Chief Executive Officer - Westport Weston Family YMCA

Westport Weston Family YMCA                  

Chief Executive Officer

Westport CT

Opportunity:           

Since its founding in 1923 by local businessman and philanthropist Edward T. Bedford, the Westport Weston Family YMCA (WWFY) has remained an enduring presence in the broader Westport, CT community.  Through the ongoing generosity of the Bedford family and supportive donors, the WWFY recently completed a $25 million dollar expansion that included a total renovation of its beloved 32-acre outdoor facility, Camp Mahackeno, and a 22,000 square foot addition to the Bedford Family Center which now boasts a state-of-the-art gymnastics and Parkour complex.

Throughout its 100-year history, the WWFY has maintained an unwavering commitment to its core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty, seeking to nurture potential and a sense of social responsibility in our youth while offering lifestyle and wellness programming for constituents of all ages.  With the advent of today’s hybrid learning curriculum, the WWFY’s childcare and early learning offerings have become an invaluable resource for working families who otherwise depend on a full-day school system. As a community partner, the WWFY’s Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund grants $275K annually to organizations in primarily underserved, urban areas, in support of education initiatives.

The WWFY remains a beacon of hope and inspiration for the many thousands of members who come through its doors each day, ensuring that regardless of age, income or background, everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. For more information, please visit our website, www.westporty.org.

Responsibilities:   

The ideal CEO candidate will bring a community-focused, results-driven, digital-first, and strategic leadership approach. He or she will guide the WWFY through a period of transformation as it supports the needs of our members.  The CEO’s primary responsibilities will be overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring programming meets the needs of our community, maximally utilizing the organization’s assets to support community engagement, membership growth, and financial oversight through prudent organizational management. He or she will be responsible for:

Mission and Strategy: 

• Develop, clearly articulate, and implement the organization's ongoing vision, mission, and culture to engage the organization’s broad constituent base
• Ensure the Westport Weston Family YMCA is at the forefront of innovation
• Implement a programming strategy that engages our diverse community: children, teens, adults, seniors, special needs, etc.
• Implement a strategic plan to ensure the Westport Weston Family YMCA can successfully fulfill its Mission for the next 100 years
• Implement a fundraising strategy to support the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s current and future operations

Board Partnership to Set Strategic Direction for Growth

• Actively partner with the Board, staff, and community constituents to identify, prioritize, and implement the highest-value opportunities that drive long-term organizational engagement, profitability, and member loyalty
• Responsible for communicating effectively with the Board and providing, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to function properly and to make informed decisions
• Responsible for the fiscal integrity of the WWFY; will submit to the Board a proposed annual budget and monthly financial statements that reflect the financial condition of the organization
• Clearly articulate business goals and foster a collaborative and results-driven culture that ensures all activities ladder up to a single vision to support the organization’s mission
• Maintain a constant awareness of the competitive landscape, new industry developments, opportunities for expansion, and more

Membership Growth and Awareness

• Continuously adapt to the events that impact our community
• Ensure a robust member and community engagement strategy that increases awareness of YMCA programs and boosts participation in classes and events
• Define, monitor, and continuously enhance the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s member programming to ensure a high level of member satisfaction and brand engagement
• Bring a natural affinity for analysis and continually improve the visibility, accuracy, and depth of operating planning for the organization
• Provide a welcoming, attractive, safe, and comfortable facility in which to serve our members

Digital First Orientation

• Drive a digital-first strategy that engages members and our community
• Evaluate, approve, and manage the implementation of systems and technologies required to support and retain members

Development and Fundraising

• Set the WWFY’s fundraising strategy and align the organization to achieve and exceed member and local business fundraising goals
• Develop a retention plan that supports and engages high value patrons
• Identify and implement the highest-value partner opportunities that drive long term membership value, profitability, and community goodwill

P&L Ownership

• Drive short-term and long-term financial results
• Ensure disciplined cash management while supporting priorities that build long-term value and profitability
• Identify and understand the financial levers and key metrics of the organization’s offerings and drive operational focus around those initiatives
• Work closely with the leadership team to build out disciplined and agile financial processes to support the organization’s growth and profitability targets

Qualifications:       Ideal candidates for the CEO will demonstrate the following:

• 15+ years of experience in a senior executive leadership role for a business or organization that has consistently achieved member and business growth targets
• Experience working for a well-regarded, best-in-class organization as well as leadership experience within fast-paced entrepreneurial situations
• A growth-minded, adaptable, digital-first orientation
• Demonstrated success setting and achieving profit goals
• Experience establishing and meeting fundraising goals (or the equivalent)
• A style that attracts followers plus a commitment to fully engaging the members and potential partners within our community
• A leader who lives and breathes the values of the WWFY – a true face of the organization
• Proven track record for inspiring, attracting, developing, and retaining an exceptional team
• Roll-up-your-sleeves mentality and strong work ethic; a leader who exhibits a high sense of urgency and rallies others to take initiative

Education:             '

Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s Degree in Business Administration desirable 

For questions or to submit a cover letter and résumé please reach out to:

Cathy Kim Walker at info@ceoinformationwestportweston.org