Posted on November 6, 2012

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Executive Director

Peninsula Family Service is seeking an exceptional, visionary and compassionate leader to guide the organization as it continues to provide vital services to children, families and older adults.

For over 60 years, Peninsula Family Service (formerly Family Service Agency of San Mateo County) has been transforming lives by offering innovative and effective programs designed to empower those in need to realize their full potential and become self-sufficient members of the community. Peninsula Family Service provides a comprehensive array of multi-generational programs to children, families and older adults who need a hand up regardless of their ability to pay. Enhancing dignity and self-sufficiency are natural outcomes for those the organization serves, while offering effective resources and solutions to reach their respective goals. This lasting impact on the individual, families and the community is the foundation of Peninsula Family Service’s mission.

With the support of the community, highly trained staff, dedicated auxiliaries and the Board of Directors, Peninsula Family Services has grown to assist nearly 20,000 people annually. Programs are offered in four languages to serve the diverse and changing demographics of the community. Headquartered in San Mateo, California with numerous sites throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, Peninsula Family Service is an invaluable resource to people needing quality affordable childcare, to older adults needing tools and services to lead healthy, independent lives, and to adults who wish to improve their financial situation and establish stability for themselves and their families.

Peninsula Family Service has an annual operating budget of $11.2M. About 70% of its funding comes from local, state and federal sources. Support from foundations and individual giving account for 20% of the organization’s funds. Client fees make up most of the remainder of the operating fund. The organization’s endowment fund is currently valued at approximately $1.4M.

At present, Peninsula Family Service is managed by an Interim Executive Director who is providing focus and direction to the organization during this transitional period. The Board of Directors’ recruitment schedule anticipates that a new Executive Director will be named by the end of 2012.

OVERALL FUNCTION

Reporting to the Board of Directors through the Chair of the Board, the Executive Director will provide the overall leadership, direction, strategy and vision for the organization. Assisted by the management team and staff, he/she will manage the organization’s activities, programs, fundraising, operations and finances. The Executive Director will cultivate and nurture a healthy internal culture that values diverse viewpoints, participative decision making, and recognition of

individual contributions. The Executive Director’s primary responsibilities are to:

• Lead Peninsula Family Service with a long-range vision and strategy; increase awareness of the mission, programs, services and activities;
• Strengthen Peninsula Family Service financially by driving fundraising support and public revenue;
• Build a strong organizational culture and establish management practices which values transparency, collaboration, and quality communication; create a positive environment that promotes respect for all individuals;
• Ensure that programs continue to be of the highest quality and meet the changing needs of the community.
• The Executive Director will be the chief advocate for Peninsula Family Service programs and operations. The Executive Director is expected to speak knowledgeably, articulately and passionately about the organization and the people it serves.
• He or she is responsible for reaching fundraising goals established by the Board of Directors.
• Increases in funding, especially among major donors, will be important to future growth and critical to the success of the Executive Director.
• Additionally, the Executive Director will ensure that Peninsula Family Service builds and sustains solid relationships with political entities within its service area and maintains and cultivates new key partnerships throughout the region.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director will marshal the collective talent of the Peninsula Family Service staff and community to deliver quality services in fulfillment of its mission, and will expand the capacity, reach and effectiveness of programs in a financially responsible way. This includes:

LEADERSHIP & VISION

• Understand the evolving needs of children, families and older adults within the organization’s service area;
• Establish and model clear, transparent methods for communication within the organization; collaborate with the management team to develop and implement policies and procedures that are rational and consistent, and provide opportunities for discussion and training when changes are made;
• Foster and sustain a culture of appreciation, cooperation, trust, participative decision making, mutual support, teamwork, and integrity; value a collegial and team-oriented working environment with open lines of communication;
• In partnership with the Board of Directors, initiate an inclusive strategic planning process to assure that there is a long-range strategy which affirms Peninsula Family Service’s mission, develops goals and measures for success and identifies values that reflect how the organization operates; develop and communicate plans for implementation; track and report to Board and staff regularly on progress made toward achieving strategic goals;
• Promote the mission of Peninsula Family Service with passion, both internally and to the public, to increase awareness of its mission and its successes; ensure that attention is focused on strengthening relationships that support the organization.

FUND DEVELOPMENT

• Work with the Board to ensure a sustainable funding base for the organization; set fundraising goals, strategies and targets for all donor and funding sectors with particularattention to growing individual donor support in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties; communicate funding goals, strategies and progress to the Board and the staff;
• Strive to maximize government, foundation and other sources of available revenue;
• With the Board and staff, actively drive direct solicitations; seek to broaden fundraising activities in sophistication and scope as the organization’s work evolves; create regular initiatives to target diverse sources of revenue and funding; identify special donor cultivation opportunities;
• Market Peninsula Family Service effectively to build a broad and deep level of support in the community, with donors, and with other partners;
• Promote a culture of support for fundraising within Peninsula Family Service and among its auxiliaries so that each effort is invested in the success of the Fund Development goals.

