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Exciting New Search! Executive Director of Southern Vermont Arts Center

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Executive Search Boston

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to be working on behalf of Manchester, VT-based Southern Vermont Arts Center on their search for a new Executive Director!

About Southern Vermont Arts Center

The mission statement of the Southern Vermont Arts Center is to promote and nurture the arts.

They do so by providing a meeting place in an inviting environment for their community to enjoy and participate in the arts – the community involves the children, young adults, full-time residents, summer residents, visitors, donors and artists. They do so by providing quality programming which reaches the many segments of the community at the Southern Vermont Arts Center campus and through the workshops and summer camps, and by providing their artist members an opportunity to grow in their artist endeavors by providing instruction, a place to exhibit their work, and the opportunity to sell their work.

Southern Vermont Arts Center is a steward of their assets – their endowment, their permanent collection, their campus and their legacy

Established in 1922, the Southern Vermont Arts Center provides cultural, educational, and creative opportunities for all ages, located within a four-hour drive of Boston, Montreal, and New York City.

Situated amid over one-hundred acres of pristine forest in the heart of the Green Mountains, SVAC offers a first-class experience in a traditional New England setting. With a rotating calendar of member and guest exhibitions, the largest sculpture park in Vermont, and a busy schedule of dynamic classes for all ages, the Southern Vermont Arts Center has something for everyone.

The drive into Southern Vermont Arts Center winds through a spectacular sculpture park.  Visitors can explore the twenty-eight room Yester House Gallery, built in 1917, home to diverse exhibitions featuring many mediums by member artists.  Across the courtyard, the contemporary Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum offers one of the East Coast’s finest exhibition spaces outside a major city and boasts over 800 pieces of 19th and 20th-century art, including the world’s largest collection of works by Luigi Lucioni.

A wide range of workshops and ongoing programs are offered year-round on campus in the Hay Madeira Education Center Studios. Programming is created for all ages and all skill levels.  In the summer, the 400 seat Arkell Pavilion is regularly filled with audiences entertained by a variety of performing arts encompassing everything from dance and classical music to theater.  The Center is also home to Café Sora, which features family-style Japanese cuisine, and has multiple venues available for private events.

More information about Southern Vermont Arts Center may be found at http://svac.org.

 

The Manchester, VT Community*

The Southern Vermont Arts Center is located near the center of Manchester, VT.  Manchester offers a unique blend of New England charm, and is a popular four-season destination.  Manchester is the perfect place for adventure-seekers and those looking to relax and unwind. Tucked between the Taconic and Green Mountain ranges, Manchester is a quaint, charming, four-season town with all the big city perks; world-class historic sites, award-winning cuisine at over forty eateries ranging from casual to fine dining, incredible galleries and museums, award-winning cultural venues, sophisticated shops, boutique accommodations,
and outdoor adventures for every skill level and taste.

Three acclaimed ski resorts are within easy distance – Bromley, Magic, and Stratton – and the area is well-known for its spectacular fall foliage.  Those who come to Vermont for the outdoors enjoy Southern Vermont Arts Center’s connection to the Equinox Preservation trails, as well as the many acres of woodland hiking. Even during the coldest months, you can find visitors snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing in the Southern Vermont Art Center’s renowned Sculpture Park.

Manchester is part of Bennington County.  As of the 2010 census, Manchester’s population was 4,391. The neighboring town of Dorset’s population is 2031. During the summer, the population expands dramatically with full-time summer residents.

 

Position Overview

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to create and execute a strategic vision for a historic multidisciplinary arts center!

Reporting to and working closely with the board of directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for the overall success and growth of Southern Vermont Arts Center. A visionary and entrepreneur, the Executive Director will enhance and elevate the vitality of the Center’s programs, engage and grow its member base, build a strong brand in Vermont and beyond, strengthen financial support through strategic partnerships, provide fiscal management, and oversee operations and marketing. As well, the Executive Director will lead and mentor the staff of 7 and a growing number of part-time and volunteers.

The Executive Director will oversee an annual budget of approximately $750,000 and an endowment of $3 million. The organization will, under the direction of the new Executive Director, launch a capital campaign in the near future.

