Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT UTEC

UTEC is a nationally recognized organization for justice-involved young adults. The program. starts behind the walls of correctional facilities and via intensive street outreach/gang peacemaking and transitions into an intensive program in the community post-release. The nature of our educational services, wraparound support and counseling, social enterprises/workforce development, organizing/policy work, training institute, and innovative partnerships creates a vast array of impacts in the lives of the individuals and communities we serve, and beyond.

In 1999, UTEC was founded as the result of an organizing movement driven by young people to develop their own teen center in response to gang violence. In 2010, after ten years in operation as a drop-in center and safe space for young people of all ages, UTEC staff engaged in a Theory of Change process that led to a programmatic restructuring to provide intensive, integrated services for the most disconnected youth ages 17-25. UTEC decided to continue the organization’s gang prevention work and education programming, as well as expand its employment and transitional coaching services.

In 2011, UTEC began construction to expand and renovate its youth center in downtown Lowell to accommodate increased enrollment and grow our social enterprises. By 2016, UTEC had expanded its social enterprises into three industry areas: Mattress Recycling, Woodworking, and Food Services. In 2017, the 2Gen Center @ UTEC opened its doors to provide onsite early education for young children of UTEC’s enrolled young adults. Since 2019, UTEC has celebrated the grand opening of new program sites in Haverhill and Lawrence. In the same year, UTEC was selected as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ provider for a Gun Violence Prevention Training Center for Excellence, which is now the premier training facility in the state for addressing gun violence through both a public health and racial equity lens.

In FY22, UTEC served over 600 young adults including a range of outreach activities, and approximately 150 young adults intensively through our comprehensive program. During this fiscal year, 75% of young adults at UTEC avoided arrest. With over 20 years of experience, UTEC is a catalyst, innovating in the way we serve young adults (ages 17-25) who are criminally and/or gang involved in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley.

Today, UTEC is in the process of refreshing its TOC after over a decade of being on the leading edge of the nonprofit sector in terms of its data-driven learning orientation and usage of the Theory of Change framework as a basis for articulating its programmatic strategy and grounding its performance management practices. For more information, please visit our website.
 

THE OPPORTUNITY

UTEC is seeking a charismatic, inspirational, and community-grounded CEO to advance the organization's mission to ignite and nurture the ambition of disconnected young people to trade violence and poverty for economic success. Based in Massachusetts and serving the towns of Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill, UTEC’s unique, comprehensive program model shows “madd love” to young adults through multiple chances, across multiple years, and with access to multiple pathways. UTEC serves justice involved youth with their successful programs including Street Outreach & Violence Intervention, Behind the Walls Programming, Transitional Coaching, Workforce Development & Social Enterprises/Education, offering young adults ages 17-25 a wide array of wrap around services to support them where they are while propelling them forward.

The CEO will amplify the approach upon which UTEC was founded: centering young adults in all the work that we carry out. The CEO will be focused on instilling the value of community in and out of the building, while ensuring UTEC has the systems and practices in place to activate principles of equity throughout the organization. Through oversight of all day-to-day operations, the CEO will be dedicated to leading the diverse team at UTEC live out the core values of the organization:

• Assuming goodness behind everyone’s actions.
• Show madd love, unconditionally accepting each person.
• Offer everyone a clean slate, never giving up.
• Carry out respectful curiosity, always seeking out moments to connect.
• Be a sponge, actively seeking feedback.
• Embody contagious passion in all they do.

The CEO will directly supervise the Chief Program Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief of Staff, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Senior Director of Social Enterprises, and an Executive Assistant.

