Council on Foundations
Position Description

Function: General Management Position
Type: Full-Time (Paid)
Deadline: May 14, 2010

Job Description
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President Member Services will provide executive leadership, vision, and comprehensive oversight for the programs and services provided to the Council’s members.  His/her team will be charged with designing and delivering world class services, resources and programs that meet the needs and exceed the expectations of the members.  Additionally, the VPMS will serve on the Council’s executive team and play a critical role in the strategic evolution of the Council.  Overseeing a staff of 20, the VPMS serves as the visionary leader ensuring that the constituencies are well served and the teams operate as a well functioning whole.  Under his/her leadership, membership will grow, services and products will be developed to address cutting edge issues, conferences and programs will be well attended and intellectually stimulating, and staff will be energized and empowered. This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic and entrepreneurial executive who recognizes the importance of philanthropy toward the public good.

Responsibilities
Leadership and Vision

• Work creatively and strategically with the senior management team to ensure the Council works with purpose, vitality, and relevancy in the field of philanthropy.
• Lead the development of a culture that fosters inter-departmental communication and cohesiveness. Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration and strengthen internal communications with staff across divisions; promote a multi-cultural work environment that supports consistency in services and best practices.
• Ensure that each of the Council’s members is well served without creating an overly competitive culture between the groups.

Membership Development and Programming

• Advance the overall growth and development of organized philanthropy, through direct programs, services and publications.
• Ensure that programming for the Council’s three major conferences is timely, well planned and cohesive.
• Envision and develop direction, goals, and priorities for member services, defining, designing and delivering services the Council provides, including education programs, knowledge products, and conferences. Establish annual and longer-term priorities in concert with staff, volunteer committees and members.
• Develop, in concert with the membership staff, a strategy that will increase membership and retain existing members.
• Work with staff to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality products and services.
• Oversee the design and implementation of new programs, services, and policies that meet the needs and exceed the expectations of members.

Staff Management & Board Relations

• Listen to, learn from and lead, as well as mentor and coach, the Member Services team.
• Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the Board and ensure open communication about member services, membership, programmatic development, and conferences against stated milestones and goals.  Guide Member Services team members in developing effective partnerships with volunteers and committees.
• Attract, develop, and retain high-performance team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control and performance.
• Maintain effective relations with other divisions to insure coordinated services directed at priority needs.
• Operate with consideration of financial resources and constraint; have a keen understanding of financial accountability.
• Contribute to the creation of and manage against annual budgets and staffing plans. Monitor staff performance and departmental goal attainment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in building a membership organization driven by programming; knowledge of philanthropy a plus. 
• Exceptional management skills; effective management of highly involved stakeholders and a strong commitment to developing, recruiting and retaining team members; the foresight and ability to delegate accordingly, and the ability to enhance the effectiveness of the organization as a whole.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to organize and motivate groups of volunteers and employees, problem-solving skills, project design and development. 
• Demonstrated success in forming and maintaining productive collaborations, and in developing consensus among diverse groups while addressing competing needs.
• Success in leading, mentoring, and developing high-performance teams based on creativity, strategic thinking, risk taking, and collaboration.
• Experience working with Boards of Directors, managing Board relations and coordinating committee activities.
• Impeccable business acumen and political savvy; possesses an astute understanding and ability to navigate organizational politics; can understand and manage board, staff, and voting member dynamics.
• Decisive leadership skills and executive presence; ability to interact effectively with varying levels of staff and Boards.
• Ability to demonstrate and earn trust with board and staff; reflected to others as a visionary.
• Balances “big picture thinking” with attention to detail; curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.
• Knows when to delegate and when to manage; keen ability to multi-task and serve various constituencies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Benefits
Not Specified Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Posting Expiration Date: 5/14/2010

How to Apply
The Search Committee requests that all inquiries, nominations and applications be directed to the Bridgespan Group at cof@bridgespan.org. If interested please email your resume in WORD to and indicate in your cover letter where you learned of the opportunity. Apply by May 14, 2010.

Council on Foundations is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position. The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit organization, serves diverse organizations and is committed to building high-performing teams that mirror the communities we serve.