Resilience - Executive Director

Noetic Search•Chicago, IL

81d•$150,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Resilience, formerly known as Rape Victim Advocates (RVA), is seeking an Executive Director to provide strategic leadership, financial sustainability, and overall management of the organization. Founded in 1974, Resilience is the only stand-alone rape crisis center in Illinois, dedicated to ending rape culture and empowering sexual assault survivors through advocacy, education, and healing. The organization provides free services to survivors, including trauma therapy, medical and legal advocacy, crisis intervention, education, and professional training. Resilience also engages in community and institutional advocacy to improve the treatment of survivors and advance positive change in policies and public attitudes. The organization has a current operating budget of $3M and serves over 1,500 survivors annually, with a reach to tens of thousands more through public education. The next Executive Director will build on the organization's strengths while addressing areas needing greater stability and infrastructure, with a key priority being to reduce reliance on government funding and build a more diversified and sustainable revenue model. This role requires a leader who can foster a culture of philanthropy, strengthen financial planning, expand private donor bases, and ensure the organization's long-term viability. Additionally, the Executive Director will strengthen the foundation for growth by assessing staffing, structure, systems, and management practices, and will enhance Resilience's brand and partnerships to position it as a leading voice in the field. The position involves external leadership and visibility, serving as a spokesperson and advocate for survivors at local, state, regional, and national levels. The Executive Director will cultivate a culture grounded in equity, inclusion, belonging, accountability, and respect, ensuring diverse perspectives are incorporated into decision-making.

Requirements

Demonstrated nonprofit leadership experience.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university required.
Minimum of 10 years of senior-level management experience preferred.
Demonstrated success building a broad base of financial support and securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, and public sources.
Demonstrated fiscal leadership, including financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, fund accounting, data analysis, and reporting.
Understand nonprofit structure, governance, and operations and have experience working with or reporting to a Board of Directors.
Build a strong, cohesive team and create an environment where staff feel valued, supported, heard, and accountable.
Demonstrated record of sound personnel, fiscal, technology, facilities, and business management.
Understand how strong operations and infrastructure support high-quality, equitable, and accessible services.
Experience representing an organization externally and speaking with media is highly valued.
Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, anti-oppression, and racial justice.
Ability to understand financial statements and use financial information to plan, monitor, and evaluate performance.
Experience with budget preparation, fund accounting, data analysis, and reporting.
Business and personnel management experience.
Sound senior-level financial leadership.
Excellent communication skills, personal credibility, and the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
Collaborative, innovative leader with demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic and business plans, building consensus around major initiatives, and working closely with a Board of Directors.
Ability to facilitate open, respectful communication with staff, Board members, survivors, funders, community partners, volunteers, and other constituents.
Emotional intelligence, financial discipline, and inclusive leadership.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree, such as an MBA, MSW, or master's degree in counseling or a related field, preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership, financial sustainability, and overall management of Resilience.
Develop and execute strategic directions and policies.
Strengthen revenue and private philanthropy, including developing a comprehensive revenue diversification strategy that reduces reliance on government funding.
Oversee programs and services, ensuring high-quality, trauma-informed, survivor-centered programs.
Ensure the agency's overall well-being and sustainability by securing the resources necessary to sustain and expand operations.
Ensure compliance with Board-adopted policies and applicable regulations and laws.
Cultivate a culture grounded in equity, inclusion, belonging, accountability, and respect.
Foster an environment in which diverse perspectives and lived experiences are actively sought and incorporated into decision-making.
Lead efforts to diversify revenue, strengthen donor relationships and stewardship, increase private philanthropy, and develop a sustainable culture of fundraising.
Provide the Board with clear, timely information about financial performance, risks, opportunities, and tradeoffs.
Expand individual, foundation, corporate, and other private sources of support.
Deepen relationships with existing donors and engage Board members as ambassadors, relationship-builders, and fundraisers.
Evaluate promising earned-revenue opportunities, including the potential learning management system.
Assess staffing, structure, systems, processes, and management practices to support sustainable growth.
Establish clear priorities, ensure accountability, strengthen communication and decision-making, and make thoughtful investments in people and infrastructure.
Establish a productive Board partnership, create appropriate channels for communication and accountability, and help staff and Board members understand their respective responsibilities and work toward shared goals.
Help articulate the meaning and breadth of the Resilience brand and position the agency as a leading voice in the field of sexual and gender-based violence.
Strengthen strategic alliances with sister organizations, build coalitions for legislative advocacy, deepen community relationships, and expand Resilience's visibility.
Serve as a highly visible spokesperson and advocate for survivors through education, advocacy, public speaking, media engagement, convenings, and participation in conversations at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
Represent Resilience thoughtfully in complex and politically charged environments and engage effectively with survivors, staff, donors, public officials, community partners, media, and national leaders in the field.
Hire, develop, and retain diverse talent; address conflict constructively; incorporate diverse perspectives; and create accountability for shared values.
Ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, survivor-centered programs and services.
Expand program reach and impact while increasing public understanding of the root causes of sexual and gender-based violence.
Drive a culture of philanthropy and growth in private funds.
Ensure organizational stability ahead of growth strategies.
Lead with humility, integrity, and emotional intelligence.
Build consensus while making timely and difficult decisions.
Navigate complex and sensitive issues with courage and compassion.
Foster accountability and continuous learning.
Adapt priorities as community and program needs evolve.
Develop and execute long-range plans.
Communicate clearly, consistently, and sensitively.
Coach and develop others.
Be calm under pressure, open to new and established ideas, and intentional about soliciting and incorporating team input.