President & Chief Executive Officer (President & CEO). They will work closely with the board and senior leadership team to establish a vision, strategic plan, and business model to guide the organization into the future. Strong candidates will have significant experience serving in key leadership roles in the non-profit or for-profit sector; exceptional communication and ambassadorial skills; extensive fundraising experience; business and strategic acumen; innovative problem-solving skills, experience leading, managing and developing diverse leaders and teams; and demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

We are in an era of extraordinary social polarization, and we are contending with significant efforts to undermine and roll-back hard-won gains to advance gender and racial equity. The stakes are arguably higher than they have been in decades, and this is truly a pivotal moment. The next President & CEO will take the reins of a dynamic, evolving organization at an important inflection point, in a time of both challenge and opportunity for YW Boston and the communities it serves.

This position is hybrid, with at least two full days attendance per week at the YW Boston office located in Copley Square and a regular presence at Boston-area events. The role entails local and regional travel to conferences, speaking engagements, and other relevant activities to advance the organization’s mission, with occasional national travel.

The base compensation range for this position is $165,000 - $210,000, with a generous benefits package.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

History and Current Focus

As the first YWCA in the nation, YW Boston has been at the forefront of advancing equity for over 150 years. By providing a range of DEI services and leadership development programs, engaging in DEI advocacy, and the youth-focused F.Y.R.E. Initiative, YW Boston helps individuals and organizations change policies, practices, attitudes, and behaviors with a goal of creating more inclusive environments where women, people of color, and especially women of color can succeed.

Under the leadership of former President & CEO Beth Chandler, YW Boston has become a critical partner to individuals, for-profit, non-profit, and public entities, providing DEI consulting and training services throughout Greater Boston. YW Boston’s flagship programs in this area include programs fostering long-term, organizational change; LeadBoston, which provides cohort-based inclusive leadership development for individuals; DEI workshops; and DEI communities of practice. Other core programs of the organization are the F.Y.R.E. Initiative (which stands for “Fierce Youth Reigniting Excellence”), an empowerment and leadership program for middle school girls, and non-partisan advocacy on policy issues relevant to Boston-area women and girls and people of color.

Mission, Vision, Values, and Beliefs

YW Boston’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YW Boston is a thought leader on issues at the intersection of race and gender, and helps individuals and institutions create more inclusive environments where women, people of color, and in particular women of color, can succeed. The organization’s core values are People, Liberation, Courage, Shared Leadership, and Collaboration.

YW Boston believes that:

• Organizations that are more inclusive create conditions for everyone to succeed, especially people of color of marginalized gender identities.
• Organizations with greater diversity in leadership positions are more creative and outperform their peers.
• Barriers for people of color of marginalized gender identities include the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of individuals, organizational culture and norms and policies within organizations as well as at the local, state and federal levels.
• Women are more likely to be leaders as adults when they have opportunity to exercise agency and leadership skills at a younger age.

THE OPPORTUNITY

YW Boston’s next President & CEO will join a dynamic team at an important inflection point for women and people of color within the city of Boston. Working closely with the Board of Directors and YW Boston’s dedicated staff, the new President & CEO can expect to engage with the following opportunities and challenges:

Provide Strategic Vision and Leadership

The next President & CEO will provide strategic direction and visionary leadership for the organization. They will have an established track record of leading with compassion, cooperation, and confidence that inspires others to move forward together. YW Boston is poised for a strategic reset and recalibration to continue to build on its momentum and evolve to meet the moment. The incoming leader will be charged with evaluating the standing capacity of the organization to ensure it can sustainably deliver high-quality programs while stewarding a healthy internal culture.

Effectively Secure and Steward Financial Resources

The President & CEO must deeply listen and speak powerfully and persuasively to a wide range of partners, supporters (including prospective funders and/or clients), and members of the community who are at different points in their DEI journeys. Building on an already strong annual fundraiser, corporate partnerships, and base of other philanthropic support, the President & CEO will lead the Advancement Team and the organization to identify and secure new sources of support and revenue that align with and advance a re-envisioned business model. Additionally, the incoming leader will need to prudently steward resources to ensure the organization remains right-sized relative to its assets, income, and impact, and is sustainable for the long term. YW Boston’s current annual budget is $4.5M.

