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Search Success! Holly Smulski Joins Good Measures as Benefits Manager!

January 13, 2021 No Comments

Search success! Pillar Search and HR Consulting, a woman-owned Boston-based executive search firm, is pleased to announce the placement of Holly Smulski as Benefits Manager at Good Measures, a Boston-based organization that provides telephonic registered dietitian and nutrition services.

Holly will be a key member of the Human Resources team managing employee benefits. In addition to her role at Good Measures, Holly is a part-time Human Resources Specialist at The Rashi School in Dedham, MA. The Rashi School is a private K-8 Independent Reform Jewish School. Holly received her undergraduate degree from Colgate University and her MBA from Northeastern University.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business founded in Boston in 2015, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. To learn more, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

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Chief Operating Officer, Grads of Life with Year Up!

April 17, 2018 No Comments

Pillar Search has partnered with Year Up on their search for a Chief Operating Officer, Grads of Life.

OVERVIEW:

The Chief Operating Officer, Grads of Life (Boston, MA) reports directly to the Principal, Grads of Life and will assist in building and leading Grads of Life’s work to help employers build Opportunity Youth talent pipelines.

Grads of Life was incubated by Year Up and is a separate program and team focused on influencing the human capital strategy and processes of large employers. As a result of the Grads of Life media campaign and public service announcement, which has garnered $90M in donated media support and attracted more than 800,000 visitors to its accompanying website, employers of all sizes and industries are coming to Grads of Life for tools, solutions, and support in tapping into the Opportunity Youth talent pool. This new employer demand represents a critical opportunity to engage business in closing the Opportunity Divide, which separates 6 million young adults from accessing stable, viable careers. Employers want to find their next great talent – and they need the help of Grads of Life to find, grow, and retain Opportunity Youth.

The Chief Operating Officer, Grads of Life (Boston, MA) is part of a three-person executive leadership team of Grads of Life. This position will work to operationalize the strategic vision for Grads of Life. In order to be successful in this role, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment that requires you to triage myriad new opportunities and lead across multiple large-scale projects at once. You will have a strong business focus and decision making skills that enable effective allocation of talent and resources to maximize learning through corporate pilots. Given the need to lead across diverse innovation pilots in an emerging market, you’ll also be a veteran leader who can predict and problem solve skill or resource gaps to ensure success.

We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Opportunity Optimization

Optimize staff and resource allocation to drive success across Grads of Life deploying a clear decision framework for making tough trade-offs
In partnership with Grads of Life executive leaders triage new opportunities against investor commitments, system change potential, and available resources
In partnership with Grads of Life executive leaders, cultivate strategic vision for scalable and sustainable business practices for Grads of Life and/or other market players thus driving systems change
Refine Grads of Life business model based on market learning and pilot experiences
Optimize marketing and communication activity as an effective tool for systems change and business development
Assess opportunities for potential skill or resource gaps that could impede success and then problem solve to fill gaps
Keep abreast of market innovations and other players to inform system change thinking, marketing strategy, product direction, and potential collaboration and partnership opportunities

Performance Management

Work closely with Grads of Life team to ensure all ongoing activities are moving forward in alignment with strategic direction
Lead team to deliver against Grads of Life investor milestones and internal annual goals, deploy lead and lag indicators of progress to avert surprises
In consultation with pilot leaders, create corrective plans for pilots that are off track
Manage internal burn rate of capital and steward financial and human resources to maximize number of quality pilot opportunities
Oversee building, or modifying of existing, administrative systems and processes to enable efficient workflow and management across Grads of Life
Oversee performance reporting to key investors, Year Up corporate, and other key stakeholders
Work closely with team to manage and monitor external evaluation process

Talent & Culture

Foster a culture that attracts extraordinary talent and create team practices for coaching and developing talent in partnership with Grads of Life executive leaders
Create supportive processes and structures that scaffold a performance culture
Optimize staff roles and responsibilities and align activity against Grads of Life annual goals for all staff
Model an approachable and supportive management style that elicits full potential from staff
Solidify and promote a unique Grads of Life culture inside of Year Up that is defined by nimbleness, innovation and entrepreneurism in partnership with Grads of Life executive leaders

Influence Team Member

Participate as an Influence team member by engaging in team meetings and helping to onboard new staff

QUALIFICATIONS:

Business Focus & Strategic Thinking

Knowledgeable about financial issues and responsibilities and exposure to a range of business models
Start-up or innovation experience with a focus on delivering the best outcomes creatively using the resources available
Ability to proactively seek more efficient ways of doing business while balancing investments in systems or processes with current and potential future scale of work
A clear focus on the activities and projects that bring the best return on advancing system change in this emerging market
Predisposition to take a long term view and entertain a wide range of possibilities in developing a vision for the future

