Search Success: Sher Omerovic Named JVS’ New Chief Program Officer!

JVS Boston and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, the appointment of Sher Omerovic to the position of Chief Program Officer.

This is a well-deserved promotion from Sher’s most recent role with JVS as Senior Vice President of Programs. Sher joined JVS in 2016.

Reporting to JVS’ CEO, Kira Khazatsky, Sher will lead the core of JVS’ work – the development, quality, and delivery of JVS’s services. Sher will provide strategic leadership to the programmatic Vice President team to ensure alignment with the organization’s mission and goals, and support and develop the programmatic VP team to achieve programmatic outcomes. She will collaborate with other principal executives to ensure long-term strategic planning and board management align with the organization’s mission and goals.

Sher brings extensive program, workforce development and leadership experience to the Chief Program Officer role. Prior to JVS, she worked at the Fish Family Foundation, where she developed and implemented a statewide citizenship initiative partnering with multiple community organizations, immigration attorneys, and volunteers to organize large-scale citizenship events across the commonwealth, and held roles in immigration and employment with Catholic Charities of Boston and in grants with United Way. Sher earned her master’s degree in nonprofit project management from Northeastern University and her bachelor’s degree in international relations and modern languages from Beloit College.

About JVS Boston: For 80 years, JVS has helped tens of thousands of individuals with barriers to economic success secure financial independence through training, education, and employment services.  As the largest provider of adult education and workforce development services in the region, JVS is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, and is a key part of the poverty alleviation strategy for the greater-Boston area.  In order to reach people in need of assistance on their pathway to meaningful employment and financial independence, JVS targets most of its services to low-income individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and to low-wage workers in need of career advancement services.  Many have multiple support needs ranging from limited English proficiency and lack of education to disabilities, criminal records, lack of childcare and transportation.  JVS operates on annual budget of more than $15 million, of which is derived equally from public and private sources. For more information, please visit www.jvs-boston.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.

New Search: Major Gifts Officer with JVS!

Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to partner with JVS on the search for their Major Gifts Officer. This is an exciting new role, and a great fit for an experienced development professional looking to make a significant impact with an outstanding organization.

ABOUT JVS:

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency. Their mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers; and to partner with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces. JVS provides a broad range of workforce development services including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement, and support, and access to post-secondary education. JVS assists employers in their search for well-qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce. JVS’s unique education and career pathway model has been widely recognized by funders, policy makers, and practitioners in Massachusetts and nationally.

ABOUT THE MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER OPPORTUNITY:

The Major Gifts Officer will play a critical role in increasing major donor support, and acts as an ambassador for JVS Boston across the community.  Responsibilities include: new donor identification, cultivation and stewardship of existing donors to increase overall retention and giving, and relationship management between donors and others on the board and staff who work with them. The Major Gifts Officer will also be responsible for formalizing and growing the organization’s planned giving program.

The Major Gifts Officer reports to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and will work closely and collaboratively with the CEO, Mid-Level Gifts Officer, board members, and other external stakeholders.

Essential Functions

Donor Management

  • Maintain a personal portfolio of 50+ major donors and prospects (defined as those giving a gift of $10,000+), as well as those donors and prospects that have the capacity to give at this level or higher.
  • Serve as the primary relationship manager for this portfolio of prospects, developing and implementing a written donor strategy and relationship record (using Salesforce) of all interactions.
  • Communicate with portfolio through face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship meetings, as well as verbal and written strategies; ensure that each major donor and prospect has a clear strategy and timeline for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Develop solicitation strategies for donors / prospects in support of the organization’s annual fund, planned giving, and growth campaigns; ensure strategies are compatible and maximize opportunities with other existing campaigns.
  • Support the fundraising efforts of the CDO and CEO in securing new and renewed gifts.
  • With the CDO, create and manage individual giving revenue targets across streams; track and report on progress to goal to CDO, CEO, and CFO including contracts, gifts, and pledges.
  • Work with the Mid-Level Gifts Officers to screen and prepare profiles of current and prospective donors; establish and refine benchmarks for department research processes as needed.

Campaign Strategy

  • Work with the CDO to manage revenue projection and expense budget, as well as pledges and pledge fulfillments.
  • Work with CDO to plan and execute major gifts campaigns.

Events

  • Work with the Communications Manager and Mid-Level Gifts Officer to strategize and help execute cultivation events for major donors and prospects.
  • Be a visible presence at development department special events, such as major donor cultivation events and fundraisers.

Volunteer Liaison

  • Work collaboratively with the Volunteer Manager to ensure that volunteer opportunities meet the needs and expectations of current and prospective donors, while serving the immediate needs of JVS.
  • Serve as primary point of contact for corporate groups interested in connecting with JVS through volunteering.
  • Create feedback and improvement loop with all volunteer groups with a goal of ensuring positive experience, continued engagement, and moves management of volunteers toward making a financial commitment to JVS where and when possible.

Planned Giving

  • Working with the Chief Development Officer, develop a strategy for outreach to and stewardship of planned giving prospects and donors.
  • Develop all print and web-based supporting materials for planned giving program.

