Chief Executive Officer (CEO), New Futures

Chief Executive Officer

New Futures

New Futures is partnering with Good Insight, a national executive search firm for nonprofits, on a search for a Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) to lead a nonprofit focused on advancing educational opportunities that propel young people into fulfilling, financially stable careers in Washington DC. The full job announcement is here: https://tinyurl.com/NewFuturesCEO.

Founded in 1999, New Futures helps young people navigate a complex system of associate degrees and technical certifications. Our program recognizes the need for everyone to forge their own career path and builds upon flexible programmatic pillars that directly address systemic and racialized barriers our Scholars experience. 

The majority of Scholars are first-generation college students, immigrants, and young parents experiencing financial insecurity. Scholars are guided by a team of highly qualified staff advisors whose combined professional backgrounds and own invaluable lived experiences offer a supportive space where Scholars build confidence, no matter their starting point.

Leadership Overview

New Futures seeks a CEO to be a passionate champion for equitable educational and career attainment as a solution for economic mobility for young people. They will have a keen understanding of the intersections of structural racism and social justice. They will advance the organization's values, operations, governance, programs, policy agendas, and partnerships through a lens inclusive of racial equity and justice. 

With a budget of over $2 million, the CEO will join a stable, mission-driven organization supported by a diverse and active network of champions. They will lead a 13-person team with three direct reports. Their leadership style will be one that is deeply invested in building positive team cultures, developing internal talent, and empowering staff. The CEO will have a strong aptitude for processes, procedures, and tools that ensure operational systems reflect the organization’s maturity. An agile and eager fundraiser, they will build upon and continue to diversify New Futures’ base of support. 

Like all nonprofit leaders, the next CEO should bring a balanced approach as a visionary and operational executive. Specific areas of responsibility include: 

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Champion New Futures’ mission, vision, and goals in collaboration with the Board of Directors, staff, and stakeholders. Ensure mission, structure, policies, operations, programs, and partnerships center equity and justice. 
• Lead, develop, motivate, and mentor a diverse and values-driven team. Supervise a senior team to administer programs with creativity, professionalism, and sustainability.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to maintain good governance practices. 
• With senior leadership team, identify and vet effective programmatic strategies, partnerships and alliances, and career pathway development.

Fundraising & Revenue Development

• In partnership with the development team, set strategy and direct annual and long-term plans that cultivate and maintain relationships with a broad range of supporters. 
• Steward and solicit major gifts on behalf of the organization.
• Play a leadership role in increasing and diversifying financial support, including identifying and implementing new revenue-generating activities and governmental funding.
• In partnership with the staff and Board, ensure grant proposals and reports reflect New Futures’ unique value, vision, and strategic direction.

Public Relations and Community Partnerships

• Serve as principal spokesperson, representing New Futures and its interests to a broad constituency of community and educational partners, employers, supporters, and media.
• Champion advocacy and policy change efforts that support Scholars’ educational aims and economic mobility with community leaders and policymakers.
• Foster and sustain a strategic network of allied community partners, educational institutions, corporations and employers, and financial supporters. 

Finance and Operations

• Steward finances in collaboration with the Board’s finance committee: budget and track expenses, ensure clear financial reporting, and project accurate cash flow.
• Ensure creation, and maintenance of policies and procedures that facilitate effective workflow, decision-making, and communication protocols across departments.
• With the Director of People, Culture, and Operations, strengthen human resources, including onboarding, reporting structures, policies, and performance management.
• Determine and secure supportive workplace arrangements for virtual, hybrid, and in-person settings in collaboration with senior leadership.

Experience, Skills and Qualities

The Board is seeking an experienced senior leader who will lead the organization with vision, skill, and creativity. While we understand that no single candidate can possess every qualification listed below, the following are considered priority areas.

• Record of Leadership. 10+ years of increasing managerial and supervisory responsibility.  
• Passion for mission. Committed to advancing equitable educational or career readiness. 
• Equity-focused. Extensive experience leading equity and racial justice initiatives. Advanced understanding of historic and structural issues affecting Scholars, who are predominately first-generation college students with limited incomes and/or immigrant backgrounds.
• Nonprofit Administration. Command of financial management, strategic planning, human resources, contracts, and marketing in nonprofit settings. 
• Fundraising acumen. Success with senior-level fundraising efforts, including strategizing and securing support through partnerships, foundations, corporations, and/or individuals.
• Powerful storyteller. Passionate and effective articulation of New Futures’ vision and work. 
• Skilled manager and supervisor. Record of developing, mentoring, and managing staff performance. Capacity to delegate and distribute decision-making effectively. 
• Analytical capacity. Can analyze, articulate, and present complex and strategic issues and their potential impacts for decision-making by the staff, board, and key partners. 
• Emotional intelligence. Builds consensus, and leads with compassion and empathy.
• Relationship-Building. Demonstrated ability to connect with a broad range of key audiences. Cultivates authentic relationships grounded in solidarity with historically marginalized communities.
• Governance Experience. Prior history working with or serving on a nonprofit board.
• Content Area Expertise preferred. Knowledge of issues, trends and policies affecting college and career readiness, youth development, and economic advancement. 
• Local ties preferred. Current or past record of personal and/or professional connections to youth, education, workforce development, or related fields in Washington, DC or region. 

Compensation 

The budgeted salary range is $160,000 to $175,000, alongside a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, and generous paid leave.

Application Process

New Futures is conducting this search in partnership with Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving nonprofits and associations. Interested applicants should upload a resume and a detailed cover letter that describes their qualifications to www.good-insight.org/careers. 

Resume reviews begin immediately. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search. For best consideration, please apply no later than October 7. Direct confidential inquiries to Carlyn Madden or Isha Haley at NewFutures@good-insight.org.