Leadership skills & Decision Making

Ability to inspire a strong desire to succeed across team members and lead others to successful goal/milestone accomplishment
Strong and calm presence and can provide the team with a clear sense of direction, especially in times of high stakes activity
Experience and comfort with making quick and sound decisions based on consideration of the (sometimes incomplete) data and alternatives available
Ability to predict future skill or resource gaps which could impede success for a pilot or Grads of Life and proactive address gaps
Commitment to promoting diversity of thought and experience on the team and in how members interact to achieve the best outcomes for Grads of Life
Belief in the power of diversity and excitement for working in a diverse culture and on diverse teams

Coaching & Developing Others:

Experience with improving other’s skills and talents by providing directly and creating culture and systems to encourage constructive feedback , coaching and training opportunities
Understanding of how to empower others by investing them with the authority and latitude to accomplish tasks effectively
Self-awareness of strengths and weakness and how that impacts decision making, comfort with proactively seeking additional experience or skills to guide work

Mission / Cultural Fit:

Passion for systems change activities (i.e. campaign organizing, advocacy and coalition building, media, and public relations)
A passion for working with urban young adults, an unshakable belief in their potential and a strong commitment to the mission of Year Up
Understanding of the Opportunity Divide and its drivers
Commitment to diversity and inclusion

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with education and experience
Benefits: Competitive package including 100% healthcare coverage, dental, and 401(k) match
Vacation: Three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year
Professional development: Funds available to support staff in achieving career objectives

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Year Up is an award-winning national 501(c)3 organization striving to close the Opportunity Divide by providing young adults ages 18-24 with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Through a one-year intensive program, Year Up utilizes a high support, high expectations model that combines hands-on technical and professional skills, educational stipends, college-level coursework, and corporate internships at more than 250 top companies.

Year Up currently serves young adults in Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City, Philadelphia, Providence, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay Area, South Florida, and Wilmington and will serve more than 3,000 students in 2017 nationwide.

Voted one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The Non-Profit Times for six consecutive years, Year Up is a rewarding place to work. Their staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and full potential of young people.

Year Up participates in E-Verify.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

Year Up actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. They are committed to embracing diversity within their organization because they firmly believe that diverse employee teams help to achieve the best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to young adults as they work to close the Opportunity Divide. They are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive and supportive work environment. Learn more about their commitment to diversity:http://www.yearup.org/about-us/careers/commitment-to-diversity/

As an equal opportunity employer, Year Up is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to Cindy Joyce, Pillar’s Founder & CEO, to cindy@pillarsearch.com. Note that, per the client’s request, submissions without a cover letter will not be considered.

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Another Successful Search for Year Up from Pillar Executive Search!

December 1, 2016 No Comments

Pillar Search is proud to have successfully partnered with Year Up on the search for their new Associate Director of Partner Relations and to announce the placement of Deborah Matteson.

Year Up is an award-winning national 501(c)3 organization striving to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults ages 18-24 with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. Through a one-year intensive training program, these young adults complete a unique combination of rigorous, hands-on technical and professional skills training, college credit, and corporate internships.

Based in Year Up’s Boston office, Deborah will manage existing partner relationships, facilitating interactions between Year Up, interns and corporate partners to create mutually beneficial business relationships. As part of the Corporate Engagement team, Deborah will help to connect top corporations in need of talent with high-potential urban young adults, ensuring high levels of partner satisfaction.

Deborah has extensive experience in sales and account management, and has worked with companies such as Brafton, Aberdeen Group, Nth Degree Events, and Monster. Deborah earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Boston University.

With personalized service and proven results, Pillar is your partner in executive search and human resources consulting. With over 20 years of experience, Pillar provides retained search services for exceptional non-profits and foundations and early-stage or rapid growth for-profit firms. A woman-owned business, Pillar is based in Boston, MA, and works on both a local and national level. To learn more about how Pillar can assist with your search needs, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

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New Search Announcement! President & CEO of NEACH (New England Automated Clearing House Association)

August 9, 2016 No Comments

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Pillar Search is pleased to have been selected to manage the search for the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New England Automated Clearing House (NEACH) and, its for-profit subsidiary NEACH Payments Group (NPG).

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will work collaboratively with the Board of Directors to guide and implement the strategic direction of NEACH and its affiliates (“the organization”). The primary objectives of the President and CEO are to provide leadership within the organization to achieve its’ short and long term mission, strategies, goals and objectives, and to advocate the use of electronic payments within the financial services arena and to enable the Board of Directors to fulfill its governance function.

