CEO (SVP)

Full consideration will be given to applications received by September 30, 2018.

For Full Job Announcement PDF see here.

Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) is seeking a CEO with the vision and ability to inspire, connect, and activate people within our international network who are committed to making their communities stronger. The ideal candidate will be a galvanizing leader who is personally passionate about the value of community engagement, and will be excited to tell that story and communicate SVPI's value and impact to others in compelling and innovative ways. They will approach leadership with a social justice lens and a global perspective, and will be eager to become a thought leader in the critical conversation about the need for change and greater equity and inclusion in the philanthropic sector. They will be deeply committed to the mission of increasing the reach and connectivity of the SVP Network, and growing its impact and its membership in order to more fully realize its potential as a global network.

We desire candidates who are able to motivate and manage a volunteer Board of Directors to achieve results and meet their goals. The ideal candidate will also have experience managing a staff team in a collaborative environment with a “servant leadership” approach, which values active listening and the growth and contributions of staff at every level. We seek a leader who can be a confident and effective fundraiser, both by cultivating and asking individuals for major gifts, as well as developing partnerships with foundations and corporations. In addition to growing revenue through fundraising, this individual will need to be a skilled financial manager and business planner who is prepared for the challenge of creatively meeting ambitious organizational goals on a lean non-profit budget; this will include working with the Board on expanding our business and revenue model to enable organizational growth.

The international and cross-cultural nature of our work requires skill, ability and genuine interest in building relationships and collaborating with diverse partners and organizations, both virtually and in-person. The new CEO should expect to travel up to 25% of their time to meet with affiliates around the network, as well as with other organizations in the social sector to foster new collaborations and partnerships. Experience working virtually and in a network setting with multiple affiliates or locations is ideal. Because the SVP network is increasingly focused on issues of equity and inclusion and how traditional philanthropy has often overlooked and even exacerbated these problems, a willingness and ability to engage others in these candid and sometimes challenging conversations is an important requirement. The ideal candidate will have significant professional or personal experience with or understanding of what it means to be part of a marginalized group, including a nuanced consideration of their own context and positionality, whatever that may be, and will bring those perspectives to their leadership.

The CEO may be based in Seattle or in another city with an existing SVP affiliate office, and with reasonably easy access to the Seattle office by air.

About SVPI

Social Venture Partners (SVP) is the largest global network of engaged philanthropists and social innovators in the world. Founded in 1997 in Seattle, the SVPI network now includes 43 SVP affiliates in 8 countries, creating a combined network of more than 3,400 engaged donor partners that collectively have invested in 900 individual nonprofits through $70 million (USD) in unrestricted grants and countless volunteer hours.

At its core, SVP fosters collaborative solutions to critical social challenges. Partners collaborate with each other and community partners – through grants, consulting, coaching, and collective action – to address root cause issues facing their communities. Each SVP affiliate invests in their local community, but is connected to the global movement led by SVPI. Together, we envision a world where the people closest to- and impacted by- problems in our communities, have the power and resources to develop and implement effective solutions to those problems.

In service to this vision, SVPI connects and amplifies the collective impact of the SVP network. It is an organized platform in which partners and affiliates share ideas, emerging practices, innovative tools, outcomes data, and extensive resources to help each other grow and have greater impact. In addition, SVPI acts as a thought leader for the global network and the philanthropic sector, promoting and fostering the movement of SVP’s and philanthropy in general toward more just and equitable ways to share their own access to power and resources with those most impacted by systems of oppression.

SVPI operates as an independent nonprofit with a staff team of 5 and an annual budget of approximately $1 million. Affiliates pay dues to SVPI which make up about 35% of its revenue, with the remainder coming from individual contributions, foundation grants, and sponsorships. Our staff work mostly virtually, with 2-3 in-person meetings per week in our shared office at the Impact Hub in downtown Seattle, a globally connected co-working space located in a historic building in the heart of Pioneer Square.

Mission

SVP cultivates effective philanthropists, strengthens nonprofits, and invests in collaborative solutions – building powerful relationships to tackle our communities’ social challenges.

Vision: We aim to build a global movement of partners working in their communities to create a world where all people have the opportunity to lead productive and meaningful lives.

Values

• Stretch: We believe there’s always potential to do better
• Connection: We make a greater impact collectively
• Equity: We break down systemic and structural biases in resource distribution
• Accountability: We hold ourselves accountable for our actions and results

The Future

SVPI is at a pivotal moment in its history. Historically SVPI has largely functioned as the “invisible backbone” for the SVP Network. Today, SVPI is on a path to expand its focus from partner engagement and education to community-driven impact as a result of partner engagement, collaboration, and collective impact.

In order to do this well, SVPI must share a clear vision for the value and power of community engagement, grounded in equity and inclusion. It must offer affiliates and partners a strong value proposition, and step up as an innovative leader ready to partner with other funders and organizations that share its core values of equity, connection, and accountability.

The next SVPI leader must embrace the challenge of expanding its business model, communications, programming and partners to reflect this larger mission and vision. At SVPI, we believe that our global network of passionate and engaged volunteers and investors offers almost unlimited potential to make positive change in communities, and leading this movement will be a tremendous opportunity for our next CEO.

