Principal Responsibilities:
The Executive Director (ED) leads the Worcester JCC. The ED is the organizations operational management and visionary leader and chief revenue officer, responsible for achieving transformative impact by implementing the strategic vision and plan. The ED works to attract increased levels of earned income, government and philanthropic support. The ED is responsible for achieving programmatic excellence, sustaining the organizations culture, creating business plans, and overseeing day-to-day activities. The ED empowers the dedicated Worcester JCC staff to ensure the business is operating efficiently and effectively to realize its short-term and long-term programmatic goals. The position requires a dynamic, mission-driven leader who is visible at the JCC and in the community. They should create and maintain an excellent workplace culture, and outstanding working relationships with the staff and the Board of Directors as well as any working teams that support the Worcester JCC's mission, vision, and values. In this full- time, exempt position, the ED reports directly to the Board of Directors.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Organization Mission, Strategy and Leadership:
- Works with board and staff to ensure that the Mission, Vision, and Values are fulfilled and that the programmatic goals are achieved.
- Responsible for achieving the Worcester JCC's vision, fulfilling the organization's mission, and implementing the Worcester JCC's strategic and business plans to ensure that the organization successfully creates the transformative change desired to positively impact the lives of its members and program participants.
- Responsible for enhancing the Worcester JCC's image by working closely with the business, civic, philanthropic, government, and social service sectors whose roles are critical to the organization's success.
- Serve as the Worcester JCC's primary spokesperson to the organization's constituents, the media, and the general public.
- Upholds the organization's long-standing Jewish culture and values.
- Serves as a key spokesperson and representative for the Worcester JCC throughout the Jewish community, the community at large, and with private and public funders and other service partners.
- Fiscal Sustainability and Viability: Attract and manage the financial resources necessary to ensure the financial health of the organization.
- Achieves membership and program participation goals in order to achieve earned income goals that fuel the organization's primary funding source.
- Builds relationships internally and externally to deepen existing connections and engagement in order to inspire new levels of participation and satisfaction.
- Leverages philanthropic support by cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individuals, families, corporations, and foundations as partners and investors in the Worcester JCC.
- Secures government support and grants where appropriate to advance the organization's programmatic goals.
- Creates organizational sustainability by attracting multi-year investments, completing the capital campaign and building the organization's future reserves and endowment.
- Develops an executable annual operating budget in partnership with the finance staff, the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors.
- Oversees financial matters including long-term budgeting, ongoing financial performance, risk management and financial strategy.
- Using financial statements and business dashboards to guide and oversee the organization's performance; the ED must remain flexible, making necessary changes to ensure financial integrity and sustainability.
- Board Governance: Works with the Board of Directors in order to fulfill the organization's mission, vision, and values.
- In partnership with the Board of Directors, recruits, onboards, manages and inspires Board member engagement to support achievement of the organization's goals.
- Engages the board in the development of the Worcester JCCs strategic vision and leverage each board member as a thought partner and contributor in realizing the organization's vision.
- Works with each of the Board's Sub-Committees to advance the goals of the organization.
- Communicates effectively with Board leadership to help inform key business decisions.
- In partnership with the Board President, prepares and helps manage productive board meetings to engage the board in the organizations strategic priorities.
- Acts as the primary liaison between the Board and staff.
- Organization Operations: Oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and ensures its overall successful long-term operations. In partnership with staff leadership, the ED:
- Recruits, trains, manages and inspires a dynamic staff team to successfully build and implement the organization's business plans.
- Counsels and coaches the senior management team for success; respects, encourages, empowers, and celebrates the talents of that team while also holding each accountable to mutually agreed-upon goals.
- Oversees the effective administration of the Worcester JCC's operations.
- Ensures a positive working environment and an organizational culture of success that stands as the model for all other employers to emulate.
- Oversees the building infrastructure to ensure a safe and secure environment for all members and staff. Implement capital revisions to offer state-of-the art facilities. Work with the appropriate authorities to mitigate risk by maintaining updated security provisions.
- Establishes employment and administrative policies and procedures for all functions and for the day-to-day operation of the Worcester JCC. Reviews and approves contracts for services.
- Has primary responsibility for communications regarding the Worcester JCCs mission, values, programs, challenges, and achievements.
- Supports the national JCC movement and leverages the resources of the Jewish Community Center Association (JCCA) to enhance the Worcester JCCs experiences and results.
- Effectively manages any crisis that might arise using superior decision-making skills, in consultation with Board leadership and senior staff.
- Actively uses and leverages the national JCCA informational resources curated to support JCCs, and participates in the JCCA's biannual benchmarking process, sharing insights gleaned with the Board and staff.
