Network for Young Adult Success and its signature program, UtmostU, is a Chicago-based non-profit organization that facilitates a network of school and community organizations that are committed to the long-term success of their high school graduates through post-secondary paths. Through technology, holistic support, external partnerships, and constant engagement, the UtmostU network works to propel young adults from underrepresented backgrounds toward their career goals. Our mission is to empower young adults with the necessary support to secure post-secondary degrees, credentials, and strong starting careers.

In 2019, UtmostU served two affiliates and 250 students. The organization now serves 16 affiliates and over 800 young adults. Facilitating the current impact is UtmostU’s diverse team of seven full-time staff who possess strong experience in system building, data management, college environments, coaching, career services, and young adult support. The organization is seeking an Executive Director to lead the team and the continued scaling of UtmostU’s impact. As the leader of the organization, the Executive Director provides the vision, strategy, internal management, and external development necessary for UtmostU to continue to thrive and serve an ever-growing population of young adults. 

Reporting to UtmostU’s Board of Directors, the key responsibilities of the Executive Director include, but are not limited to, the following duties:

Vision & Strategy Setting

• Leading with executive-level acumen and an inspiring vision that confidently and authentically facilitates the scaling of UtmostU’s impact 
• Translating a bold vision into a clear plan for continued growth and impact that guides and informs program development, fundraising, staff development, and opportunities for UtmostU’s young adults
• Setting priorities, delegating responsibilities, and providing systems of support and accountability to ensure results from a high-performing team
• Inclusively engaging young adults, affiliates, partners, and staff in the vision setting and strategy for the organization’s scaled impact
• Demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias

External Championing

• Representing UtmostU in public forums, promoting the organization's mission and goals, and building awareness of the impact of the organization’s work
• Growing revenue and fundraising to support current and future initiatives, as the most visible leader of UtmostU’s work
• Cultivating and managing relationships with key partners, including schools, colleges, education non-profits, corporations, and other stakeholders to ensure continued growth and opportunities
• Maintaining and growing a portfolio of high wealth/high opportunity individual, corporate, and foundation donors; and similar opportunities for fundraising
• Engaging and inspiring the Board as active ambassadors of UtmostU and their critical role in supporting the mission and vision of the organization
• Ensuring the integrity and growth of the UtmostU brand, including the development and execution of external communication efforts

Organizational Leadership

• Leading excellence in all facets of the organization including programming, finances, team management, fundraising, board management, internal operations, and external relations
• Developing and implementing systems and processes to ensure UtmostU operates efficiently and effectively, using data to track progress and make informed decisions
• Ensuring the organization operates within its budget and manages financial resources in a responsible and transparent manner
• Fostering a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture within UtmostU, ensuring team members feel valued, engaged, and supported in their work while achieving high levels of performance in their individual roles and as a part of a team

The ideal candidate has both a proven ability to lead non-profit organizations and is passionate about helping young adults of color achieve their educational and career goals.

The specific skills, experiences, and mindsets of an ideal candidate include:

• At least 7-10 years of experience achieving measurable success as a non-profit executive, ideally in the CEO or Executive Director seat
• Deep knowledge and experience working with young adults in pursuit of post-secondary success, including familiarity with emerging career-pathway opportunities
• Experience scaling an organization by developing new partnerships and fundraising to support a strategy for growth
• A deeply-rooted commitment to young adults of color and first-generation college-goers
• An executive and mission-driven presence, including an ability to effectively convey the mission and priorities to a range of constituents including donors, partner organizations, youth, families, the Board of Directors, and staff
• Demonstrated understanding of how to run a financially sound organization
• Success in cultivating and engaging a Board to further an organization’s mission
• An abiding commitment and track record of motivating and inspiring others to achieve impact through creativity, teamwork, accountability, goal-setting, prioritization, and the leveraging of individual strengths to meet organizational goals
• Bold optimism and vision for the impact ahead at UtmostU

All candidates must:

• Have earned a bachelor’s degree; a master’s degree is preferred
• Be authorized to work in the United States
• Live in the Greater Chicagoland area with the ability to commute to the downtown office and meet with local partners on a regular basis

Compensation & Benefits

UtmostU is committed to paying a competitive salary commensurate with experience.  In addition to a competitive salary, UtmostU offers a full benefits package that includes flexible work times, an educational reimbursement program, professional development, team outings, and home-office support. 

UtmostU works in a hybrid office environment with co-working space conveniently located near mass transit in downtown Chicago. 

Application Process

All interested applicants should apply online. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

UtmostU works for a world where young adults from all communities and backgrounds reach their full potential. At the core of our work, we advocate for equity every day as we strive to empower all young adults, including those from historically marginalized communities, to fulfill their post-secondary educational goals and career aspirations. As such, as an employer, UtmostU celebrates, supports, and thrives on the diversity of its employees. UtmostU is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.