Leadership Council San Mateo County, Executive Director

Edgility Search•South San Francisco, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Leadership Council San Mateo County strengthens leaders and fosters public-private sector relationships to spark innovation, civic engagement, and positive impact across the region. Founded in 2020, Leadership Council SMC was built on the belief that strong, connected communities are cultivated through cross-sector relationships, shared purpose, intentional leadership, and sustained effort. In just a few years, it has grown from a start-up nonprofit into a respected countywide civic leadership organization with strong program demand, a growing alumni network, and deep relationships across sectors. The organization is now preparing for a transition from founder-led leadership to a professional Executive Director model. The Executive Director will direct all efforts to grow and sustain LCSMC’s impact and ensure a clear path to long-term financial stability. The Executive Director will provide strategic, financial, relational, and cultural leadership as Leadership Council SMC enters its next phase of growth. This highly relational role is well suited for a trusted convener, experienced fundraiser, and disciplined organizational leader who is energized by civic leadership and cross-sector collaboration, and who moves at a pace suited to a maturing organization. The Executive Director will also need the judgment to remain a credible, nonpartisan convener, engaging on important county issues while staying above the political fray. The Executive Director will work closely with the Board committees, founding Co-Presidents, staff, alumni, sponsors, and community partners to guide the organization to a successful and ever-evolving future.

Requirements

5-10 years of nonprofit leadership experience (ED, CEO, or senior leadership level).
Strong fund development track record, including donor cultivation, stewardship, and institutional fundraising.
Experience managing staff and building a healthy team culture.
Experience working effectively with a nonprofit board.
Strong financial management and communication skills.
Knowledge of San Mateo County or a similar regional cross-sector environment.
Experience with leadership development, civic education, or cohort-based programs.
Experience leading an organization through founder transition or organizational change.
Prior participation in Leadership Council SMC or a comparable program.
A strategic thinker who can take a strong young organization into its next stage of maturity, distinguishing mission-aligned growth from distracting opportunity.
A relationship-centered leader who understands that trust is Leadership Council SMC's most important currency, and can build relationships with leaders across sectors.
A disciplined leader who turns ideas into plans, budgets, and results, and a collaborative manager who develops staff and creates clarity without micromanaging.
A leader who navigates ambiguity and transition with humility, decisiveness, and follow-through, respecting the organization's founding history while bringing fresh perspective.
A clear, confident communicator and compelling ambassador for LCSMC, grounded in respect for public service, civic leadership, and cross-sector collaboration.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Board of Directors to implement, monitor, and refine Leadership Council SMC’s strategic plan, helping the organization evolve from founder-led to professionally led.
Assess growth opportunities with discipline, ensuring new initiatives align with mission, community needs, organizational capacity, and financial sustainability.
Build systems and structures that enable growth while preserving relationships, quality, culture, and mission.
Lead with an equity-centered, community-responsive lens.
Lead and grow a diversified revenue strategy across foundations, corporate sponsors, government partners, individual and alumni giving, and earned revenue.
Cultivate and steward major funders and donors directly, and activate Board members as fundraising partners.
Ensure long-term financial stability.
Oversee the Leadership CORPS and Emerging Leaders Immersion Programs, LEAD Local, and the Community Acceleration Projects (CAP) model, ensuring quality, relevance, and financial sustainability.
Serve as a credible, welcoming public presence at programs, preserving the sense of belonging and connection that defines the participant and alumni experience, and uses participant and alumni feedback to guide what to grow, simplify, or sunset.
Lead, coach, and develop the staff team, building a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability.
Serve as the primary staff partner to the Board, preparing clear materials and supporting effective governance.
Steward the alumni network as a source of connection, leadership, and support.
Represent Leadership Council SMC as a trusted ambassador with public officials, funders, private sector partners and community partners.
Oversee budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, and operational systems.
Guide communications and storytelling that build stakeholder trust, especially through the transition.
Build trust with staff, Board, founders, alumni, and partners.
Work with the founders and Board to clarify transition timelines and decision rights.
Learn the Immersion Program model deeply enough to protect quality while shifting away from founder dependence.
Develop a fund development plan with near-term and long-term targets.
Establish a strong Board partnership and clear internal systems for reporting and accountability.