Position Summary

The Chief Executive Officer has responsibility for the overarching health of the SVP Network and for accelerating and amplifying the SVP movement worldwide. Consistent with goals set by the Board of Directors and the strategic plan, the CEO directs and manages the financial, human, programmatic, service, and brand assets of SVPI in order to optimize the potential of affiliates, individually and collectively. The CEO also works to leverage the power of its worldwide network to promote SVP’s values around equity and community collaboration, and to be a thought leader in the philanthropic sector.

Key responsibilities

Board Development. Cultivate an influential and highly engaged international Board of Directors. Inspire, inform, and support the board to meet their ambitious goals and increase the organization’s impact.

Financial Management. Work with the Board of Directors to expand our business and revenue model to enable organizational growth. Final accountability for financial management, budgeting, and reporting; ensuring appropriate infrastructure of controls and procedures to provide fiscal transparency and accountability are in place.

Fundraising. Grow and sustain donated revenue. Hire new development staff and work directly with staff and Board to scale fundraising capacity. Engage directly on major donor opportunities by stewarding donors and developing relationships with foundation and corporate partners.

People Development. Develop and lead SVPI’s staff team with the passion, acumen, and emotional intelligence necessary to attract and retain top talent. Foster an open and collaborative culture that values the growth and contributions of staff at every level. Ensure staff roles and responsibilities are aligned to the organization’s strategic goals.

Affiliate Support. Develop and support meaningful connections between partners across the network to amplify shared learning, greater engagement, and a deeper commitment to the SVP mission. Provide leadership that improves impact of the SVP Network including supporting growth in capacity of SVP affiliates and adding new and sustainable affiliates. Work with SVPI staff to diagnose each affiliate’s maturity stage and provide appropriate development tools, training, and coaching. Coach and mentor founders of new affiliates.

Leadership in the Sector. Elevate SVP’s recognition and influence in the broader philanthropic community. Represent SVP with all external constituencies. The CEO also represents the vision and interests of SVP to external audiences, including the public at large, media, government entities, foundations, corporations, and other nonprofit organizations, in order to promote SVP’s values and goals around equity, inclusion, and collaborative solutions.

Key Attributes

• Personally passionate about the SVP model and its mission, reinforced by a history of active involvement in nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations
• Approaches philanthropy through a social justice lens; understands and is committed to the need for change and greater equity and inclusion in the philanthropic sector
• A non-hierarchical servant leadership management style that works to enable the growth and contributions of staff, Board, Partners, and others
• A track record of building cohesive, high performance staff and Board teams
• A skilled and genuine listener who brings a welcoming, encouraging, and collaborative spirit to relationship development
• A confident and effective fundraiser who enjoys cultivating donors and is fearless when it comes to asking for major gifts
• An entrepreneurial and innovative thinker who is energized by big ideas and open to input and trying new ways of doing things
• A compelling storyteller and skilled communicator who is able to inspire diverse audiences on an international stage
• Multi-sector competence; at ease working across entities and with diverse stakeholders in the nonprofit, business, and government sectors
• A resourceful leader who is prepared to meet ambitious organizational goals on a lean nonprofit budget without dedicated administrative support

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a senior leadership role, including responsibility for overseeing the budget and staff of an organization or substantial program, ideally of $1 million or more
• Significant personal or professional experience with or understanding of what it means to be part of a marginalized group, including a nuanced consideration of context and positionality, and of how power and privilege impacts relationship-building.
• Committed to learning and contributing to efforts to diversify the SVP network and developing trusting relationships with traditionally marginalized communities.
• Self-supportive with office technologies, e.g., MS Office, Salesforce
• Able to work virtually and in a network setting with multiple affiliates or locations
• Able to travel up to 25% within and outside of the USA
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent progressively responsible experience

LOCATION

SVPI’s offices are located at the Impact Hub in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The Impact Hub is a vibrant community of social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and businesses who share this unique reclaimed building, all with a focus on promoting social good. Moreover, SVPI’s office is co-located with SVP Seattle, providing lots of opportunity for collaboration and comradery with the largest SVP affiliate in the network.

The Chief Executive Officer may be based in Seattle or in another city if capable of managing staff remotely and willing to travel to the Seattle office several times a year. Ideally, the CEO will be based in a city with an existing SVP affiliate office, and with reasonably easy access to the Seattle office by air.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time exempt position that requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends, and the ability to travel domestically and internationally as necessary, estimated at 25% of the time. The expected salary range is between $120,000-$135,000 depending on experience and skills.

SVPI offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, and 15 days of paid vacation and 14 paid holidays, including the last week of the calendar year. Employees are eligible to participate in SVPI’s Simple IRA plan, which will match up to 3% of salary contributed to the plan.

Commitment to Equity

SVPI believes that having a Board, Staff, and Partner base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates a vibrant environment where all members of the SVP community thrive.

SVPI is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of class race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability.

We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBT community and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.

How to Apply

Apply online by clicking on this link: https://cloversearchworks.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk01lbw

Online applications only, please no email or paper submissions. You will be asked to upload a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please describe, as specifically as you can, how your qualifications, experience, and interests are a fit with the goals and requirements of this position as described in this announcement.

Full consideration will be given to applications received by September 30; early applications are encouraged. All applications will be acknowledged via an email receipt and will be held confidentially within the search committee and Board of Directors. Consideration will be given to applications as soon as they are received, and interviewing will begin in September.

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