CohenTaylor Executive Search Seeks Next Leader for Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest
January 17, 2020 – Minneapolis-based CohenTaylor Executive Search has been enlisted to find the next president and CEO for Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest (JAUM) in St. Paul, MN.
“JAUM is currently seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to guide the organization through its next phase,” said CohenTaylor. “Working with the board of directors, the president/CEO provides vision and leadership for the organization, guiding the organization toward new and innovative partnerships resulting in stronger communities.”
With the board, the president/CEO will be responsible for achieving the strategic objectives of the organization. The leader will assume responsibility for all aspects of JAUM’s operations, including strategic planning, fundraising, staff development, program implementation, financial management and marketing.
JAUM’s president/CEO currently has the following direct reports: senior vice president of development, senior vice president of operations, chief financial officer, marketing and communications director, and executive assistant and office manager.
Job Requirements
The ideal candidate for the role will bring an inspirational storytelling ability, said the search firm. He or she will be a proven leader with an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit, exemplary business and/or non-profit management skills, and a strong commitment to continuing to create strong community partnerships and raising the visibility of the impact of JAUM.
A focus on relationship building to enhance fundraising, community relations, external partnerships, and board development is a critical component of this role. The new leader must be experienced at leading complex teams, creating organizational culture, and supporting collaborative team engagement and innovation.
A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree is preferred. Candidates should have at least 10 years of management experience including non-profit, for profit or public sector leadership experience.
Preferred Experience
Preferred experience and skills include a proven track record of success as a leader — leading, building, and growing a diverse, cohesive organization through a collaborative leadership style. Prospects should also have experience with and/or familiarity with implementing fundraising and resource development strategies. Strong cultural competence is needed. Candidates must have experience building equity, inclusion and engagement across an organization. Proven experience acting as the voice and face of a regional organization is also important.
Prospects must also have: experience working with a board of directors, along with the ability to cultivate board relationships; strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience, including the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and partners; organizational leadership skills/experience in coaching and developing staff and building engaged and high performing teams; and demonstrated financial management and budgeting abilities.
Why Recruiters Center On Fundraising Skills
Organizations nationwide are under pressure to find leaders who can act as de facto chief fundraisers – and recruiters are in lock step to find talent to satisfy the demand. These leaders need to be strategic thinkers who can motivate the stakeholders whose philanthropy pulls everything together.
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Junior Achievement (JA) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches 4.8 million students per year in more than 100 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations in over 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, a regional chapter of JA, serves students throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin. In 2019, JA celebrated 100 years as a national organization and 70 years in the Upper Midwest.
Serving Non-Profits
CohenTaylor Executive Search is a boutique executive search firm dedicated to non-profit and public sector organizations. Founded by Chris Cohen and Don Taylor, the firm has conducted hundreds of leadership searches, locally and nationally, in multiple sectors. Its clients include Second Harvest Heartland, Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, First Avenue Productions, Healthy Building Network, Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota and Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties, among others.
Ms. Cohen has worked in the executive search industry since 1997. In that time, she has built a practice focused on non-profit leadership and fundraising, marketing, sales, management, finance and operations search assignments. Mr. Taylor’s 30-year history as a non-profit executive has included primary roles in resource development, leadership and strategic direction for organizations in healthcare, education, human services and organized philanthropy.
Mr. Taylor’s leadership roles over the last 35 years have focused on non-profit fund development, including strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of comprehensive programs in human services, education and healthcare. He has served on executive management teams or as an executive director at the Minneapolis Foundation, Courage Center, the Carlson School of Management (University of Minnesota), the School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas, and the Laura Baker School.
Currently, Mr. Taylor is in a special counsel role with CohenTaylor, providing limited consultation to the firm in new business development while acting as the firm’s representative in efforts with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP/Minnesota Chapter) and Minnesota Private College Fund (MPCF).
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media