Brooklyn Community Services
Executive Director
Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY
Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) is seeking a dynamic and dedicated individual to be its next Executive Director (ED). Reporting to a Board of Directors, the ED will be a vibrant and dedicated leader who has the power and presence to advocate successfully and passionately on behalf of BCS in the public and private sectors. He or she will most likely have experience with community-based service programs, youth services, educational programs, supportive housing and/or other social service disciplines and must demonstrate significant accomplishments and past successes. In addition, he or she must be a hands-on manager, a strategic thinker and planner, and a problem solver, and be able to respond to crises quickly and effectively.
The successful candidate must demonstrate fund raising ability, particularly in the public sphere, and have a successful track record of working with or for government, quasi-public agencies and not-for-profit organizations. In addition, he or she will be expected to demonstrate vision, management expertise in delivering social services, ability to foster the growth of an organization, and the capacity to manage a sophisticated financial operation.
Excellent negotiation and communication skills are very important. He or she must be equally comfortable in making presentations before corporate executives, elected officials, public agency administrators, and the public. He or she must be able to work closely with the Board and staff to promote an open, inclusive environment that emphasizes cooperation and teamwork with a minimum of ego. “Fit” within a broader organization with a strong brand and culture is essential. In addition, he or she will be bright, diplomatic, analytical, of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment as well as a sense of humor.
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Community Services was founded nearly 150 years ago in response to the impacts of increased poverty in what was then the third largest city in the United States—Brooklyn. BCS has always been resourceful in providing social services for the disadvantaged, constantly adapting to meet the needs of the changing community. Today, BCS provides a full spectrum of vital services to help children reach their potential, families become stronger, and adults lead productive, fulfilling lives. BCS’s diverse array of social services includes vocational training and job placement; social support and mental health services for persons with disabilities; and child welfare and family support services such as foster care prevention, homemaker services, and group and family day care services.
Like other critical members of the nonprofit network of social service organizations in the City, BCS is experiencing increasing pressure to provide more and more support services with fewer financial resources. As such, the Board is looking for a new leader with a passion for the work they do who can maintain BCS’s current $27 million operating budget and grow the funding for services while leading and managing the staff of over 500 full and part-time professionals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following:
Build, manage and lead a team
- Administer the overall operation of BCS, including recruitment, retention, motivation and compensation of staff with a wide range of competencies and qualifications.
- Take overall responsibility for the leadership of staff in the development and implementation of short- and long-range plans, policies and other activities which lead to the achievement of BCS's mission.
- Be responsible for the recruitment, retention, motivation and compensation of staff with a wide range of competencies and qualifications.
- Develop organizational and administrative policies and program objectives for Board consideration.
- Encourage a culture of transparency, inclusiveness, and openness that fosters opportunities for career growth.
Ensure superior fiscal management
- Oversee financial management of the corporation, including the development of the annual budget for presentation to the Executive Committee and the Board.
- Allocate resources for optimal program effectiveness and efficiency.
- Innovate financial strategies in an increasingly competitive and ever-changing landscape.
Ensure programmatic excellence
- Keep BCS at the forefront of delivering services and extend the organization’s reach into new programs and communities especially to address emerging needs in Brooklyn.
- Ensure the provision of high-quality services in compliance with funding source requirements (City, State, and Federal).
- Interact with government agencies on a regular basis, particularly regarding contract negotiations and management.
- Review and evaluate the results of program activities and, when necessary, decide which existing programs no longer meet quality or “social investment” objectives.
- Ensure fulfillment of all BCS’s contractual obligations.
- Supervise and set quality standards for all programs and staff at BCS.
- Provide a management structure that is flexible and responsive to changing conditions, and allows for a thorough and fair review of and timely decision on program and policy ideas.
Elevate BCS’s profile
- Promote BCS’s visibility within the public policy community by having a current knowledge of social service policies on all levels of government, developing and maintaining relationships with the key figures in those government and private agencies that deal with social service policy, and managing an effective advocacy program.
- Ensure the development of a communications and public relations strategy
- Serve as the chief spokesperson and voice for BCS in the community-at-large, building brand awareness for the organization
- Represent BCS to appointed and elected officials as well as leaders in the corporate, philanthropic, and not-for-profit sectors
- Lead and actively participate in the development of public policy agendas and advocacy strategies.
- Leverage opportunities to engage local media outlets and deliver external speeches across the city.
Engage and cultivate stakeholders
- Oversee and work with the development team to maintain and create additional support from foundations, individual donors and corporate funders as well as new contracts.
- Take an active leadership role in development activities and efforts as a representative of the agency.
- Offer guidance on financial development strategies and participate in fundraising proposals to corporations, foundations, individuals, and government entities.
- Engage with and understand the varied nature of BCS’s work in the community.
Manage BCS towards ambitious goals
- Work with the Board of Directors to develop, communicate and sustain a clear vision, mission and strategy for the organization, and set internal policy.
- Provide information, advice, and counsel to the Board in the creation of policies and strategic direction of the corporation.
- Partner with the Board to set annual goals that are in line with the Strategic Plan.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Master’s degree in relevant field strongly preferred
- At least 10 years of increasingly responsible executive experience
- Previous Executive Director experience strongly preferred
- Experience working with donors and prospects
- Senior management experience with a track record of progressive responsibility in a large community, governmental and/or policy /advocacy, non-profit, or a similarly diverse organization.
- Experience managing a large team of seasoned professionals required
- Experience managing business units strongly preferred
- Proven ability to set an inspiring and galvanizing vision and motivating others to reach ambitious goals in support of that vision
- Experience in building and mentoring a high performance management team in a complex organization with demonstrable skill in developing strong teams and collaborations
- Experience in sound management of the finances of a non-profit organization or an organization of similar capacity and complexity
Skills
- Presents information in a concise and compelling manner to external and internal stakeholders
- Is entrepreneurial in spirit and able to find innovative ways to grow an organization
- Possesses strong verbal and written communication skills
- Has knowledge of the principles and techniques of social work and vocational rehabilitation
- Understands contract administration and negotiation
- Effectively engages in sound and ethical practices of fund raising and marketing and public relations
- Oversees and ensures fiscal and organizational management
- Demonstrates sound judgment
- Is adept at developing relationship with key government agencies, community stakeholders and key opinion makers
For more information about Brooklyn Community Services, please visit its website at www.wearebcs.org.
TO APPLY:
Brooklyn Community Services has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Jack Lusk, Managing Partner
or
Anne McCarthy, Senior Director
Harris Rand Lusk
261 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
amccarthy@harrisrand.com
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