Upon the hiring of the new CEO, the current longtime CEO will move forward to Executive Chairperson/President - a role in which he will focus on external responsibilities: building UTEC’s capacity in crucial areas such as fundraising and policy. The Executive Chairperson/President will also be available to support the new CEO in leading the organization’s day-to-day work, in partnership with a strong leadership team. The current CEO will serve in this new role of Executive Chair for up to 12 months to help provide the new CEO with an ample onboarding and transition plan. After this period, the new CEO will report directly to the Executive Board, and the current CEO will serve as a senior advisor. The next CEO will partner effectively with the Executive Chairperson/President to effectively reach organizational goals while preparing to eventually take on those responsibilities in full.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Passion for the Mission

The CEO sought for UTEC must embody a fervent dedication to the organization's mission and possess a profound appreciation for the unique characteristics of the cities and neighborhoods and communities the organization serves in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. This leader should possess an authentic zeal to improve the quality of life within the region, driven by a sincere desire to serve and connect with all young people. Experienced in collaborative efforts, the CEO will bring a deep understanding of the power of connection and services tailored to justice-involved youth. Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to progress, they must exhibit a capacity for attentive listening, an eagerness to advocate and motivate, and a steadfast dedication to collaboration, acting as a catalyst for positive change.

The CEO will embody empathy, treating all partners with respect while remaining steadfastly aligned with UTEC's values. The CEO will demonstrate a dedication to social justice and a passion for serving young people, centering their efforts on the experiences of marginalized youth. Operating as a curious and humble learner, they must be agile and resilient, while keeping a lens on culture building. A good fit to work in partnership with the board and staff, they will bring high energy to UTEC spaces, especially in interactions with young people. Their excellent communication, facilitation skills, and emotional intelligence will further enable them to effectively hold individuals and teams accountable, ensuring equity and respect throughout the organization.

Strategic and Visionary Leader

The CEO will provide clear leadership, ensuring measurable impact in an ever-changing and unprecedented time. They should be a gifted communicator with high emotional intelligence and a healthy sense of humor, capable of commanding a room while knowing when to allow|6 others to take the lead. Additionally, the CEO should excel at high-level strategic thinking, planning, and implementation, alongside possessing exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Their ability to build and motivate teams, while modeling humility, strength, and adaptation, will be paramount. The CEO will carry ultimate decision-making power and responsibility over internal organizational priorities. Collaborating with the agency's leadership team, they will work to create and represent unified leadership. They will work closely with the Board, ensuring it is updated and provided with opportunities to offer strategic counsel on overall programs and operations, while consistently prioritizing youth voices throughout the organization.

The CEO will bring years of experience in executive leadership roles, along with expertise in relevant issues, populations, or subject matter areas. They should have a proven track record of leading diverse teams and experience with social enterprises. A background in policy advocacy and system-change strategies is preferred. Being both a strategic thinker and a systems thinker will further enable them to navigate complex challenges effectively.

Champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

The CEO will play a pivotal role in ensuring that addressing the needs and listening to the voices of UTEC young adults remain at the forefront of the agency's work. They will be responsible for representing and holding others accountable to UTEC's core values, while continually monitoring the environment to ensure a vibrant, inclusive culture that fosters a sense of belonging. The CEO will influence the ongoing improvement of the UTEC team's project management capacity, ensuring that programs are executed at the highest quality. This includes demonstrating a balance of visioning and execution with meticulous attention to detail. Collaborating with UTEC leadership, external partners, and staff, the CEO will drive and monitor progress on key diversity, equity, and inclusivity initiatives. Passionate about embedding DEI in organizational culture, policies, and systems, the CEO understands the structures and policies that encourage inclusivity. Their credibility and effectiveness in engaging diverse communities will be instrumental in advancing these initiatives across the organization.

