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executive search nonprofit boston, Families First

Search Success: Maridel Perdomo Joins Families First as the Senior Director of Programs!

February 5, 2024 No Comments

Families First and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, that Maridel Perdomo has joined Families First as the Senior Director of Programs.

This is an exciting time for Families First, as they are seeing incredible outcomes from their programs and are in the process of expanding across the state. With the launch of a 5-year business plan, the organization looks toward significant growth in the coming years.

Reporting to Family First’s Executive Director, Sue Covitz, Maridel will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of Families First’s regional programming in Greater Boston and Western MA. Through this work, she will prioritize Families First’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by engaging parents and the Families First team to inform regional and programmatic growth as the organization expands.

In addition, she will oversee Families First’s alumni services, support the evaluation and quality strategy, and support the program curricula and training strategy. She will serve on the leadership team to advance organizational goals and cross-departmental priorities and will execute and monitor expansion plans as a part of the 5-year business plan.

Maridel joins Families First from Schools for Children, where she was the Director of Extended Learning Programs. There, she was responsible for multi-site programs for 200 students and leading 30 staff members. Prior roles have included Site Director of YMCA at Gardner Pilot Academy, Preschool Director at Pine Village Preschool, and roles as Job Developer and Youth Program Director with Centro Latino. Maridel earned her master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University, her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salem State University, and also holds a degree in Human Resource Administration from Cecilio Acosta University in Caracas, Venezuela. Recently, Maridel served on the Board of Trustees of Watertown’s New Rep Theatre, where she was a member of the Diversity Committee and was involved in fundraising, budgeting, and the annual planning process.

About Families First: Families First’s mission is to partner with parents to amplify their power so they can positively impact the lives of children and communities through their groundbreaking programs. Their model includes parenting education and support, parent leadership, family engagement, and alumni services.

For more than 35 years, Families First has been a leader in providing parenting education across the Greater Boston area. The organization was founded in 1988 with the goal of helping parents navigate the diverse challenges of raising children by providing research-based parenting education services.

Today, Families First provides Massachusetts’s most comprehensive model for early childhood parenting education, family engagement, and parent leadership: The Power of Parenting^TM program and The Ripple Program^TM.

As a result of Families First’s high-impact, multi-tiered program model, parents will support the development of their children’s social-emotional and cognitive skills, embrace their role as the most important force in their children’s learning and well-being, and gain new skills and resources to support and advocate for their children as they grow. Learn more about this amazing organization at www.families-first.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 boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

executive search nonprofit boston, executive search nonprofit new england board

New Search! Head of Public Relations for the B.A.A.!

November 10, 2022 No Comments

OVERVIEW

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to partner with the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) on the search for their new Head of Public Relations. This role will advance the B.A.A.’s mission and vision through strong, innovative, and dynamic leadership. This is a hybrid role; the B.A.A.’s offices are in Boston, MA and Hopkinton, MA.

ABOUT THE B.A.A.

The B.A.A. is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. is committed to a world where all people can access and benefit from running and an active lifestyle. The B.A.A. advances its mission and vision in a variety of ways, such as organizing mass-participatory running events like the Boston Marathon, creating or supporting community fitness events, and sponsoring a running club that serves the greater Boston area.

The B.A.A. believes that everyone—no matter their race, gender, or background—should be able to advance their well-being safely and without fear or discrimination of any kind. The organization is committed to fostering a workplace and community that is diverse, equitable, inclusive and promotes a sense of belonging for all. To learn more about this wonderful organization, please click here.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The founding Head of Public Relations will play a vital role in the development and implementation of an innovative public relations strategy and program to advance the effectiveness and vision of the B.A.A. They seek a hands-on and high-level leader to ensure they capably and consistently communicate their purpose, events, and philosophy to their audience and communities.

You will partner and collaborate closely with media, external stakeholders and each of their internal teams to achieve success. The Head of Public Relations will report directly to the B.A.A.’s Chief Executive Officer and be part of the organization’s senior leadership team. The position will have the opportunity to build a best-in-class Public Relations strategy and function for global impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES

PR Strategy Management

Create and manage the B.A.A.’s PR strategy, program, and story – proactively creating a productive image for the B.A.A., its work and its vision.
Build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders (e.g., media and industry contacts, local, state, and federal government and public officials/public affairs, community partners, B.A.A Marketing and Communications), collaborating appropriately to advance our strategy and promote the B.A.A.
Promote the B.A.A. within their industry.
Develop and lead campaigns (such as how the B.A.A. is leading in terms of industry innovation, in the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging space, etc.), external efforts, and outreach. Measure and report on success of efforts, recommending changes to approach based on data insights.
Work closely with CEO to develop and deliver the organization’s external messages.
Work closely with our Marketing and Communications team members to coordinate and deliver content effectively across multiple channels. Provide guidance to collaborators.
Prepare content for various channels and events, such as key talking points, Board materials.
Serve as PR lead and spokesperson during B.A.A. races and industry events, press forums, and as needed.

