The Opportunity:
This role invites you to leverage your expertise in strategic communications, coalition-building, and financial stewardship to elevate the Alliance's visibility and ensure sustained organizational growth and impact. Join us to cultivate an inclusive, innovative culture, harness strategic opportunities for expansion, and strengthen relationships that position the YMCA as a trusted leader in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. This is a rare opportunity to lead transformative work with lasting community and statewide impact across the large Southwest geographic region.
The CEO supports the YMCA Associations across Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Southern California in meeting the membership standards of the YMCA. This role supports the local YMCA Associations around the YMCA’s shared mission, advocacy, child protection, and operational excellence. The Alliance is a partner of YUSA that supports the service system delivery of YUSA in providing leadership and resources to local Associations.
Alliance Vision: That all the YMCAs in the Alliance are thriving, sustainable and making a significant impact in their communities.
Position Description and Board Expectations
The Alliance believes its new CEO will be an experienced leader who has the background and qualities that will permit them to achieve excellence on behalf of the Alliance.
The new CEO will have a strong understanding of the YMCA as a leading nonprofit in the United States and of our local and global impact. The CEO will have excellent communication, facilitation, and organizational skills. They will have experience in leading in senior nonprofit roles and in working with nonprofit Board leaders. The CEO will have a willingness to travel to each YMCA Association to learn about them and to develop relationships with the CEOs and their key staff and volunteer leaders.
About the YMCA:
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits that strengthens communities through the impact areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. Every day, the Ys work side-by-side with their communities to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
The Alliance provides consulting services to SWAY YMCAs:
- Strategy and Planning
- Advocacy and Public Policy
- Board Development and Governance
Collaborations: Shared Services, Management Agreements, Mergers
- Partner with Y-USA in Executive Transition, CEO Search, and leads new CEO Onboarding
- Operational Assessments
- Other areas as needed
Alliance Structure: The Alliance CEO reports to the Chair of the Alliance Executive. The Alliance Executive represents the CEOs of the Associations in the Alliance and is made up of representatives from each of the states in the Alliance.
Financial:
Current Annual Budget Size: $373,000
Information Sites:
YMCA of the USA
Criteria for Candidates:
- Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management or related field.
- 7–10 years of experience in YMCA leadership, CEO experience preferred.
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Collaborative, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities.
- Familiarity with YMCA culture, mission, and values.
- Attend and complete New CEO Institute through Y USA (if applicable) and YMCA Organizational Leadership
- Certification (or 3 years to attain from date of hire).
- Willingness to travel.
Key Deliverables:
Develop, Implement and Lead Alliance Strategic Plan: Work effectively with CEOs, and key Alliance staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the Ys in the Alliance and includes defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management
Be a Strategic Partner: Demonstrate competence through discovery, knowledge of the work, and the ability to translate organizational needs of Ys into strategic work. Ability to access those accountable for achieving results; build and ensure credibility with Y leaders (CEOs, colleagues, other Alliance Leads, YUSA staff); build trust for delivering results, work with integrity, and support the Y’s values. Key competencies: Developing Self and Others, Critical Thinking and Decision-Making, Change Leadership, Communication and Influence, Collaboration, Emotional Maturity, Project Management
Fiscal Leadership: Manage the Alliance’s financial resources by using high-level analysis focusing on budget and forecast trends, growth, and overall Alliance sustainability. Consistently lead the Alliance to balance or surplus operations. Grow earned revenue and grant funding from various sources (local Ys, Y-USA, state, federal, foundation, etc.) that further the work and impact of the Alliance and its YMCAs. Ensure that all funding is executed and accurately reported to the Alliance Board and funders. Key competencies: Fiscal Management, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, and Developing Self & Others
Be Seen as a Collaborator: Create sustainable relationships within the Alliance, Y Movement, Y-USA, and with other stakeholder organizations in service to the Alliance, the Ys, and the communities the Y serves which could include state agencies, legislative representatives and staff, membership organizations and other stakeholders as identified. Makes collaboration an organizational priority. Positions the Alliance as a convener and collaborator to address critical social, strategic, and operational issues identified by Ys. Executes strategic alliances with other Alliances, Y-USA, and statewide partners to benefit the communities that Ys serve. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership, Functional Expertise
Position the Alliance as a Vital Partner for Community and Statewide Change: Serve as an ambassador for the mission, purpose, and vision for the Alliance. Possess the ability to develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, while always upholding the highest standards and values of the Y and the Alliance. Ensure the Alliance is seen as one of the leading nonprofits committed to strengthening community by connecting elected officials and community stakeholders to the Alliance, and each other. Serve to educate and inform Board Members who are the key stakeholders so they can advocate as a collective unit. Key competencies: Communication & Influence, Engaging Community, Collaboration
Steward State and Federal Funding Efforts: Identify and determine potential state, regional, and federal funding opportunities that support the Alliance’s strategic plan and the work of Y’s collectively in the Alliance. Key competencies: Critical Thinking and Decision-Making, Engaging Community, Communication & Influence