Operational and Financial Expertise

The CEO must be a proven leader with extensive experience in managing staff as well as operations and organizational finance. They should possess the capacity to clearly articulate UTEC’s strategy and inspire an exceptional, mission-driven staff to bring that vision to life. Embracing a relationship-first mentality, the CEO will lead through listening, empathy, and respect, fostering a strong organizational culture. With well-defined priorities, effective communication, and adept delegation skills, they will promote collaboration across functional areas and ensure that all staff understand their role in achieving UTEC’s strategic goals. The ideal candidate will bring experience in building and collaborating with an engaged Board of Directors, supporting them in fulfilling their governance responsibilities in a productive, efficient, and collaborative manner. Additionally, the CEO will bring a demonstrated ability to ensure the financial sustainability and growth of the organization through strategic budgeting, effective financial management, and sound investment policy. The CEO will lead the overall strategic direction, directly supporting a new Theory of Change (TOC) and leading an upcoming Strategic Planning process. They will provide guidance and support to the Chief Program Officer and Chief Operating Officer to identify priorities and ensure that progress toward all organizational goals remains on track. Constantly monitoring the overall quality of performance data, they will set and achieve continuous improvement goals.

The CEO will champion a data-driven approach to achieving and staying accountable to youth outcomes, identifying and implementing ways to deliver innovative programming to young adults. They will ensure that everyone in the organization understands key metrics to identify trends and make decisions.. Collaborating with the Chief Finance Officer on UTEC's annual budget, they will ensure the organization's financial viability, sustainability, and offer resources to meet current and projected program growth. Additionally, experience in championing internal performance management will further enhance the organization's effectiveness. The CEO will also work hand-in-hand with the Chief People Officer to continually advance the organization's cultural, human resource, talent acquisition and DEI initiatives. Additionally, experience in championing internal performance management will further enhance the organization's effectiveness.

Collaborative Relationship Builder & Fundraiser

The CEO will be a charismatic communicator and serve as the organization’s ambassador, actively seeking opportunities to showcase the organization's work, impact, and value to the community. Possessing exceptional listening and interpersonal skills, the CEO will build strong support among all key constituents. The next CEO will provide leadership and management support to direct reports in a manner that incorporates reflective practice, modeling, goal setting, and consistent feedback. They will identify opportunities for professional development that support the growth of management and front-line staff, taking an active role in building and leading high-performing teams and in attracting, retaining, and developing a passionate team at UTEC. Additionally, they will demonstrate strong networking abilities and a track record in fundraising, both from individual donors, philanthropy, and the public. Being an effective "dot connector," they will embrace a relentless and creative approach to blending strategy with relationship-building to help advance the overall fundraising efforts of the organization. The CEO will also build strong relationships at the state and local levels, working to advance the mission of UTEC through policy and advocacy work.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10 years successful senior leadership experience at a social impact organization leading a high-functioning, diverse team.
• Flexible with their work schedule, including being available some nights and weekends for events.
• Bring a healthy sense of humor, a humble demeanor yet confident disposition and an ability to have fun while working hard.
• Background of success in process improvement, change leadership, and change management.
• Experience in maturing organizational policies, systems, and processes.
• Leadership depth, maturity, and collaborative skills to garner trust and confidence of all staff, young adults, external constituents, and the Board of Directors.
• Ability and willingness to partner with and work alongside the Chair of the Board and Executive Chairperson/President.
• Passion for supporting the professional development of direct reports through coaching, mentoring and a strengths-based approach.
• Analytic and decisive decision-making skills with the ability to prioritize and communicate to staff key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organizational goals.
• A proven commitment/experience in advancing DEI principles and practices.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS OVERVIEW

UTEC offers a competitive salary and benefits package for employees. Salary for the role is currently anticipated to range from $200,000-$225,000 - commensurate with experience. UTEC offers a competitive benefits package that Includes:

• Retirement 403B Plan
• UTEC provides $50,000 of Life Insurance for staff members at no cost.
• UTEC provides a range of competitive medical and dental benefits and access to vision insurance.
• Four weeks paid vacation is provided for all new employees,(3 standard weeks and one week of agency-wide closure between the Christmas and New Year holidays. Vacation increases over time.)
• UTEC offers funds towards the down payment for first-time homebuyers.

UTEC is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.