Executive Director - Evanston Cradle to Career (EC2C)
Alma Advisory Group, United States
Job Description
Who We Are
Evanston Cradle to Career (EC2C) is a collective impact initiative that brings together diverse stakeholders including school districts, municipal agencies, nonprofits, and businesses to develop a common agenda, break down barriers across sectors, and create an integrated system for addressing the profound inequity in our community that has resulted in an entrenched opportunity and achievement gap. EC2C leaders and partners believe systems change is essential to effect long-lasting and sustainable improvements toward social equity. EC2C envisions an Evanston where, by age 23, all young adults are leading healthy, satisfying, and productive lives.
What We Do
As an organization, EC2C is unwaveringly committed to realizing and fostering a more fair and equitable community. A core requirement of our work is to recognize the need for change in the everyday operations of social institutions that impact children and families in an authentic and concerted effort to eliminate barriers to resources and ensure fair access to opportunity for all. In the spirit of collective impact, EC2C partners are working toward a common visionone with a sharp focus on equityholding each other accountable around shared goals and utilizing key metrics to determine the best path forward.
What You’ll Do
As an entrepreneurial, strategic, and experienced leader serving as our Executive Director, you will spearhead all aspects of EC2C operations, managing outcomes through implementation of short- and long-term work plans, leading communications, staffing committees, facilitating cross- sector partnerships, and managing the budget. Reporting to our HR team, the Executive Director will prioritize issues of equity across all areas of EC2C work, broadly promoting equity within our partner organizations and community. The organization will depend on you to advance our commitment to racial equity, foster a healthy and functional culture, deepen capacity in our stakeholders, refine and enhance our internal processes, and strengthen our community impact.
What You’ll Own
Visionary Leadership amp; Organizational Management
- Ensure that the EC2C’s mission and vision are clearly articulated and understood fully by our staff, partners and stakeholders
- Serve as a community catalyst to move Evanston toward greater equity
- Model thought leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering in a manner that breathes life into the organization’s vision and disrupts the status quo
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization and ensure its overall successful immediate, short-term, and long-term operations
- Ensure written and spoken communication is consistent with EC2C’s goals and programs; engage policy advocacy in support of the organization
Development, Fundraising amp; Network Cultivation
- Act as a liaison to funders, soliciting collaborative grants with partner organizations, and ensuring EC2C’s long-term sustainability
- Generate interest in engaged philanthropy with an emphasis on establishing and nurturing new partnerships with potential Chicago area funders
- Communicate with EC2C partners and supporters to cultivate strong relationships and continued support for EC2C’s mission and core priorities
Human Resources (HR) and Operations Team Collaboration
- Manage strong relationships and partnerships with the the HR and Operations Teams, maintain regular and ongoing communication and provide support and guidance to members to facilitate effective governance of the initiative
- Identify emerging issues and recommend changes to ensure that the initiative remains relevant and effective
- Work closely and openly with the Operations Team and all organizational committees and Action Teams to ensure ongoing communication of risks, issues, and successes
- Implement policies and procedures and build support for Operations Team decisions among staff
Financial Management amp; Operations Administration
- Spearhead, monitor and ensure the fiscal integrity of the organization
- Develop and regularly update the annual work plan aligned with the 3-year strategic plan
- Work with EC2C staff to capture and report data to inform the work of EC2C and its impact
- Lead regular review and revision of EC2C’s strategy under the supervision and guidance of the Operations Team
- Ensure maximum resource utilization, budget management, and maintenance of the organization to maintain the organization in a positive, productive and sustainable financial situation; prepare and maintain the EC2C organizational budget
- Secure the organization’s financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves
Community Partnership Buildin