PROGRAM AND SERVICES

• With the head of Programs, foster a strong service orientation that is innovative, compassionate and professional;
• Maintain high quality and cost-effective programs and services; lead the development and implementation of a strategic and tactical plan that will provide the necessary resources to sustain the organization and provide cohesion to programs;
• Design and implement an ongoing process for evaluating the impact of the organization’s work in achieving its mission; review programs to determine that they are needed, financially sustainable, and that Peninsula Family Service can provide them more effectively than other organizations;
• Convene relevant meetings that cross organizational boundaries, and include key partners, funders, and community leaders; where appropriate, develop cost-cutting projects and shared services in collaboration with other groups to advance Peninsula Family Service as a role model for collaborations that best serve children, families and older adults;
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of significant trends and developments in the field.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

• Develop and support a culture that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse, high quality staff; foster an environment where talent and skills are optimally utilized, positions are well-defined, training and professional development is offered, the potential for career growth is understood, and staff are valued for their hard work, subject matter expertise and commitment to Peninsula Family Service; provide assessment and mentoring of staff to support growth, productivity and high caliber performance; identify and address areas challenging the organization’s evolution and growth;
• Review the current organizational structure to assess how responsibilities should be assigned and the staff skills necessary to create a well-functioning, 21st Century operation;
• Ensure, through effective management, leadership and best practices, that the day-today operations are professionally and efficiently organized and administered; ensure administrative compliance with agency contracts, relevant employment laws, as well as meeting other legal requirements for the organization’s effective operation;
• With the head of Human Resources, oversee recruitment, retention, and evaluation of staff; ensure that staff receives appropriate ongoing training to effectively and efficiently serve Peninsula Family Service clientele; periodically review compensation and benefits to benchmark the organization against other Bay Area non-profits;
• With the head of Finance, understand the organization’s fiscal health; lead the budget development process and identify near-term goals and objectives for the next fiscal year; be accountable for the organization to adhere to a sustainable financial plan based on the budget approved by the Board; positively track financial performance to budget and operating plans; oversee internal and external controls in all aspects of programs and services; prepare financial and operating reports for the Board; establish an atmosphere of transparency and accountability in matters relating to the organization’s financial condition;
• Evaluate facilities maintenance to ensure a high quality environment for all operations;
• Identify how technology can be used in ways that benefit productivity and make the organization more efficient.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS, VISIBILITY AND COMMUNICATIONS

• Serve as an advocate and effective spokesperson on issues related to the mission of the organization and its clients; build on the public’s knowledge of Peninsula Family Service’s work; represent the organization before public agencies, foundation boards and other funders, community partners and other key organizations; ensure that the organization brand is recognized for innovative leadership, programs and services;
• Work to enhance the organization’s profile in the community and to generate potential new sources of support; seek to strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones that will benefit the organization;
• Review Peninsula Family Service’s communications materials to effectively convey the mission and values with clarity and consistency.

BOARD RELATIONS

• Secure the Board’s trust and confidence; keep the Board Chair informed of the organization’s operations; provide timely and concise financial and fundraising assessments;
• With the Board Chair, coordinate the efforts of various Board committees and task forces, develop Board meeting agendas, schedules, retreats and other activities; attend meetings; encourage Board members’ involvement in a range of Peninsula Family Service activities including fundraising;
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures as requested by the Board of Directors; implement approved Board policies, program goals and objectives; provide ongoing communication to the Board on critical matters related to Peninsula Family Service;
• Act as liaison between the Board and community organizations, public agencies, funding sources and other entities;
• Assist the Board in identifying and recruiting new Board members whose talents, backgrounds, commitment, and fundraising abilities are congruent with the needs and mission of Peninsula Family Service.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

• The Executive Director’s immediate priorities in the first 100 days will be to:
• Complete Executive team staffing by hiring Fund Development/Marketing and Human Resources executives;
• Thoroughly understand the budget, finances, cost structure and fund development activities; in March 2013 launch and lead the process to develop the budget and nearterm goals and objectives for the next fiscal year;
• Develop a measurable plan to establish a leadership presence internally and externally with staff, Board, funders, auxiliaries, community partners and networks, programs, sites, etc.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Executive Director will be an experienced leader with the following experiences and qualifications:

• Strong leadership skills including a variety of practical management techniques and tools; knowledge of non-profit best practices; and direct experience with change management during leadership transitions;
• Proven senior-level managerial and operational experience in organizations of similarly sized budgets and staff; financial and budgeting experience as an executive in the notfor- profit, public or private sectors; successful record of implementing strategic plans;
• A successful track record in attracting financial support from foundations, businesses, individuals and government sources; demonstrated results in personally cultivating and sustaining donors; experience managing funds from local, state and federal agencies would be beneficial;
• Deep-seated values in working with a culturally diverse staff, clientele and community; recruiting, developing and retaining a balanced workforce whose skills, cultures and languages spoken reflect the communities Peninsula Family Service serves;
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills; visible confidence as a public speaker and presenter; ability to work effectively with representatives, advocates and professionals from diverse backgrounds;
• Experience with Bay Area-based agencies and non-profit networks is desirable but not required;
• Thoughtful and strategic approach to building organizations and programs to address community needs;
• An advanced degree in a related field is preferred.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS<

• Curious, decisive and resourceful;
• Sets the bar high for him/herself and the team;
• Straight-forward, shares information easily, listens well and provides feedback when appropriate, imparts trust and integrity; open to different points of view;
• A high level of emotional intelligence; committed to developing staff and treating them with respect and kindness;
• A “doer” with a willingness to work hands-on without micromanaging; a high energy level, upbeat personality, can-do attitude; values and appreciates hard work and commitment;
• A social entrepreneur and risk-taker; a visionary who can see the possibilities of serving people more effectively through innovative programs and services; ambitious in identifying ways to grow the organization within its mission without jeopardizing operational stability;
• Results-oriented, adept at planning, prioritizing, organizing and following through; a team player who values and models working collaboratively but is not afraid to make difficult decisions and knows where the buck stops;
• An individual possessing patience and a sense of humor, to maintain balance and perspective.
• Compensation and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

Application Instructions

For more information or to submit application materials, please go to www.peninsulafamilyservice.org or contact: Lisa Grossman
(650) 323-3565
lisag@moppenheim.com
Barbara Kimport
(415)762-2648
barbarak@moppenheim.com