Nonprofit Chief Strategy Officer, Child Welfare

Join a team that makes a difference in the lives of children and teens in the US foster care system!

NAA is seeking a Chief Strategy Officer to join its team!

Overview:

The National Adoption Association (NAA) is hiring our first Chief Strategy Officer at a very exciting time for our organization as we grow and scale our programs and impact!

The National Adoption Association Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) is a vital member of our senior leadership team. The CSO plays a pivotal role in shaping the long-term direction and sustainability of the organization. Partnering with the CEO, the CSO’s responsibilities focus on developing and implementing strategies to advance the organization’s mission, improve operational efficiency, and ensure financial stability. The CSO will lead the strategic planning process, manage the development of NAA’s first Corporate Advisory Board, ensure initiative alignment with NAA’s mission and vision, and drive decision making that sustains organizational change and generates growth opportunities. The CSO reports to the Chief Executive Officer and serves as their second in command.

• Mission: Leaders advancing best and inclusive practices in adoption from foster care.

• Vision: To build the premier network of professionals and agencies and create innovative strategies and solutions so that every child has a permanent loving family.

• Philosophy: We believe that adoption is addition, not subtraction. We advocate extending the concept of shared parenting to unite birth, kin, and adoptive families for the betterment of children and teens in care.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in business administration, organizational leadership, or closely related field (experience will be considered in lieu of education).
• 10-15 years of relevant professional experience and 5-7 years in a senior leadership role with experience supervising/influencing leaders of organizations leading large-scale transformations, developing organizational strategies, data-informed decision making, and reporting.
• Experience operating non-profits with $14-15 million dollar budgets and an entrepreneurial mindset is necessary. The ideal candidate will have some knowledge of and background in child welfare.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic Thinking & Planning. Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with long-term objectives while managing risks. Ability to share strategic thinking and influence organizational stakeholders and partners. Experience with fundraising and development as well as working with a board of directors.
• Fundraising Knowledge & Financial Acumen. Deep understanding of nonprofit fundraising strategies, grant acquisition, donor and member engagement. Experience with budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation.
• Change Management & Leadership. Proven experience leading organizational change, managing teams, and navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Vision. Understands and communicates the shared vision of NAA, influences others to translate vision into action. Demonstrates commitment to DEI and youth voice. Deep passion about the children, families, and jurisdictions served by NAA.
• Effective Communication. Influential communication style (verbal and written). Practices active listening, keeps others well informed, and encourages others to express opposing views.
• Politically Informed. Expertise in the macro and micro issues associated with children, families, and the systems they interact with. Ability to keep current with trends in child welfare, mental health, resiliency, treatment, public and private resources (policies, regulations, and issues). Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization; perceives and interprets the political reality and acts accordingly. Stays thoughtfully and critically engaged in the work during high-pressure situations and interactions.
• Public Relations. Clear written/verbal communication with the media and public on behalf of NAA that demonstrates knowledge of child welfare and conveys a passion for the cause/children & families we serve. Ability to maintain positive relationships with community partners, funders, and agency colleagues.
• Data Informed. Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data for strategizing and programmatic development and produce comprehensive reports. Values data, critically thinks about complex data, supports the programs in how they use data, and uses data for informed decision making.
• Relationship Management. Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect; possesses a good sense of humor. Facilitates decision making among people with different priorities, perspectives, and points of view in all situations.
• Inclusive Mindset. Demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, inclusiveness, and empowerment.
• Integrity/Honesty. Possesses high ethical standards; consistently demonstrates ethical standards in words and actions.
• Accountability. Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Delivers constructive feedback directly and supportively.
• Collaborative Leadership. Creates opportunities for collaboration; encourages the exchange of information and sharing; focuses on the common purpose; has an action orientation.
• Team Building. Motivates team members to accomplish group and organizational goals.

Additional Notes

The ideal candidate for the CSO role will live in or around the DMV area. NAA conducts background checks on all employees. Occasional overtime (evenings and weekends) may be required, in addition to travel up to 4 to 6 times per year for events. This position is remote.