As Southern Vermont Arts Center is a pillar of the rich cultural fabric in the area, the Executive Director will maintain an active presence in Manchester, working collaboratively with key stakeholders and leaders of other organizations in the arts and cultural community.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Thought-Leader

  • The new Executive Director will create and implement a strategic plan that honors the Center’s history and existing success and builds on those to expand the program offerings and reach
  • Conduct an assessment of existing programs, membership feedback, and best practices of similar organizations

Leadership & Management

  • Provide leadership and management of all aspects of the organization
  • Mentor and coach team members, providing opportunities for personal and professional development
  • Model professional behavior, building a positive and inspiring organizational work culture

Fundraising & Financial Management

  • Provide the vision for and execute a comprehensive plan for fundraising initiatives
  • Oversee the administration of key fundraising activities
  • Deepen the engagement of existing donors and expand donor base
  • Assess and, as needed, implement fiscal controls to maintain the Center’s commitment to sound financial management and transparency

Brand-Building

  • Oversee the Center’s marketing efforts, ensuring that the messaging and materials are consistent and highlight the mission and programs in an exciting, positive, and consistent manner
  • Oversee the enhancement of the Center’s social media presence
  • Represent Southern Vermont Arts Center at community events and arts/cultural forums
  • Serve as the organization’s spokesperson in the media

Programming

  • Enhance and expand the Center’s world-class offerings, including exhibits, programs, and educational pursuits

Board Relations

  • Report to the Board of Directors, and builds a positive relationship with the Board
  • Support the Board’s ability to function properly, providing updates and information on a regular basis
  • Partner with the Board President to recruit new Board members as needed
  • Work with various Board committees as needed in support of the strategic plan

 

Qualifications & Characteristics of the Ideal Candidate

The Executive Director will be a dynamic, charismatic, strategic, entrepreneurial, diplomatic, and resilient leader who can articulate a vision and plan of action for Southern Vermont Arts Center. A natural-born leader, the ideal candidate will be collaborative, encouraging engagement and fostering a sense of belonging among staff and volunteers. The Executive Director will be motivated, energetic, and comfortable affecting change and fostering a growth-mindset in an arts organization.

This leader will be a deeply committed champion of the arts, and passionate about the possibilities that exist for outstanding organizations like the Center.

To be considered, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) plus a minimum of ten to fifteen years of increasing responsibility in a senior management role. In addition, qualified candidates will possess:

  • Extensive hands-on experience working in the arts, whether at a museum, arts center or similar multi-disciplinary arts organization
  • Managing, mentoring and motivating a staff
  • Success creating and implementing a strategic plan
  • A track record of securing significant funding through stewardship of individuals, foundations, and corporations
  • Demonstrated success in building partnerships within a local community as well as with other arts organizations
  • Able to articulate strong business acumen
  • Experience partnering with a board of directors

 

Compensation and Benefits

Southern Vermont Arts Center provides a competitive total compensation plan.

 

Applications and Inquiries

Please submit an electronic version of your letter of interest and resume to:

Cindy Joyce

CEO

Pillar Search & HR Consulting

(617) 529-7708

cindy@pillarsearch.com

 

Our Commitment

Southern Vermont Arts Center and Pillar Search & HR Consulting do 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.

 

*Sources: svac.org / manchestervermont.com / Vermont.com

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Chief Operating Officer, Grads of Life with Year Up!

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Executive Search Boston

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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Now Hiring! Revenue Accounting Manager for Reading Partners

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Pillar Search is proud to collaborate with Reading Partners on the hiring of their new Revenue Accounting Manager.  This position will be based at the Reading Partners’ headquarters in Oakland, CA. 

The high level:

The Revenue Accounting Manager is a new role best suited for an experienced accounting professional who is detail-oriented, hands-on, results-driven with proven communication skills and a strong work ethic to work in a challenging, fast-paced, nonprofit environment. This person is responsible for the timely and accurate reporting of all revenue, including, but not limited to: temporarily restricted, government, and unrestricted grants as well as deferred revenue, all private donations, other grant awards, and fee for service (FFS) from school partners. This person is also responsible for ensuring revenue is posted to the GL accurately and documented within the Reading Partners CRM (Salesforce) in full accordance with GAAP. The Revenue Accounting Manager will report to the Controller.