Additional Functions

  • Supervise the Mid-Level Gifts Officer
  • Manage Major Gifts Task Force in collaboration with the CDO
  • Manage Resource Development Committee with the Mid-Level Gifts Officer
  • Provide analysis and recommendations based on reporting.
  • Provide detailed prospect reports for solicitors.
  • Other duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience plus a minimum of 5-10 years (direct or equivalent) experience managing high level donor relationships with demonstrated success in closing gifts of $10,000 and above.
  • Ability to conceive, plan, and execute a major gifts program, including annual giving, special events, and special projects/campaigns.
  • Excellent grasp of Salesforce database software.
  • Willingness to be hands-on in a role that is demanding and requires a high level of energy and professionalism.
  • High level proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Teams, Word, and Excel, and a working knowledge of search functions for donor research purposes.
  • Superior interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally with a culturally diverse group of volunteers, co-workers, and donors.
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills and ability to prioritize workload in a timely manner to complete assignments with many deadlines and competing requirements.
  • Ability to work nights and weekends as needed.
  • Ability to pass a criminal background check.

JVS COMMITMENT:

JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities.  By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

JVS is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, JVS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because he or she has engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.

M/F/V/DV

TO APPLY: 

JVS has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for the Major Gifts Officer. Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy at cindy@pillarsearch.com

Craig Misner Named the New Director of Academic Services with JVS!

JVS Boston and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, the appointment of Craig Misner to the position of Director, Academic Services.

This is a well-deserved promotion from Craig’s most recent role with JVS as Manager of Coaching Services, Academic Services.

Craig will be responsible for executing and leading agency Academic services based on identified needs of clients, employers, funders, and other stakeholders. In collaboration with the Vice President, Craig will manage the performance expectations of Academic Services programs, teams, and staff. He will be responsible for collaborating with the VP around the fiscal health of Academic Services programs, program budgets, and budget modifications, as well as annual revenue and expenditure projections and assisting with development efforts to support academic services.

Craig brings extensive workforce development and leadership experience to the role with JVS. Earlier in his 8-year tenure with JVS, Craig was the Academic Coach and Outreach Specialist with their Bridges to College and Careers Program. Prior to joining JVS, Craig work in Human Resources with a focus on learning and development with Starbucks and Town Sports International. Craig earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts, Boston.

About JVS Boston: For 80 years, JVS has helped tens of thousands of individuals with barriers to economic success secure financial independence through training, education, and employment services.  As the largest provider of adult education and workforce development services in the region, JVS is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, and is a key part of the poverty alleviation strategy for the greater-Boston area.  In order to reach people in need of assistance on their pathway to meaningful employment and financial independence, JVS targets most of its services to low-income individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and to low-wage workers in need of career advancement services.  Many have multiple support needs ranging from limited English proficiency and lack of education to disabilities, criminal records, lack of childcare and transportation.  JVS operates on annual budget of more than $15 million, of which is derived equally from public and private sources. For more information, please visit www.jvs-boston.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.

Search Success: Tanesha Gibbons Joins JVS as Controller!

JVS Boston and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Tanesha Gibbons to the position of Controller. Tanesha joined JVS on November 29, 2021.

In this leadership role, Tanesha will be a thought partner to the CFO, and will be responsible for oversight of finance, accounting and reporting activities, as well as managing a team.

Tanesha brings extensive accounting and finance experience to the role with JVS. Most recently, Tanesha was the Senior Accountant of Boston’s Trinity Church, where she managed accounting and benefits. Prior, she was the Senior Staff Accountant with Roessel Joy. Earlier in her career, Tanesha was a Staff Accountant with CPC America, a private agency organization, where she was responsible for all accounting functions.

By the end of this year, Tanesha will successfully complete studies for her Master of Science in Management and Accounting from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts Boston. Tanesha is a member of the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) and the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA).

About JVS Boston: For 80 years, JVS has helped tens of thousands of individuals with barriers to economic success secure financial independence through training, education, and employment services.  As the largest provider of adult education and workforce development services in the region, JVS is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, and is a key part of the poverty alleviation strategy for the greater-Boston area.  In order to reach people in need of assistance on their pathway to meaningful employment and financial independence, JVS targets most of its services to low-income individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and to low-wage workers in need of career advancement services.  Many have multiple support needs ranging from limited English proficiency and lack of education to disabilities, criminal records, lack of childcare and transportation.  JVS operates on annual budget of more than $15 million, of which is derived equally from public and private sources. For more information, please visit www.jvs-boston.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.

Successful Search! Zalima Oliver Joins Volunteer Lawyers Project as Director of People & Culture

Volunteer Lawyers Project and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are proud to announce the appointment of Zalima Oliver to the role of Director of People and Culture. Zalima joined Volunteer Lawyers Project on August 23, 2021.

As Director of People and Culture, Zalima will manage all aspects of Volunteer Lawyers Project’s Human Resources function, assess organizational needs, and champion, promote, and guide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion processes and initiatives. Zalima will partner strategically with Volunteer Lawyers Project’s leadership team to shape employee relations strategies and practices and ensure appropriate employee development and opportunities for advancement.

Zalima brings extensive human resources experience and expertise to her role with Volunteer Lawyers Project. Most recently, Zalima was the Director of People and Culture with YouthBuild USA. Prior, she was the Human Resources Manager at Pharmalogics Recruiting and Human Resources Director at Madison Park Development Corporation. Earlier human resources leadership roles with leading nonprofit organizations included Urgent Care Centers of New England, International School of Boston, Lutheran Social Services, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester,

Zalima has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.

About Volunteer Lawyers Project: Volunteer Lawyers Project is a nonprofit organization based in Boston. For over forty years, Volunteer Lawyers Project has strived to give equal access to representation for the people of Greater Boston, standing up for those who are from lower income households and in need of legal aid. Their efforts are propelled by a strong team of volunteers including attorneys, paralegals, and law students from all segments of the legal community. These vital volunteers work together with the entire dedicated staff of Volunteer Lawyers Project.

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 email Cindy Joyce at cindy@pillarsearch.com or visit www.pillarsearch.com.