Community Liaison

Serve as a “bridge” to their various communities and audiences. Enhance the B.A.A. presence and brand in the local market.
Leverage local and regional contacts to ensure B.A.A. work is highlighted throughout the year, and in alignment with their strategy. Continuously build and strengthen these relationships, managing their public affairs and media relations.
Collaborate with local cities and towns, and their respective agencies, organization, and contacts. Consistently provide outward communications and engagement with these groups to support B.A.A.’s strategy and position on running throughout the year.

Crisis Communications

Serve as crisis communications leader and point person.
Proactively plan for possible scenarios and ensure all involved understand what to do when predicted scenarios do occur.
Anticipate and be available (seven days a week, if required) for critical PR needs.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. Pillar Search and the B.A.A. knows people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when they review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below.

Minimum of five (5) years demonstrated leadership in a public relations/media (or comparable) role.
Effective interpersonal and creative problem-solving skills; proven track record for working well across teams and with a variety of stakeholders.
Experience directing the media/media-related activities to elevate an organization’s profile, including both traditional and social media. The ideal candidate will have an established network within Boston’s media industry.
Experience in crisis communications situations.
Proven ability to serve as an effective organizational spokesperson, produce excellent forms of written communication, and manage media relations.
Knowledge of the organization.
A commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

WORK EXPECTATIONS AT B.A.A

The B.A.A. is a hands-on team and seek employees who are passionate about their work and service to the community. The Head of Public Relations role is a 40 hours/week, exempt position. This role will have an MA-based hybrid work arrangement. Beginning February 1, 2023, the B.A.A. will have a seasonal hybrid work model in which different months of the year require 2-3 days/week in the office while other months require 0-3 days/week. The B.A.A. has two office spaces–one in downtown Boston and one in Hopkinton, MA. The Head of Public Relations will be expected to travel to the Hopkinton office on an occasional basis, though they will primarily be based in the Boston office.

COVID-19 Guidelines

B.A.A. continues to adapt to safety protocols related to COVID-19 as they understand them. All candidates must comply with B.A.A.’s current COVID-19 Guidelines, including B.A.A.’s vaccination requirement. All employees must receive at least the first dose of the vaccination no later than one week after their start date, and must be fully vaccinated no later than 4 weeks later. For the purpose of this policy, individuals are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson/Janssen).

The B.A.A. requires all employees to receive the COVID vaccine. For the safety of the community, B.A.A. employees are expected to obtain COVID tests if they have symptoms or have traveled by plane. Quarantining may be required after air travel.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range is competitive and commensurate with lived and professional experience. The B.A.A. will promote your professional growth and development by providing access to:

Competitive health & dental insurance plans with employer contributions of at least 80%
Life insurance, short term, and long-term disability plans funded 100% by the B.A.A.
401K matching dollar-for-dollar up to 4% after one year of service, elective deferrals may begin upon hire
Paid vacation based on years of service
11 paid holidays, 9 scheduled and 2 floating
A private option for Paid Family & Medical Leave with up to 26 weeks of paid leave per year for qualifying leave events

HOW TO APPLY

To apply to this position, please prepare a resume and cover letter to the attention of the B.A.A. Hiring Team and submit your materials to Cindy Joyce, Founder & Executive Search Consultant, Pillar Search & HR Consulting, at cindy@pillarsearch.com.

The B.A.A. is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

executive search boston, executive search new england, human resources nonprofit boston

Search Success! Kris Wuerdeman Joins Cooperative Elder Services as Program Director!

January 4, 2021 No Comments

Search success! Pillar Search and HR Consulting is pleased to announce the placement of Kris Wuerdeman as the new Program Director of Cooperative Elder Services, Inc., where she will be responsible for leading the Groton, MA and Acton, MA centers.

As Program Director, Kris will be responsible for oversight of program operations, providing leadership to and management of the teams in both centers, and agency-wide initiatives and projects, including quality assurance and process improvement.

Kris brings extensive experience in the adult day health field. Most recently, she was the Founder and Managing Director of That Place You Know, LLC, a social adult day program specializing in memory care. Prior, she was a Life Enrichment Manager, Memory Care Specialist, and Certified Validation Teacher for Family Services at Sunrise Senior Living.

Kris received her undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s College of California and her master’s in Human Resources Management, Training and Organizational Development from Golden Gate University. In addition, she is a Certified Dementia Practitioner.

About Cooperative Elder Services, Inc.: The mission of Cooperative Elder Services, Inc. (CESI) is to empower seniors and adults with medical or cognitive challenges to age-in-place by serving their health and socialization needs and providing support for families.

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.

executive search boston, headhunter boston, nonprofit exec search firm boston

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.

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.