 

If you’re looking to apply your vast knowledge of accounting to help a growing nonprofit help more students learn to read, please read on!

 

About Reading Partners:

Reading Partners mobilizes communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade.

Reading Partners knows that reading is the foundation for all future learning, and the ability to read transforms lives and empowers children and communities to reach their full potential. Research shows that students who read at grade level by fourth grade have a greater opportunity to succeed in school and in life.

That’s why they partner with under-resourced schools and engage volunteer reading partners to work one-on-one with students who struggle with reading.

An evidence-based and community-driven organization, they recruit and train volunteers to work one-on-one with students for 45 minutes twice a week, following a structured, research-based curriculum.

The Reading Partners program model works and is backed by evidence-based research which proves that their students make significant gains in reading. On average, Reading Partners’ students more than double their rate of learning while in the program.

 

What you’ll do:

  • Ensure accurate and timely revenue recognition
    • Coordinate the daily operations related to revenue recognition and establish regular and effective communication channels with designated program and development colleagues.
    • Manage the weekly processing of cash receipts and recording of revenue.
    • Prepare detailed revenue analysis, reconciliations and budget-to-actual variance reports.
    • Ensure all revenue and related accounts are posted to the GL accurately and in accordance with GAAP.
    • Perform monthly close tasks associated with revenue including the preparation of various reconciliations, deferred revenue roll forward, monthly revenue journal entries and monthly revenue related analysis.
    • Monitor accounts receivable and ensure timely processing in system to ensure all documentation is in compliance with company policy and all rules/ regulations set forth by our contracts.
    • Assist in preparation of monthly management reports.
    • Maintain and analyze accounting records.
    • Assist with the preparation of accounting schedules, reports and financial statements monthly and as requested by senior leadership.
    • Manage all private and foundation grants and ensure they’re booked according to the conditions stipulated in the contract.
    • Ensures all monthly invoices are submitted to various grants, contracts and governmental agencies as well as all reimbursement invoices.
    • Track all in-kind gifts.
    • Assist in ensuring a constant state of annual fiscal and funder audit readiness through clean and accurate coding, tagging and reporting.
    • Ensure direct expenses tagged to municipal grants/ contracts are allowable and compliant under contract/ grant provision.
  • Partner with Finance/ Accounting colleagues and other business partners
    • Ensure GL records and internal CRM database (Salesforce) are congruent.
    • Work closely with external audit team regarding all quarterly review and annual audit requirements.
    • As needed, may help with bookkeeping operations and assist in the day-to-day delivery of the organization’s main accounting policies, procedures and contracts.
  • Process improvement
    • Regularly audit all current practices to assess their effectiveness and efficiency.
    • Revise current practices to ensure best in class service and performance as it pertains to revenue activities and reporting.
    • Ensure all internal policies and procedures are practical and realistic. Ensure best practices are documented and in full effect at Reading Partners.
    • Assist in process improvements to further streamline revenue tasks and shorten revenue close calendar.
  • Other duties as needed

 

How you’ll do it:

  • Relationship Development & Communication: You establish great working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including staff, external constituents, as well as board members. You are able to open doors, make connections, tell a compelling story through the use of data, and create pathways to ensure financial sustainability in literacy education within a very competitive market. You are an effective communicator and a natural “connector”, and you have a track record of successfully establishing rapport quickly and maintaining relationships, even at a distance.

 

  • Strategic Leadership & Execution: You develop and design new strategies and approaches to meet goals and then lead implementation of those strategies. You bring a systems perspective to organizational challenges, with the ability to effectively move from vision to strategy to plan to execution while managing multiple work streams and demonstrating exceptional project management instincts. You are creative and are a thoughtful decision-maker. You are comfortable partnering with others to problem-solve, and you use clear and strategic processes in making decisions. In addition, you have professional experience both developing and executing strategy to optimize organizational processes and achieve ambitious goals.

 

  • People Management: You have a track record of leading teams to excellence. You demonstrate a genuine interest in coaching, inspiring, and developing staff toward the successful achievement goals. You are skilled at providing clear direction, guidance and goals, delegating effectively, and providing growth opportunities while supporting progress along the way. Support staff and enable them to build and maintain successful relationships with a wide array of colleagues at a distance.

 

About you!

You’ll be successful in this role if you:

  • Possess robust and relevant job experience in roles with increasing responsibility; nonprofit experience strongly desired
  • Have experience managing a team
  • Display strong analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
  • Possess detailed working knowledge of GAAP
  • Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills; able to successfully convey accounting concepts to non-accounting colleagues
  • Able to adapt to changing organizational needs and priorities and juggle multiple projects while meeting deadlines
  • Demonstrate strategic and analytical thinking abilities and strong problem-solving skills
  • Exhibit excellent professional judgment
  • Knowledge of financial planning software (e.g. Adaptive, Hyperion, Cognos) strongly preferred; familiarity with Salesforce a plus
  • Boast a deep belief in our mission
  • Root your work in our core values
  • Approach your work with pride and have fun while doing it
  • Actively seek professional and personal growth opportunities
  • Hold US Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or equivalent experience; CPA a plus

 

Bonus points if you:

  • Have experience with federal grant accounting, specifically multiple cost reimbursement grants.
  • Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or other national service alum/alumna
  • Have experience working in launch or growth phases of organizations

 

What Reading Partners offers:

Reading Partners offers the full package – great benefits, a great place to work and the opportunity to have a glowing and growing career.

  • Reading Partners offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. This is a full time, exempt, salaried position.
  • They offer a rich suite of health, welfare, and lifestyle benefits, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, commuter benefits, referral bonuses, 403(b) option, and more.
  • They offer an exciting and dynamic culture, and commit to investing in and supporting their amazing people to grow their careers with Reading Partners. As such, they provide ongoing professional development opportunities.

 

The other things you need to know:

  • Location:  This position is located at Reading Partners’ National Headquarters in Oakland, CA. No remote work options available.
  • Typical Physical & Mental Demands: Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching, and eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator and other office equipment.  Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with volunteers and staff. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.

 

What’s Next?

If you are interested in joining the Reading Partners team, kindly submit your resume, as well as a cover letter describing your interest in Reading Partners and how your past experience has prepared you for this role. Please include your salary needs.  Send both documents to Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

Reading Partners respects and honors the diversity in their workforce, and they are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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New Search! Sales Director for Uncommon Cacao Source + Trade!

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Executive Search Boston

Overview

The Sales Director Opportunity with Uncommon Cacao Source + Trade is an ideal position for a sales professional with great experience in B2B sales with a focus on specialty/natural food and food ingredients, and has a proven track record of managing a growing sales effort.

 

About Uncommon Cacao

Uncommon Cacao started its work in 2010, building Maya Mountain Cacao in Belize to create meaningful market access for smallholder cacao farmers. After catalyzing unparalleled impact for farmer families in the country, and receiving enormous demand for our product and process, in 2014 Uncommon Cacao founded Cacao Verapaz in Guatemala. These companies have revolutionized local economies by linking smallholder farmers to the specialty chocolate industry, through a focus on consistently delivering high quality beans.

 

Today, with growing demand for our cacao, Uncommon Cacao has grown further into the supply chain to drive maximum value to producer groups at origin. Founded two years ago, Uncommon Cacao Source + Trade now works with over 100 chocolate makers, and sources cacao from six countries in Central and South America to deliver the highest quality cacaos, and provide added-value sourcing services to craft chocolate makers globally. Together, we can build a more fair and sustainable specialty cacao supply chain.