The ACH Network is a processing and delivery system that provides for the distribution and settlement of electronic credit and debits among financial institutions. The ACH Network was developed in response to the astronomical growth of check payments and the many technological advances in the mid-twentieth century and functions as an efficient, electronic alternative to paper checks. Through a nationwide telecommunications network, each ACH Operator is able to communicate with other ACH Operators to exchange entries quickly and efficiently, regardless of geographic distances involved. The ACH network offers an assortment of technical formats that can be used for a variety of payment applications, products and services. The ACH network is governed by operating rules and guidelines, which are developed by the actual users of the system, and is administered through a series of agreements among financial institutions, customers, trading partners, and ACH Operators.

For additional information on NEACH, please click here.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Direction and Governance:

Ensures that the organization remains financially viable, and is an effective and efficient presence within the payments marketplace.
Aligns the organization with the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), Regional Payment Associations and other industry stakeholders to maximize opportunities for visibility and growth.
Ensures the organization aligns its products and services to provide maximum value to members.
Presents a strong, positive and uplifting image to members and payments industry stakeholders.
Remains keenly aware of the industry landscape for change/growth opportunities and keeps abreast of all industry trends and technology advancements.
Communicates current trends, issues and changes to the Board of Directors.
Works closely with the Board of Directors to develop, revise and implement a strategic plan, as appropriate. Serves as ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.

NEACH Membership:

Oversees design, marketing, promotion, delivery and overall quality of programs, products and services.
Oversees member outreach program to maintain member satisfaction and to increase overall membership.
Ensures the organization serves as a trusted resource for matters related to payments including, but not limited to, compliance, risk management, education, training and payments strategy.

Advocacy:

Ensures the organization’s vote on NACHA ACH Rules and other matters is submitted responsibly, seeking member/board input when deemed necessary.
Ensures members are aware of opportunities to utilize and benefit from the ACH network and other payment delivery channels.
Oversees the organization’s relationship with NACHA, other Regional Payment Associations, national councils, forums, committees, work groups and industry stakeholders.
Ensures members’ interests in payments are considered at all times, especially in matters relating to ACH rule changes and related regulations.

Administration:

Oversees the financial status of the organization including the development of long and short term financial plans, monitoring the budget and ensuring sound financial controls are in place.
Sets financial priorities accurately to ensure the organization is operating in a manner that supports the needs of all stakeholders.
Oversees the following functions: risk, human resources and facilities.
Manages staff of both direct and in-direct reports and ensures staff meets the needs of the organization.
Provides leadership and guidance to all organization staff to maintain a high quality and mutually rewarding working environment.
Demonstrates strong commitment to the professional development of staff.

Physical and Schedule Requirements:

Travels as needed to attend organization or industry specific conferences and/or meetings.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

Possesses the following:

Sufficient technological skills to execute the requirements of this position in the most effective and efficient means possible.
Intimate knowledge of the payment system process, environment and marketplace.
Working knowledge of applicable trade associations and/or not-for-profit associations within the industry.
Exemplary member and client service skills.
Proven leadership skills in a similar business and/or non-profit environment.
Proven coalition building skills with an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders; a persuasive negotiator able to achieve consensus amongst differing opinions.
Outstanding presentation and communication skills and the experience and proclivity to be an outgoing spokesperson and relationship builder.
Ability to work within and manage a multi-level budget process.
Ability to think “strategically”.
Adept at creative problem solving.
Excellent interpersonal and people management skills.

Education and Experience:

Minimum of 7 to 10 years of senior leadership experience at a trade association, not-for-profit association or financial institution.
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college.
Master’s Degree from an accredited university or college. (Can be substituted for demonstrated equivalent work experience.)

For immediate consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume to Cindy Joyce, Founder of Pillar Search, at cjoyce@pillarsearch.com.

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Pro Bono Posting: Director, Strategic Business Development with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, a Boston Nonprofit Organization

July 14, 2016 No Comments

Background
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is a national non-profit organization founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter to promote economic development in America’s inner cities through private sector engagement that leads to job, income and wealth creation for local residents. ICIC brings together business and civic leaders to drive innovation and action, transform thinking, and accelerate inner city business growth. At ICIC, you will work with talented, creative and committed professionals in a collaborative culture dedicated to excellence and innovation.

Position Summary
ICIC is seeking an experienced professional who will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the management team to attract new partnerships, cultivate and strengthen external relationships, manage a business development portfolio, and create and execute a business development plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide strategic support to the CEO for the design and continuous refinement of both annual and long-term development plans, comprised of diverse revenue sources, including foundation grants, major gifts, corporate sponsorship, and annual and multi-year donations. 
Oversee local and national prospect management from identification to stewardship; personally build appropriate relationships with individuals and institutions (foundations, corporations, anchors, etc.), that result in meaningful levels of support for existing programs, new initiatives, and innovation efforts. 
Actively research and identify new grant opportunities that meet the funding needs of the organization; manage the grant application process for all of ICIC’s proposals and reports annually. 
Establish clear, realistic, transparent and accountable fundraising success metrics; monitor performance and provide timely and accurate projections for budgetary and financial reports to the CEO and Board of Directors on all fundraising activities.
Gain first-hand knowledge of ICIC’s research and advisory content and programmatic work in order to understand and articulate the activities, stories, and impact of ICIC’s work. 
Lead the creation and execution of marketing strategies and materials to support development efforts. 
Select and manage opportunities for the CEO and senior leadership to participate as thought leaders in media (publications/interviews), events, conference presentations and similar settings. 
Serve as a key member of the senior executive team, contributing to overall organizational goals and representing the priorities of the development function.
Continually evaluate, refine and/or redesign fundraising systems, practices and policies in order to support fundraising efforts; maintain high functioning infrastructure for pipeline development and tracking, grant reporting, list management, and overall donor outreach and engagement. 
Hire, train and coach staff to ensure talents are matched to roles and assignments in ways that set the team up for success and maximize high-performance; introduce and maintain development and fundraising best practices through ongoing professional development for team members. 
Collaborate across ICIC programs, convenings and initiatives to support ICIC’s strategic goals and general operations.

Qualifications Desired
The successful candidate is a self-motivated, dynamic, collaborative leader who is also a strong project manager. This person must be comfortable interacting with people at all levels of an organization and influencing decisions at a high level.

Significant experience leading successful business development or fundraising functions including individual and institutional strategies.
Experience raising funds for a complex multi-program organization is a plus.
Understanding of economic development and small business issues.
Experience addressing multiple constituents’ needs across projects and/or programs at the same time.
Proven success in building and maintaining client relationships.
Demonstrated ability to solve problems and think strategically while executing tactically.
Ability to manage and execute projects and multiple tasks and flexibility with changing priorities.
Ability to innovate, develop new approaches, and drive creativity and inventiveness within the organization’s fundraising efforts.
Ability to work well with a team as well as individually.
Outstanding interpersonal skills and written and verbal communication skills.
Strong planning, organizational and self-management skills and attention to detail.
Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. An advanced degree in business, marketing, or similar field preferred.

ICIC is an equal opportunity employer. This position is a full-time position working out of ICIC’s office in Roxbury, near downtown Boston, reporting to the CEO.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to Matt Camp at icicresumes@gmail.com. No calls please.

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Two Exciting Recruiting Roles in Boston With Year Up!

June 21, 2016 No Comments

Year Up, a valued client of Pillar Search, is seeking talented recruiting professionals to join their Boston team. The positions currently available are:

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Year Up takes three approaches to closing the Opportunity Divide. Our core sites are based on our founding program model – direct service programming where facilities, staff, infrastructure, academics, and all other aspects of the program are managed by Year Up staff. The Professional Training Corps (PTC) is a community college based model that provides an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful workforce training. In this model, students are dual-enrolled in the community college and Year Up; technical skills are taught by college faculty, while Year Up staff provide professional skills and other wrap-around services. Lastly, our Employer Based Solutions are created in collaboration with employer partners; custom solutions are developed to meet critical business needs and solve for skills gap challenges in the marketplace.

Consistently voted one of the Best NonProfits to Work For by the NonProfit Times, Year Up is a rewarding place to work. Our staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both ourselves and our students, and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and full potential of our young adults. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.

Please visit http://www.yearup.org/careers to learn more about working at Year Up.

TO APPLY FOR EITHER POSITION:

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume through the Year Up website.

Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Year Up respectfully request no phone calls.

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Executive Search Success! Pillar Search for Year Up in the Bay Area!

June 16, 2016 No Comments

Pillar Search is proud to have successfully partnered with Year Up on the search for their new Associate Director of Business Development and to announce the placement of Joshua Harrison.

Working in the Year Up Bay Area San Jose office, Joshua will connect top corporations in need of entry level talent with professionally trained, high-potential urban young adults. As a member of Year Up’s Corporate Engagement team, Joshua will develop and follow leads, close sales, and connecting grads with professional jobs.

Born and raised in San Jose, Joshua joins Year Up from Primerica Financial Services where he sold financial products. Earlier roles include H&R Block, The U.S. Department of Commerce, and Jackson Hewitt Tax Services.

Joshua serves on the Executive Board of the San Joaquin Urban Chamber of Commerce. He has also volunteered with Operation Hope, Our Wisemen, and San Francisco Achievers.

With personalized service and proven results, Pillar is your partner in executive search and human resources consulting. With over 20 years of experience, Pillar provides retained executive search and recruiting services for exceptional non-profits and foundations and early-stage or rapid growth for-profit firms. A woman-owned business, Pillar is based in Boston, MA, and works on both local and national searches. To learn more about how Pillar can assist with your hiring needs, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

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