Foster a Cohesive, Engaged, and Impactful Team

YW Boston’s staff are its greatest asset. The President & CEO of YW Boston leads a team of twenty-six and manages six direct reports: the Vice Presidents of Advancement, People & Culture, Finance, Programs, and Engagement, and an Executive Assistant. The President & CEO reports to the YW Boston Board of Directors, currently comprised of a diverse group of eighteen Boston-area leaders from the non-profit and for-profit sectors.

As the senior executive, the President & CEO plays a key role in shaping organizational culture and modeling the organization’s approach to people management. They will serve as a cultivator of people and talent who will attract and lead a high performing team to achieve strategic and organizational goals. The President & CEO will foster a culture that centers respect and belonging for all. They will bring inspiration to motivate the team by actively listening to, understanding, and responding to their needs, aspirations, and challenges, and working with leadership to strengthen policies and processes in alignment with YW Boston’s values. They will be skilled in developing and coaching members of the leadership team, creating an environment in which managers and teams can do their best work and achieve their aspirations in pursuit of organizational impact. As the team grows and evolves, the President & CEO will continue to prioritize the recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse, efficient, talented, and engaged YW Boston team.

Continue to Build and Leverage Relationships throughout Greater Boston

YW Boston has become a leading voice and partner within the Greater Boston area in providing diversity, equity, and inclusion services. The next President & CEO will be a charismatic and credible ambassador for the organization and for DEI commitment and engagement, and will build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders from the non-profit, for-profit, and public sectors to advance the organization’s sector, social transformation, and advocacy goals.

Partner with the Board of Directors to Advance YW Boston’s Mission

YW Boston’s Board of Directors is a diverse and committed group of diversity, equity and inclusion champions who bring deep experience and appreciation of YW Boston’s mission, vision, and values. The new President & CEO will partner with the Board to define, communicate, and implement the next iteration of the strategic plan and business model. The President & CEO will leverage the Board’s expertise to ensure they have a strong strategic and fiduciary partnership to guide YW Boston forward.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

YW Boston’s next President & CEO will be an experienced and innovative leader with deep knowledge and passion for creating more inclusive environments where women, people of color, and especially women of color can succeed. The President & CEO will also possess personal leadership skills consistent with the organization’s values. While no candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal competencies, attributes, and experiences:

• An inspiring and dedicated leader – A visionary leader with at least ten years of senior leadership experience and a record of executive leadership in a non-profit organization, a Boston-based or national philanthropic organization, academia, corporate environment, or a convening organization focused on racial equity or DEI. Openness to learning and growth, with experience giving, receiving, and implementing constructive feedback.
• An empathetic, responsive, and clear manager who is committed to fostering inclusion and alignment within the organization while holding decision-making authority over key organizational matters. They will be respectful and thoughtful in their communications with colleagues and engender trust between the senior leadership team and other staff members.
• Demonstrated commitment to YW Boston’s mission to promote racial, gender, and social equity. It is critical that the next President & CEO embody YW Boston’s mission, vision, and story. Candidates should be experienced in working with diverse teams and stakeholders with a range of relevant lived and professional experience. The next leader will bring familiarity with theories, structural workings, and real-world impacts of racism, sexism, and intersectional oppressions, and a strong understanding of their own racial identity, personal biases, and lived experience related to overlapping systems of oppression.
• A strong track record of leading advancement efforts including cultivation and stewardship of individual donors, foundations, and corporate and governmental support. Demonstrated ability to build and sustain strong donor relationships over time.
• Excellent communicator and an effective ambassador within the community who draws on capacity to effectively communicate and connect with a wide range of audiences. A dynamic and persuasive public speaker.
• A strategic and disciplined financial leader with demonstrated organizational budget and fiscal management experience. Financial acumen and the ability to manage budgets, track, and forecast effectively.
• A savvy navigator of the Greater Boston corporate, nonprofit, and policy DEI ecosystem who brings a working understanding of the political landscape within Boston and around Massachusetts, or the demonstrated capacity to quickly learn and effectively navigate complex political landscapes at the state and local level.
• An effective partner to the Board who can draw on experience partnering with a Board of Directors to ensure transparency and accountability in organizational governance, fiscal oversight, compliance, and planning for current and future leadership needs.