Take Stock in Children
Chief Executive Officer
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Hybrid)
Base Salary: $175,000-$200,000
BACKGROUND
The Organization
Take Stock in Children of Florida (TSIC, Inc.) was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit organization in Florida by business and community leaders as a public-private partnership to break down barriers to opportunity and instill hope in economically disadvantaged youth. Since then, the organization has fueled the college dreams and served over 45,000 low-income, at-risk students throughout Florida. Take Stock's model of support provides services to more than 15,000 students annually through two main programs: the Take Stock in Children 6th – 12th grade mentoring and college readiness program, and the Take Stock in College and Career degree attainment or career certification program. Our network of 45 local program partners work closely with community and corporate leaders, school districts, and philanthropic organizations to increase college readiness, enrollment, and postsecondary degree attainment or career certification among Florida’s academically qualified low-income students.
The Position
As Take Stock in Children's longest-serving President and CEO will retire at the end of 2025, the Board of Directors seeks a focused, visionary, and dynamic leader to serve as Chief Executive Officer. Alongside the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for developing the growth strategy for the organization and implementing key priorities that align to the organization’s mission. A key responsibility of this role will be serving as the Brand Ambassador, chief representative, and messenger to articulate Take Stock in Children's mission and vision across Florida and beyond in the business, education, donor, and nonprofit communities and within the halls of government. The board seeks a long-term leader who will raise the profile of TSIC, helping the organization become more widely recognized as the premier mentoring and scholarship organization in the state of Florida. The Chief Executive Officer must have proven experience in building and maintaining relationships with key elected and other government officials, including state and federal officials and applicable state agencies, and must be able to keep elected officials informed and guide the organization's overall legislative strategy, including securing and increasing state and federal funding opportunities. A key focus will be increasing donations from for-profit businesses, foundations, family offices, and individuals.
To ensure both the organization’s external positioning and internal execution of the mission, the Board of Directors strategically split the President and CEO function, role, and responsibilities. The CEO will focus on strategic growth, external engagement, legislative advocacy, and fundraising, serving as the organization’s primary ambassador, external leader, and fundraiser. The President/COO will lead internal operations, program execution, and day-to-day management of the state office and affiliate network. Together, the CEO and President/COO form a collaborative leadership team, ensuring both the external positioning and internal execution of TSIC’s mission. The CEO maintains overall oversight of the organization and reports directly to the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer and the President shall work with the Board Chair to ensure a highly effective Board.
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Chief Executive Officer develops and implements the strategic direction, works to secure and increase state legislative funding, raises private donor and philanthropic funding, and serves as the principal brand ambassador of Take Stock in Children, responsible for articulating the vision and mission to appropriate audiences.
Brand Ambassador
· Position the organization as an influential thought-leader in public-private partnerships for mentoring, college-readiness, and education organizations, speaking on relevant issues and trends, authoring op-eds, and papers, and presenting at state and national conferences.
· Serve as a compelling and persuasive spokesperson, effectively communicating TSIC’s mission to diverse audiences.
· Forge strong relationships with external stakeholders, representing TSIC in convenings, peer organization events, fostering strategic alliances and furthering our influence.
· Champion a unified external identity across the affiliate network, working with the President/COO to ensure message alignment.
Fund Development
· Lead efforts to diversify TSIC’s revenue streams through new funding models, including multi-year strategic partnerships and mission-aligned investments that ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the organization.
· Drive the strategic vision for fund development, setting ambitious goals, inspiring, and resourcing the team to achieve them.
· Serve as a dynamic front-line fundraiser, cultivating relationships and securing support from individual, foundation, and corporate donors to fuel TSIC’s work.
· Assist in the preparation of grant proposals and budgets.
Public Policy and Legislative Engagement
· Develop and communicate Take Stock in Children’s legislative agenda in collaboration with lobbyists, engaging members and stakeholders in advocacy efforts.
· Maintain and strengthen Take Stock in Children’s relationships with the Florida Department of Education, the Florida State University System Board of Governors, and Florida’s executive and legislative branches to preserve existing legislative funding and secure additional funding opportunities.
· Represent TSIC at key legislative sessions, briefings, and education-focused coalitions to elevate visibility and secure bipartisan support.
Strategic Visioning and Leadership
· In partnership with the Board of Directors, chart a strategic course for Take Stock in Children, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and long-term goals.
· Leverage partnerships to benefit the Take Stock in Children network.
· In close partnership with the President/COO, steer the organization’s financial strategy to ensure stability and sustainability, securing TSIC’s financial well-being and building growth in the years ahead.
· Monitor trends and emerging issues in education and economic mobility, ensuring TSIC remains innovative and responsive to the evolving needs of students.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate for the CEO position possesses the following competencies:
Additional Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree required.
· Experience leading an organization or serving as the principal of an organization, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
· Experience serving as the ambassador, voice, or face of an organization to external stakeholders with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
· Experience in leading network model organization or company.
· Experience in strategic planning and implementation.
· Experience with and understanding of the Florida Legislative Appropriations process.
· Proven experience in fundraising and donor engagement.
· Understanding of Florida education issues.
WHO WE ARE
Work Environment
This is a hybrid job opportunity offering a flexible work location within the state of Florida. Regular travel throughout the state will be required to visit local Take Stock in Children program partners, meet with donors, stakeholders, partners, and promote Take Stock in Children at conferences and events. Additionally, this job will require travel to meet with elected officials in their districts and the state capital of Tallahassee. The CEO should also have a regular presence in the Fort Lauderdale office and will set expectations for their days in office alongside the Board and President/COO. The role will require no less than 50% travel.
Our Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission: The mission of Take Stock in Children is to break the cycle of poverty through education.
Vision: The vision of Take Stock in Children is to serve as the premiere provider of mentoring, college success, and scholarship support for Florida’s underrepresented, economically disadvantaged youth.
Values: Take Stock in Children is guided by values embodied in the work we do, who we hire, and what we create.
· Innovation: We believe in providing creative solutions for our community so that we can continuously adapt to the changing needs in education and serve as a leader in academic achievement.
· Collaboration: We believe in building strong collaborative partnerships to ensure that every student we serve is career ready.
· Respect: We believe in treating others with equality, dignity, compassion, and integrity to ensure each contribution is valued for fostering an environment of family.
· Accountability: We believe in reaching goals with passion in a thorough and timely way that empowers others to do the same.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary: $175,000-$200,000 base salary, with a competitive discretionary bonus based on performance.
Benefits
· Generous Paid Time Off
· Monthly Cell phone and internet stipend
· 403(b) Retirement Plan.
· Dental Insurance.
· Disability insurance.
· Health insurance.
· Life insurance.
· Vision insurance.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SEARCH PROCESS
If you are interested in this position, please click here. Interested candidates should submit, as soon as possible, materials including the following:
· A cover letter indicating why they are particularly interested in and qualified for the position.
· A current resume
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority application deadline of June 30. All applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their application.
We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications outlined above. If you are selected to move forward for an initial screening call, we expect you to hear from us by the end of June.
Kennedy A. Turner
Talent Consultant
Dave Yi
Associate Talent Consultant
Submit an application HERE.