Reporting to the African American Leadership Institute (AALI) Leadership Team (initially) and Board of Directors (once formed), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for staff, programs, execution, and expansion of the AALI program. To fulfill this duty, the CEO will oversee organizational fundraising, finances, essential partnerships, employees, and business operations and analyze and optimize all parts of the organization's systems. 

AALI is a cutting-edge, high quality leadership program that has been implemented with great success under the organizational “umbrella” of 212 Catalysts, a nonprofit consulting firm that helps organizations and initiatives to reach their goals in making positive societal impact. In moving AALI from a program under 212 Catalysts to its own independent organizational status, the CEO will initially be tasked with establishment of organizational infrastructure for AALI (e.g., HR, IT, finance systems, etc.) and the formation of an AALI Board of Directors, thereafter acting as a liaison between staff and the Board of Directors to ensure the organization reaches its goals. Although an understanding of leadership programs and the African American community is essential, the role of the CEO requires a versatile, entrepreneurial individual to orchestrate the many business aspects of the organization, with priority on fundraising, optimizing business systems, and leadership to ensure healthy cash flow, smooth operations, and positive working relationships across a variety of stakeholder groups. 

The CEO and AALI team will continue to receive support from 212 Catalysts as necessary – including fiscal management, business systems transfer support, and technical assistance – to ensure the successful transition to AALI’s new entity status.

The ideal candidate is a driven, entrepreneurial, trailblazing, strategic thinker who can maintain the big picture focus while also handling details, with clear understanding of how the details relate to the big picture and vice versa. This position is high-level with growth and advancement potential depending on the success and expansion of the program.

The CEO has many responsibilities, to include:

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

• Spearhead the establishment of organizational formation documents, bylaws, IRS 501(c)(3) application, trademark(s), systems, etc., for the AALI entity.

• Ensure ongoing local programmatic excellence, meaningful program evaluation, and consistent quality execution of finance and administration, fundraising, communications, and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve strategic goals.

• Actively engage and energize AALI staff/contractors, volunteers, Board members, event committees, alumni, partnering organizations, and funders.

• Develop, maintain, and support a strong Board of Directors; serve as ex-officio of each committee; seek and build board involvement with strategic direction for both ongoing local operations as well as any expansion activities.

• Lead and coach by example; support and retain AALI’s high performing team.

• Ensure effective systems to track progress and regularly evaluate program components, so as to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the Board, community, funders, and other stakeholders.

FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNICATIONS

• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan, including an annual signature event starting in 2025 that maximizes engagement of corporate, philanthropic, and community sectors to achieve a fundraising target set in collaboration with the Board of Directors.

• Expand local revenue generating and fundraising activities to support existing program operations and potential expansion.

• Work collaboratively with marketing team to deepen and refine all aspects of communications — from web presence to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger brand.

• Leverage professional relationships to garner new opportunities.

PLANNING & NEW BUSINESS

• Build on previous strategic business planning processes to continue the strengthening and refinement of existing strategic direction and programmatic elements.

• Build partnerships with new funders and key stakeholders for accomplishment of strategic goals.

• Communicate program results to targeted audiences with an emphasis on the successes of the local program as a model for potential regional and national replication.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• This is a full-time salaried position that starts at $90,000 with the possibility for growth.

• Eligibility for medical, dental, and vision health coverage plans.

• Flexible Paid Time Off

• Company-Recognized Paid Holidays

• Company Issued Computer

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

The CEO will be thoroughly committed to AALI's mission. All candidates should have proven executive business leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience.

• A Bachelors or Masters Degree, with at least 5 years of senior management experience; track record of effectively leading an organization and regionally and/or nationally scaling an outcomes-based operation; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth

• Unwavering commitment to the elevation of African American leadership in all spheres of society

• Experience delivering quality programs and data-driven program evaluation

• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to inspire, manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget toward strategic objectives

• Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to develop meaningful Board member relationships; clear understanding of CEO and Board roles

• Strong public relations and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills

• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, hands-on, and innovative approach to business planning; willingness and ability to complete work tasks directly as necessary to model excellence and support action

• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people

• Passion, realism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed