Executive search san francisco, national nonprofit executive search firm education, nonprofit executive search firm, Nonprofit leadership hiring

Search Success: Alia Peera Joins Aim High as Director of Partnerships!

No Comments

Aim High and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Alia Peera to the position of Director of Partnerships. Alia joined the organization on July 17, 2023.

Alia will be a great addition to the team, advancing Aim High’s mission and vision forward with energy and passion. Alia’s background includes building deep relationships with partners and donors, working with educational partners and school districts, expanding nonprofits into new regions, and project management.

Most recently, Alia served as the Regional Partner for Northern California at Wildflower Foundation and previously as the Managing Director of System Partnerships at The Achievement Network. She is currently a member of the Nexus Fellowship Cohort with The Equity Lab.

Alia lives in the Bay Area and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. She will be based in the Aim High’s San Francisco office.

About Aim High: Aim High embraces the raw beauty of early adolescence by focusing on middle school (ages of 11 to 14), a vital stage of maturation. It is also critical to educational trajectories: improving the college and career readiness skills students possess by eighth grade has the largest impact on high school graduates’ ultimate level of college and career readiness – even more than any single high school-level enhancement. Summer programs are particularly effective in mitigating the inequity caused by systemic barriers in education. Despite its importance, just 1.1% of the 5.5 million middle school students from low-income communities nationwide have access to free summer enrichment programs. Aim High’s multi-year, five-week summer program combines pedagogical rigor with emotional depth to ignite the boundless potential within young people navigating systemic barriers. They envision every middle school student having access to joyful summer learning, inspired and innovative teachers, and the support they need to succeed in school and life. Aim High was founded on the belief that every student has the right to a quality education. In 1986 they launched at one site in San Francisco with just 50 students. Over the last 35 years, they have expanded across the Bay Area in every direction, as far as Napa and Tahoe-Truckee. Along the way, their transformative summer enrichment program has empowered thousands of middle schoolers from low-income neighborhoods, igniting their love of learning and yielding real results – 98% of Aim High alumni graduate and go on to college. Learn more at https://aimhigh.org.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. Pillar’s founder, Cindy Joyce, is a Certified Diversity Recruiter. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

nonprofit executive search firm, nonprofit hiring rhode island, Nonprofit recruiter Rhode Island

Search Success: Anusha Venkataraman Joins ONE Neighborhood Builders as Managing Director of Central Providence Opportunities!

No Comments

ONE Neighborhood Builders and Pillar Search and HR Consulting are excited to share that Anusha Venkataram has joined ONE Neighborhood Builders as their new Managing Director of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone. She brings nearly two decades of experience in community development, policy, and organizing, to state’s leading community development corporation.

PROVIDENCE, RI – ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) named Anusha Venkataraman, the former executive director of the New York City Racial Justice Commission, as the organization’s first Managing Director of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone (CPO-HEZ), an initiative focused on advancing health equity and economic mobility in the 02908 and 02909 zip codes in Providence.

“Anusha is a seasoned expert in community development, policy, and organizing, and we are thrilled that she has returned to Providence. As ONE|NB looks to further strengthen our foundation as a community-centered impact organization, we knew we needed to find a leader with a track record of building community trust and getting results,” said ONE|NB President and Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins.

With a background in urban planning, Venkataraman’s work has focused on community development, public policy, civic engagement, political organizing, and the arts. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the NYC Racial Justice Commission, where she steered a public process of reviewing the city’s charter, resulting in three successful ballot initiatives advancing racial equity.

“Across my career in grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and in city government, I have seen what is possible when community members are empowered to drive action,” said Venkataraman. “I am excited to make my return to Providence—a city I am deeply passionate about—and help lead this initiative with ONE|NB in addressing the systemic barriers to health and economic equity in Central Providence and collectively building a stronger future.”

Before leading the NYC Racial Justice Commission, Venkataraman held positions in the NYC Office of the Mayor, including Chief Service Officer and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Housing & Economic Development, as well as in the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development. She also worked with the community organization El Puente in Brooklyn on a neighborhood-wide health and sustainability initiative. Venkataraman started her career in Rhode Island’s nonprofit sector, including as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at the Steel Yard in Providence.

The Managing Director provides strategic leadership and capacity to Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) established Health Equity Zones (HEZs) in 2015 to improve community health in areas that need it most. HEZs are collaboratives of residents, community organizations, health professionals, and others who come together to address the root causes of health disparities. The HEZs work to ensure every neighborhood has a fair and just opportunity to be healthier. This work requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, racism, and their consequences, including insufficient access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education, affordable housing, safe environments, and healthcar

As Managing Director of CPO-HEZ, Venkataraman will oversee ONE|NB’s work with community partners and residents who have been working for nearly a year to develop a vision for Central Providence. ONE|NB and its partners will culminate this planning work on Monday when they unveil the Central Providence Roadmap, with a vision to ensure that all residents of Central Providence will live healthy, stable lives and be empowered to impact the conditions in their community.

Venkataraman earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Pratt Institute and a bachelor’s in international relations from Brown University.

ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS:

ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) is a nonprofit community development leader in Rhode Island that is expanding its work to the broader Greater Providence area while maintaining its deep roots in its historic home of Olneyville. ONE|NB’s mission is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. Since its founding in 1988, then as Olneyville Housing Corporation, ONE|NB has developed 466 affordable apartments; 130 for-sale homes for low- to moderate-income homebuyers; and nearly 34,000 square feet of commercial and community space—totaling more than $135 million of investments. ONE|NB is the convening entity of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone, which brings together residents, more than five dozen community-based organizations, health professionals, local businesses, elected officials, and others to address root causes of health disparities and to improve neighborhood conditions. As the convener, ONE|NB is the backbone organization of this collective-impact initiative to increase economic mobility for residents in Central Providence. ONE|NB also created the first free community wireless network in Rhode Island, providing high-speed broadband to nearly 3000 unique users in the Olneyville neighborhood.

ABOUT PILLAR SEARCH & HR CONSULTING:

A woman-owned business and Certified Diversity Recruiter based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

nonprofit executive search firm, nonprofit executive search los angeles, nonprofit recruiter

Search Success! Shelley Levy Joins Planned Parenthood as Vice President, Human Resources

No Comments

Search success! Pillar Search and HR Consulting, an executive search firm that works with nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, is pleased to announce the placement of Shelley Levy as the new Vice President of Human Resources at Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. 

Shelley brings extensive nonprofit human resources and leadership experience to this role. Most recently, she was the Director of Talent and Human Resources at Ednovate, a high-performing network of free public college preparatory high schools in Southern California. Prior, she was the Director of Human Resources at Uncommon Schools and Human Resources Associate at Room to Read. Shelley received her undergraduate degree from University of California San Diego. 

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.

nonprofit executive search, nonprofit executive search firm, nonprofit executive search firm boston

Pillar Search Named to Non-Profit Top 60 Rankings

No Comments

Pillar Search Named to Non-Profit Top 60 Rankings! I am proud to announce that Pillar Search & HR Consulting has been named to the Hunt Scanlon list of the Top 60 ranking of executive search firms partnering with nonprofits. Learn more here.  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. Pillar works 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.

executive search education, hire the best executive director, hire the best nonprofit, nonprofit executive search firm, nonprofit headhunter boston, nonprofit recruiter boston, nonprofit search firm

New Search: Executive Director, Yestermorrow Design/Build School

No Comments

Pillar Search is pleased to partner with Yestermorrow Design/Build school on their search for a new Executive Director.

About Yestermorrow Design/Build School:

Yestermorrow Design/Build School is a non-profit educational organization located in the Mad River Valley of Vermont offering an array of design/build programs shaped by sustainable and resilient design thinking. Programs offered include workshops, certificate programs and semester programs for adult students from around the country.  Yestermorrow’s mission is to inspire people to create a better, more sustainable world by providing hands-on education that integrates design and craft as a creative, interactive process.  The intensive and experiential curriculum includes a wide variety of topics related to sustainable design, green building, architectural craft, and furniture making. For more information about the school, please visit www.yestermorrow.org.