 

Scope of Role

  • Sales Management and Execution
    • Manage all existing bean-to-bar chocolate accounts including in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia
    • Create and execute sales strategies to penetrate new accounts and markets
    • Drive and set pricing strategy, including close analysis of margins and implementation of any discounts and promotions
    • Attend and work at industry conferences and sales events on behalf of Uncommon Cacao
    • Create and manage sales forecasts, including annual, quarterly and monthly sales plans

 

  • New Markets
    • Cultivate and nurture relationships with larger-scale Premium Chocolate market buyers
    • Understand sourcing and product needs and grow business into new markets
    • Focus on growth and expansion in European ultra-premium sector (craft, bean-to-bar chocolate)
    • Foster relationships with new craft chocolate buyers in existing market

 

  • Marketing
    • Manage Marketing Associate: regular check ins, goal setting, obstacle-busting
    • Provide marketing vision and direction based on sales plan and needs
    • Support creation of marketing materials including all collateral, Transparency Report, social media etc.
    • Foster coordination between Marketing Associate and Supply Chain Manager to ensure authentic representation of brand to customers
  • Business Coordination
    • Ensure close collaboration with CEO, CFO and finance team
    • Work closely with Supply Chain Manager to ensure product portfolio matches sales needs, and to manage inventory flow
    • Proficiently use software systems including inventory management system, CRM, and financial management system

 

Organizational Role, Compensation and Benefits

The Sales Director of Uncommon Cacao Source + Trade reports directly to the CEO. This position is based in Berkeley, CA, and is an at-will, salaried position. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Travel, both domestic and international, will be required.

 

The Sales Director position is eligible for paid vacation, beginning five months after start date. Employee is eligible for the company’s health insurance plan after 2 months from start date. This role has 7 paid sick days starting immediately. This is a flex-time position, meaning the Sales Director can work on whatever schedule is ideal to ensure goals are met.

 

Qualified candidates are encouraged to email their resume to Cindy Joyce, CEO of Pillar Search & HR Consulting, at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

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Congratulations to Year Up Los Angeles and Brenda Dupre!

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Pillar's Search Success

Pillar Search is pleased to announce the placement of Brenda Dupré as Associate Director of Partner Relations with Year Up.

 

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.

 

As a member of the Year Up Los Angeles team, Brenda will manage existing partner relationships, facilitating day-to-day interactions between Year Up, interns and corporate partners to create mutually beneficial business relationships. As part of the Corporate Engagement team, Brenda will help to connect top corporations in need of talent with high-potential urban young adults, ensuring high levels of partner satisfaction. Brenda brings extensive sales, marketing, and client service experience to her role with Year Up.  Most recently, she was a Global Account Manager with the U.S. Postal Service.  Her prior professional experience includes Regional Director, Recruitment and Corporate Relations with Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management.  Earlier in her career, Brenda owned and operated Winning Combination, a boutique firm that consulted with Los Angeles-area nonprofit organizations.   Brenda completed her undergraduate studies at California State University at Long Beach, her graduate studies at West Coast University, and holds a certificate in Human Resources Management from California State University.  She is a long-time volunteer with the Taproot Foundation.

 

Congratulations Brenda!

 

Hire the best!  With personalized service and proven results, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides retained executive search services and human resources consulting for exceptional non-profits and socially responsible for-profit firms. A woman-owned business, Pillar is based in Boston, MA, and works on the national level. To learn more about how Pillar can assist with your hiring and human resources needs, please contact Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

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New Search Announcement! Sales Director, West Coast for Year Up!

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Pillar's New Search

Pillar Search is pleased to have been selected by Year Up to manage their search for the Sales Director, Western Region.  For more information on this excited opportunity, or for immediate consideration, please contact Pillar Search’s Founder, Cindy Joyce, at cjoyce@pillarsearch.com.

 

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Year Up is an award-winning national 501(c)3 organization striving to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults 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, Year Up provides urban young adults ages 18-24 with a unique combination of hands-on technical and professional skills, college credit, and corporate internships.

 

Year Up is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

Voted one of the Best NonProfits to Work For in the country by the NonProfit Times, Year Up is a rewarding place to work. The Year Up staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. Year Up sets high standards for both themselves and their students, and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and full potential of young people. The work they do is life-changing, and Year Up knows that their team is the greatest asset in achieving their mission.

 

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

 

Year Up photo for website

 

POSITION OVERVIEW:  

Year Up seeks an experienced and dynamic Sales Director, Western Region to lead its Corporate Engagement and Internships initiatives for several national accounts. Reporting to the National Director of Corporate Engagement, this individual will lead the effort to expand and broaden our relationships and internship placements in select accounts on a national basis. The Sales Director, Western Region will work with major Fortune 500 corporations in need of entry-level talent to provide trained, high-potential urban young adults with high-quality internships, and will ensure a program of support and professional development for these young adults on their internships. The ideal candidate should desire to leverage his or her demonstrated experience in sales, strategy, and for-profit management practices within our mission-driven social enterprise.

