Executive Director

Description

The Role of the Executive Director The new Executive Director will inherit a highly regarded organization and is responsible for the overall management of the organization and all aspects of its operation. The Executive Director is employed by the Board of Directors and reports to the Executive Committee. The Executive Director’s primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, resource development, long-range planning as well as oversight of the organization’s fiscal management, personnel management, community relations, and board relations. More specifically, the new Executive Director will provide: Strategic and visionary leadership • Provide overall leadership for the organization and identify and address areas challenging CASA’s evolution and growth. • Thoroughly understand CASA – its history and culture; governance structure, staff, Board of Directors, funding streams, programs, outreach, community network, political landscape and constituencies. • Interpret, own and implement current staff work plans, organizational development and financial sustainability; ensure that goals and objectives are clear with regular check-ins to assess progress or impediments; through collaboration with staff, prioritize and balance workflow with intended outcomes. • Stay abreast of developments and trends in the foster care/child welfare arena; consider and introduce ideas that advance CASA’s mission. • Maintain a climate that attracts, retains, motivates and develops a diverse, high-quality staff, volunteers and Board of Directors; create an environment that embraces collaboration, innovation, accountability and diversity of opinion. Resource development • Oversee, develop, and implement fund development plan; research, solicit, and obtain program funding in conjunction with the Board of Directors, research, write, and manage public and private grant funding. Cultivate relationships with community donors; develop and maintain a donor base for monetary and non-monetary resources and create, plan, and oversee all details related to special events. Long-range planning • Develop and initiate time-oriented strategic plan in conjunction with the Board of Directors to establish organization goals; review program and organizational progress and compare to goals and objectives; ensure agency compliance with Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services regulations and National CASA Association standards. Community relations • Coordinate public relations to increase and promote community awareness of CASA, its programs, and other activities; produce community newsletter and annual report; develop public relations materials and conduct social media activities aimed at volunteer/board recruitment and fund development. The Executive Director will foster positive relationships with all appropriate groups, agencies, and organizations that will contribute to the success of CASA. The Executive Director will be available for public engagements that will increase and/or enhance CASA’s identity in the community Fiscal management • Manage daily fiscal and business operations, including developing and executing the approved budget, entering into contracts and agreements, developing and managing all grant reports and records, paying bills, and making deposits; review all financial reports (monthly, quarterly, annually) and maintain documentation support for reports and develop the organization’s annual budget in conjunction with the Board of Directors. General office administration • Ensure CASA is in compliance with all legal and business requirements for nonprofits (i.e., communication with the IRS, State Corporation Commission annual filings, annual registration to solicit in VA); order supplies and ensure maintenance of all equipment and oversee all back-office activities required to keep CASA operating.

Skills Required

Candidate Profile The Executive Director will be a visionary but pragmatic leader possessing the following key qualifications and characteristics: • A commitment to the mission of CASA; an understanding of the needs and challenges of foster children, either as a nonprofit leader in a related field, a current or former CASA, public official or nonprofit board member, with five plus years of management experience. • A strong track record in attracting financial support, whether as a nonprofit executive or board member, or from the commercial sector, from individuals, foundations or businesses; a strong partnership/relationship builder. • Decisive and resourceful, with the organizational sensitivity to gain the support and confidence of the Board of Directors and staff at all levels; a team builder and collaborator, confident and competent, with strong skills in management and leadership; one who trusts and empowers the employees and volunteers, understands the subtleties of recruiting, motivating, directing and retaining a diverse group of personalities with different work styles. • One who is creative and can identify and convey the synergies and mutual benefits that come from collaboration; a contributor who works well with diverse stakeholders, partners and collaborators; politically savvy. • Outstanding oral and written communication skills. Qualifications Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Experience in public speaking. Prior experience with a non-profit organization and fund development. Ability to plan, implement, and monitor organizational goals and activities. Ability to write and administer grants and budgets. Ability to work effectively with a volunteer board and committees. A Master’s degree or equivalent experience in social work, public administration, human services, law, or business is preferred.

Work Schedule

M-F

Additional Info

The Opportunity The Chesterfield Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote a safe and permanent home for abused and neglected children. CASA achieves its mission by providing trained volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children through involvement in the juvenile court process. The Chesterfield CASA is seeking a new Executive Director to lead the organization into a successful new chapter, building on the foundation of over twenty years of success. Since 1997, Chesterfield CASA has made a difference in the lives of over 1,600 abused and neglected children in our community. The organization fulfills its mission by recruiting, training and supervising volunteers from the community who are appointed as a child’s advocate to protect and promote their “best interest.” CASA advocates are appointed by juvenile court judges to be the eyes and ears of the court in complicated abuse and neglect cases. CASA volunteers work to be a unifying force on behalf of children – gathering information, communicating with all parties, and ensuring that children in foster care have a caring and consistent adult speaking up for them and making sure they are receiving the care they need and deserve. The search for a new Executive Director is an opportunity for CASA to capitalize and build on its proven successful program. The Executive Director will partner with the Board of Directors, staff, the Juvenile Courts, and community partners to execute the strategic vision. She/he is a passionate voice in conveying the mission of CASA, the impact on children’s lives, the need for systemic change addressing the needs of foster children and the reasons volunteers and funders should support the work. This position calls for a leader with outstanding strategic, fundraising and management skills, along with an enterprising spirit and a strong commitment to CASA’s mission. The Executive Director reports to a Board of Directors and oversees a staff of five employees, a Program Director, and three Advocate Supervisors (one of whom is part-time). The Advocate Supervisors spend the majority of their time supervising the volunteer advocates so they feel supported in their roles. All staff share the responsibility of recruiting, screening, and training new volunteers interested in joining the program. CASA’s annual budget is approximately $335,000. Background and Current Situation CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and have a variety of professional, educational and cultural backgrounds. They are selected on the quality of their objectivity, competence, and commitment, and undergo a rigorous application, screening and training process. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives in which foster parents, social workers, lawyers, teachers and mental health providers can change frequently. A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to find a safe, permanent home, is half as likely to re-enter the foster care system, and is more likely to succeed in school. The CASA model was first introduced in 1977 when a Seattle Juvenile Court Judge, concerned about making drastic decisions with insufficient information, conceived the idea of citizen volunteers speaking up for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom. From that first program has grown a network of nearly 1,000 CASA and guardian ad litem programs that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Chesterfield CASA was formed by a group of local citizens concerned about the increasing number of child victims in our community. Our program joins 26 others in Virginia providing advocacy through the CASA model. The organization serves the 12th Judicial District Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, with jurisdiction in Chesterfield County and the city of Colonial Heights. It received 501 (c) 3 status in 1996 and began assigning volunteers to cases in 1997. To Apply Chesterfield CASA has retained the services of Warren Whitney to assist with this search. To be considered for this immediate opening, please send your resume, cover letter and salary requirements HR@WarrenWhitney.com. At Chesterfield CASA, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our team and the communities we serve. Chesterfield CASA is an equal opportunity employer and as such, we do not discriminate against any team member or candidate because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage all to apply because we believe a diversity of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.