Job Overview:

The Executive Director is responsible for the fiscal, programmatic and functional health of Yestermorrow Design/Build School, in addition to advocating for its mission and being a steward of its reputation.

Specifically, the Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of the school’s operations, expanding programs and outreach while maintaining the high quality of current programs, and attracting significant new resources and talent to this well-established, growing nonprofit organization.

Operational responsibilities will include:

Operations & Staff Management

  • Management and development of the office and facility staff, which range from 8-18 members throughout the year, plus an additional 100+ external faculty members.
  • Direct supervision for all key staff across departments. Prioritize staff’s work plans, guide departmental budgeting/goal setting, ensure mission-alignment and financial sustainability with all staff and projects
  • Lead the organization on a day-to-day basis, troubleshooting and quickly responding to any issues that may arise
  • Manage all external vendors and operations-related contracts, including computer systems, office equipment, and facilities maintenance

Financial Management

  • Financial guidance and forecasting, in conjunction with the Board of Directors
  • Preparation of monthly Executive Committee and quarterly financial Board reports
  • Support the Financial and Administrative Assistant with accounts payable (vendor invoices), Accounts Receivable (student and client invoices and income), manage cash receipts and banking
  • Manage bi-weekly payroll, employee benefits, 941 monthly tax deposits, quarterly tax reports, annual W2 and 1099s
  • Oversee all organizational purchases and inventory management

Human Resources

  • Recruit, screen, interview and hire staff
  • Manage employee benefit plans (health, vision, dental, meal program, and PTO). Ensure all benefits programs are up to date and make annual recommendations
  • Maintain personnel records, on-board new employees
  • Conduct annual employee reviews

The annual budget for Yestermorrow is currently just over $1 million, and revenue includes earned income from programs as well as philanthropic dollars. The Executive Director will work to identify opportunities to increase revenues both from programs and philanthropy, including:

  • Develop and lead an active fundraising program, including major donor campaigns, special events, grant research and writing, annual appeals, and endowment growth and stewardship
  • Oversee and coordinate ongoing capital campaign
  • Guide efforts to reach new audiences by directing marketing and outreach strategy (with staff support). Travel to present to diverse audiences about Yestermorrow’s mission, programs, and impact.
  • Initiate, develop and support strategic initiatives, partnerships, and collaborations with appropriate institutions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Yestermorrow is a design school where design thinking is fully integrated with making – the way artists work. The successful ED will have experience and interest in the design/build process or related creative or artistic fields.

The Executive Director must be a strategic thinker, a decisive manager, a proven team builder, and a compelling communicator He/she must have demonstrated experience as an Executive Director or equivalent leadership position, managing comparable staff and budgets, contracts, fiscal reporting, fundraising, outreach and marketing, and organizational development, as well as liaising with boards. The position requires someone with a talent for articulating new opportunities, and a track record of implementing them.

Yestermorrow is part of the vibrant fabric of the Mad River Valley community, and as such there is a strong preference for the Executive Director to live in the Mad River Valley or the general area.

For Immediate Consideration:

The Board of Yestermorrow Design/Build School has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on this search. For immediate consideration, please email your resume and cover letter directly to Cindy at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

Please Note:

Yestermorrow Design/Build School does not discriminate on the basis of an applicant’s race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Pillar provides national executive search services for exceptional non-profits and foundations and socially responsible for-profit firms desiring top talent who want an occupassion, not just an occupation. In addition, Pillar offers human resources consulting services including leadership coaching, human resources audits, handbooks, assessing organizational design, training, team building, and employee communications. A woman-owned business, Pillar is based in Boston, MA, and works on both the local and national level.  For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com or email Pillar’s CEO, Cindy Joyce, at cindy@pillarsearch.com.