Skills, Personal Attributes And Requirements
- Possesses 10+ years of executive experience and skills developed as a senior leader in another nonprofit or in the business sector with a record of achievement in organizational leadership, team management, and financial health.
- Brings a track record of effective leadership and proven results leading a performance- and outcomes-based organization and staff.
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing Jewish life and culture in central Massachusetts and has a keen interest and understanding of Jewish culture, practices, and traditions.
- Possesses excellent interpersonal, political, and diplomatic skills, along with the ability to build trust and partner with professional and volunteer leaders throughout the community.
- Demonstrates past performance in relationship-building, earned income and philanthropic revenue generation. Strong community advocate, public relations leader and ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders to leverage financial support.
- Provides excellence in organizational management with demonstrated ability to coach and manage staff, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget. Strong business and financial acumen is required.
- Brings past success working with a Board of Directors or similar entity with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships.
- Thinks (high level) strategically and complements planning with excellent listening skills. Envisions and conveys the organizations strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers, members, donors and community partners.
- Fosters a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, teamwork, and empowerment, maximizing staff morale and retention at every level.
- Demonstrates an even-handed, transparent, and reasoned approach to decision-making.
- Leads with courage, integrity, and enthusiasm.
- Is visionary and strategic, able to see beyond today's challenges.
- Exudes executive presence; is well respected and trusted; high energy, approachable, and empathetic.
- Is passionate, inspirational, and a good storyteller.
- Commits to being visible and accessible to all staff, members, and the broader community.
- Is flexible, able to address changing conditions.
- Brings a high emotional intelligence when engaging with diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrates solid organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, program development, facility management, and task facilitation.
- Offers strong written and verbal communication skills; is a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
- Is action-oriented, entrepreneurial, creative, adaptable, and brings an innovative approach to business planning and management.
- Describes oneself as someone who brings great passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, self-directed, and strong work ethic to the role.
- Collaborates and enjoys working with a diverse group of people in different settings.
COMMITMENT
While the role can primarily be conducted during normal business hours, on occasion the ED role requires flexible work hours including early mornings, nights and weekends to perform job duties. As the public face of the Worcester JCC, attendance at functions and activities is expected. It is expected that the ED (1) is expected to be based from and work on site at the Worcester JCCs 633 Salisbury Street location, (2) is an active member of the local community, personally and professionally, and (3) lives within a reasonable distance of the Worcester JCC.
Salary And Benefits
This position offers the right candidate an opportunity to lead the organization to new heights and scale the organizations impact. The identified leader will embrace this career opportunity and leave an indelible mark on every family served. The Worcester JCC offers a strong starting base salary, competitive benefits package, and a team-oriented atmosphere that is both positive and rewarding. The compensation range for this position is $135K - $175K. An annual bonus is also available, dependent on performance and achievement of shared goals.
TO APPLY
Interested applicants should prepare and forward a cover letter, resume and compensation requirements to the New Kensington Group at chuckgordon1979@gmail.com.
Agency Information:
To provide the Greater Worcester Community with the highest quality educational, health, wellness, social, and recreational programs for people of all ages, guided by Jewish values and culture in an environment that is safe, welcoming, and respectful to all.
The Worcester JCC is a non-profit community service organization with approximately one hundred and fifty full and part-time staff that was founded by leadership from the greater Worcester Jewish communities. The organization was built on the values of promoting healthy lifestyles, education, life-long learning, and charity in an environment that is safe, welcoming and respectful to all. The JCC has been a central part of Worcester and surrounding neighborhoods for over 70 years. The JCC provides people of all cultures and backgrounds with a welcoming place to be active, healthy, and engaged. It is a vital community center offering recreational, educational, and fitness programs that help improve the daily lives of children, adults, families, and seniors.
Offerings at the 80,000 square foot center include: accredited educational programs and summer day camps for preschool, youth, and teens; licensed after school programs, child care, and babysitting services; full fitness facilities and daily fitness programming, including a fitness center for cardio and strength training; over 50 fitness classes weekly; personal training and small group training; a variety of sports programs; indoor and outdoor pools for aquatic recreation; a spa for massage therapy; lectures and discussion groups in literature, film, and the arts; monthly social programs; volunteering opportunities; and, local events and cultural trips.
The Worcester JCC is an equal opportunity employer who strives to create an atmosphere where diversity of identity, experience, and background are welcomed, valued, and supported. The Worcester JCC is committed to considering candidates for employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability and any other status protected under applicable law, and provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.
Systemic inequities in hiring have caused women, people of color, LBTQIA+ folks, and others to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. The Worcester JCC encourages you to break that statistic and apply, as no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to your application. All decisions affecting employment at the Worcester JCC are made based on qualification, performance and other pertinent work-related factors.