McCormack+Kristel Seeks Executive Director for the Attic Youth Center
October 2, 2020 – LGBTQ focused search firm McCormack+Kristel has been retained by the Attic Youth Center in Philadelphia to lead its search for a new executive director.
The executive director will provide strategic leadership to advance the agency’s vision, mission, goals and objectives. Reporting to a nine-member board of directors, comprised of prominent Philadelphia business and community leaders, this executive is responsible for all agency programs, operations and fiscal oversight.
“They will lead by example and set clear strategies and performance expectations developed in collaboration with the staff and board,” said McCormack+Kristel. “The executive director is the primary representative of the agency and is directly responsible for engaging stakeholders and securing funds to enhance its services and ensure its financial health. They will supervise a five-person leadership team responsible for programs, development, finance, and operations.”
The Attic Youth Center wants an entrepreneurial executive with fundraising and social services experience, said McCormack+Kristel. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of LGBTQ youth and proven leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years’ progressive management and organizational leadership experience in a social services agency. Prior experience as a CEO or executive director is strongly preferred as well as a dedication to and understanding of systemic oppression particularly as it relates to gender, sexual orientation, race and adultism. Experience delivering programs and counseling services to youth, ideally LGBTQ youth, is also preferred.
The Attic Youth Center is looking for a visionary leader who passionately believes LGBTQ youth deserve a safe space to express their identity, talk with a caring adult, participate in after-school activities, and receive assistance finding housing or a job, said the search firm. The individual will lead by example to create a culture of transparency and accountability. He or she will have exceptional interpersonal skills to engage and inspire donors and stakeholders and the business acumen to foster an innovative approach to fiscal planning and reporting.
The Attic is a nationally recognized, multi-service youth organization, and one of the largest community centers in the U.S. committed exclusively to serving LGBTQ youth and allies. The Attic’s youth programming focuses on assisting youth and young adults to develop essential life skills in the areas of job readiness, educational enrichment, leadership, arts and culture, and health and wellness. Services include HIV prevention, support groups, and case management. Counseling includes comprehensive risk counseling services and clinical mental health counseling.
Veteran Search Consultants
McCormack+Kristel was started in 1993 as McCormack & Associates with the mission of recruiting senior leadership for the many research, advocacy and human services organizations growing exponentially in response to AIDS pandemic. Diversity recruiting has long been on the firm’s agenda.
McCormack+Kristel and WB&B Recruit CEO for Lambda Legal
McCormack+Kristel and WB&B, an executive recruitment firm focused on diversity and inclusion, have together led in the placement of Kevin Jennings as the new CEO of New York-based Lambda Legal, a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
With the advent of effective treatments for HIV/AIDS, and the diminishing needs of many of these organizations, the firm broadened its client base into areas like social justice; healthcare; women’s issues; higher education; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender; civil rights and more.
Four years ago, founding partner Joseph McCormack formed a new business partnership with Michelle Kristel, a former non-profit executive and an associate with the firm since 2013. The firm has offices in New York City and Palm Springs, CA. McCormack+Kristel clients have included the ACLU, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, TransForm, Planned Parenthood, SAGE and the Tides Foundation, among others.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
