Executive Director Candidate Profile

For Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC)

Role Overview

The Executive Director (ED) will serve as the strategic and operational leader of the Gary Comer Youth Center, responsible for ensuring that the center’s mission of empowering youth to succeed through education, leadership, and community engagement is fully realized. The ED will lead the organization, manage staff, oversee programs, and act as a public representative for the center in fostering partnerships and securing financial support.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive vision and strategy that aligns with GCYC’s goals. Lead the team in implementing programs that foster youth development and empower underserved communities.
Financial Oversight: Manage a multimillion-dollar budget, ensuring financial sustainability through fundraising, grant management, and development of diversified revenue streams.
Board Engagement: Collaborate with the board of directors, providing them with guidance and support to achieve the organization's mission. Facilitate regular board meetings and strategic planning sessions.
Staff Management: Provide dynamic leadership to the senior management team, empowering staff with clear direction, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
Community and Public Relations: Act as a public ambassador for the center, forging partnerships with community leaders, local businesses, public agencies, and donors to increase visibility and funding opportunities.
Program Development: Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs, ensuring they meet the needs of GCYC youth while maintaining high standards of effectiveness.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, education, social work, or a related field is required. A master’s degree is preferred.
Experience:

o A minimum of 10 years of senior-level management experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership position within a nonprofit organization.

o Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-impact youth or community-based programs.

o Proven ability to manage large budgets and lead successful fundraising efforts.

o Experience working with and reporting to a board of directors.

Fundraising Acumen: A strong background in securing funding through grants, individual donations, corporate partnerships, and government contracts. Experience with capital campaigns is a plus.
Cultural Competency: A deep understanding of the challenges facing underserved communities, particularly those in Chicago, and the ability to develop programming and services that respond to these challenges.

Leadership Qualities

Visionary Leadership: The ED must be a forward-thinking, mission-driven leader with the ability to inspire the staff, board, and community members toward achieving GCYC’s long-term goals.
Results-Oriented: Demonstrates a strong focus on outcomes and impact, with a commitment to continuous improvement and evaluation of programs.
Collaborative: Fosters a culture of teamwork and inclusion, working closely with both internal teams and external stakeholders.
Empathetic Leadership: Possesses a deep commitment to youth development and understands the importance of emotional intelligence in managing staff, youth, and community partners.
Innovative: Comfortable leading change and exploring creative ways to meet the evolving needs of the youth served by GCYC.

Desired Attributes

Passionate Advocate: A strong advocate for social justice and youth empowerment, particularly for underserved and marginalized communities.
Exceptional Communicator: Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate the organization’s mission, vision, and impact to diverse audiences.
Relationship Builder: A natural connector who excels at building strong relationships with donors, community partners, local government, and the youth and families served by the center.
Integrity and Accountability: A principled leader who operates with transparency, accountability, and a high standard of ethics in all decision-making.
Resilience and Adaptability: The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic environment and can navigate the complexities and challenges of leading a youth-focused nonprofit.

Alignment with GCYC’s Vision

The ideal candidate will not only bring the technical skills and experience necessary for leading a nonprofit organization but also a deep commitment to GCYC’s mission of empowering youth from underserved communities. They will champion education, leadership development, and community engagement while upholding GCYC’s core values of inclusion, innovation, and impact.

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

GCYC serves a diverse population, and the next ED must have a strong commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion both within the organization and in the broader community. The ED will actively seek to recruit and engage diverse candidates in the organization’s leadership and ensure the programs reflect the diverse needs of the youth they serve.

Gary Comer Youth Center

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