 

To be successful in this role, you will develop and implement a strategic internship sales plan to achieve revenue targets, manage client accounts and relationships, and design robust engagement strategies. You should have the ability to adjust strategies and priorities in response to organizational growth and needs, as well as the demands of the evolving market. In addition, as an ideal candidate you’ll be able to remain flexible within your work, and seek out areas for collaboration across the organization.

 

In keeping with Year Up’s values, the Sales Director, Western Region will also have the opportunity to interact with colleagues and students regularly to help create and sustain a positive educational environment.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

 

Leadership and Direction Setting

  • Provide strategic direction in response to market and scaling needs
  • Design plans, set milestones, and oversee implementation and follow through of team projects
  • Leverage influence skills to work effectively within the team and across departments to obtain input, move groups to consensus, and build buy-in
  • Collaborate with colleagues at the National and Site levels, as well as across the Year Up network

 

Revenue Generation

  • Develop and implement annual business goals; analyze trends and outcomes against revenue goals
  • Drive new business acquisition plans in response to market trends and relevancy to Year Up
  • Lead internship sales forecasting activities for existing and prospective accounts
  • Review and deliver effective proposals that feature Year Up’s innovative model and past successes for solving corporate entry-level talent needs
  • Regularly prepare reports showing internship volume, potential internship sales, and areas of proposed expansion
  • Utilize Salesforce.com to maintain accurate records of all sales and prospecting activities including sales calls, presentations, closed sales, and follow-up activities

 

Internship Program Management

  • Sustain a strong internship program that meets the business needs of corporate partners and affords Year Up interns the opportunity to apply their learning in a supportive, professional environment
  • Promote internship retention strategies that result in increased completion and satisfaction levels for both partners and young adults
  • Drive cross-functionality with dexterity and flexibility in support of the internship program
  • Ensure knowledge transfer and management over internship program for data capture and quality assurance, including internship readiness assessments, matching processes, on-boarding, announcements, etc.
  • Set benchmarks for increased internship to hire rates across network of corporate partners

 

Relationship Management

  • Design and implement effective strategies for driving engagement with your assigned accounts
  • Set and meet targets for increasing corporate partner status from partner to advocate and advocate to champion  Lead the team to effectively manage all aspects of corporate relationships, interfacing with partners, students, and staff members as needed
  • Establish and maintain relationships with industry influencers and key strategic partners
  • Engage with C-level executives and decision makers in a variety of formal and informal settings
  • Serve as a lead on high-level and/or critically sensitive corporate engagement situations that arise

 

 

Community Member

  • Demonstrate genuine commitment to the mission, vision, values and culture of Year Up
  • Ensure collaboration across departments
  • Work closely with Program, Academic, and Career and Alumni Success leadership to ensure that student learning and development strategically aligns to corporate partners needs

 

year up 2

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • At least 7+ years professional experience in strategic account management and/or sales to enterprise level accounts (e.g. sales, client service, development)
  • Consultative sales approach and background in technology or technology enabled solutions preferred 
  • Demonstrated ability to generate leads, close business, and manage annual sales targets of $5M+
  • Proven ability to influence, develop, manage, support and empower employees to achieve objectives within a team
  • Documented strengths in meaningful relationship building, management and growth to scale
  • Demonstrated ability to set direction and manage complex teams, projects, and processes
  • Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail
  • A professional and resourceful style with the ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time
  • Ability to collaborate across teams, facilitate difficult conversations, and resolve issues
  • Ability to lead, willingness to be led, and comfort with situational leadership
  • Consummate networking skills with an ability to move comfortably and credibly in the community
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and development databases; Salesforce.com experience preferred
  • A commitment to diversity and inclusion
  • A willingness to travel at least 50% of the time, as needed
  • 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

 

TO APPLY:

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com. Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

 

Year Up photo