Role and Responsibilities

1.      Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement 

• Develop and track strategic vision and priorities across the organization. Continuously evaluate organizational outcomes to identify areas for improvement to increase the effectiveness of NAA as a whole.
• Establish goals, objectives, and growth plans in collaboration with the CEO, Advisory Board, Board of Directors, and Senior Staff.
• Ensure that all strategies align with the nonprofit’s mission and core values.
• Lead the development of multi-year strategic plans that set the course for the organization’s growth and impact.
• Stay informed on trends, challenges, and opportunities in the nonprofit sector, particularly those affecting the organization’s cause.
• Seek opportunities for growth by identifying and providing resources for learning, productivity, and program development.
• Create and implement strategies to constantly improve the organization's revenue diversification efforts to maximize scale and impact. 

2.       Partnership and Collaboration Development

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, communicating the goals and objectives of the strategic plan, mission, vision to NAA’s growing team.
• Work closely with program and operational teams to ensure strategic initiatives are cohesive and achievable.
• Serve as the lead on internal communications to ensure the entire NAA team understands how their work aligns with the mission, vision and strategic direction of NAA.

3.       Data Interpretation & Stakeholder Reporting

• Utilizes various metrics including program impact, financial, fundraising, operational, and external data to determine strategy.
• Identify new opportunities for program development, growth, or improvement.
• Develop strategies for monitoring and evaluating program effectiveness, ensuring that programs are meeting strategic goals.
• Communicate the progress and impact to the board, donors, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Create and monitor a data dashboard to track efforts to achieve our mission.

4.       Leadership and Change Management

• Work across the organization to lead change initiatives.
• Work closely with the senior staff team to cocreate change efforts and drive the organization’s overall direction.
• Partner with the CEO to adapt the organization’s strategy in response to internal and external changes, ensuring resilience and adaptability.
• Establish and develop a corporate advisory board to support NAA’s long-term sustainability.

5.       Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations.

• Supervise the engagement manager and broaden awareness of NAA’s programs.
• Support and coach the engagement manager in their work to promote NAA and its services to non-members and retain existing members.
• Promote the organization’s mission and strategic vision within the organization.
• Support the CEO in crafting external communication documents, i.e. annual reports, impact of giving reports for donors, press releases, web content and other similar corporate communication documents.
• Ensure the organization’s brand and reputation are consistent with its strategic goals and mission.
• Initiate, build, and maintain strong working relationships with other national organizations and key funders. Provide recommendations to the CEO for targets of new relationships.
• At the request of the CEO, represent the organization and serve as a spokesperson at events, conferences, and partnership meetings as needed.
• Support the CEO with fund development efforts.

Benefits and Compensation:

The CSO salary range is $135,000 - $145,000, commensurate with experience and education. As a member of our team, you will not only receive a competitive salary and a generous benefits package including a gold health plan, dental & vision insurance (100% employer paid for employees!); employer retirement plan contribution; and professional development opportunities, among others. You will also enjoy your work - knowing you are a part of a dedicated group of professionals making an impact.

NAA is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

How to Apply:

No phone calls please. Apply online at Chief Strategy Officer with a cover letter and resume by October 28, 2024.Expected start date is January 2025.

Please note - applications without cover letters will not be considered.

About NAA:

Founded in 1982 under the name Adoption Exchange Association, the National Adoption Association is the country's premier national association of adoption professionals and organizations. NAA is the only national association focused exclusively on supporting the educational needs of those in the adoption profession. The organization serves adoption exchanges, private child-placing agencies, and public child welfare systems by engaging members in national discussions to eliminate barriers to foster care adoption and share best practices. Our mission is leaders advancing best and inclusive practices in adoption from foster care. Our vision is to build the premier network of professionals and agencies to create innovative strategies and solutions so that every child has a permanent loving family. www.adoptnaa.org

NAA Racial Equity Statement:

As leaders in child welfare, we recognize systemic racism creates disparities that negatively impact our staff as well as the children and families we serve. NAA is committed to listening, learning, and taking actions to advance racial equity by:

·       Continually and intentionally recruiting, hiring, and supporting diverse staff, including consultants and vendors;

·       Using a racial equity lens in all of our programmatic work;

·       Evaluating our organizational policies and procedures to ensure that they are antiracist[1];

·       Allowing staff to be their authentic selves.

[1] Anti-Racism is defined as the work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes in political, economic, and social life. Anti-racism tends to be an individualized approach and set up in opposition to individual racist behaviors and impacts. Source: ProInspire sourcedRace Reporting Guide by Race Forward_V1.1.pdf