Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi has a commitment to creating a culture of safety.

The Opportunity

The Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi, with branch locations in Flowood, Clinton and Brandon, Mississippi, is seeking a dynamic, principled leader for its President & Chief Executive Officer, with a strong emphasis of YMCA Mission-driven programming and operations experience as well as strong fiscal management and fundraising skills. This YMCA, which recently reduced its debt burden, is poised for conservative, calculated growth and expansion of membership, and is seeking a new President & CEO to continue the organization down the path of fiscal responsibility while enhancing the Christian-driven mission through membership, programs and community outreach. The position of President and CEO of the Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi is an excellent opportunity for the right candidates to demonstrate their commitment to the values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith. This role is designed for a mission-oriented, exceptional servant leader who can further our reputation and help elevate the position of our YMCA as a valuable asset on our community.

Our Mission

To serve our community by practicing Christian principles through programs that build body, mind and spirit.

Position Description

The President & CEO must build trust and extend the breadth and depth of our YMCA’s reach across our service area. The President & CEO will lead collaborative efforts to grow and maintain productive working relationships in the community that enhance our reputation and further our mission and cause. This position requires strong skills and competencies, including membership and program growth, staff development, fundraising, fiscal stewardship and facilities management. The CEO will be a relationship builder who is visible in the community and active in the development of meaningful community partnerships and collaborations while continuing to demonstrate that our YMCA is an indispensable community asset. The President & CEO will work in cooperation with the Board of Directors to develop and implement a strategic plan that will guide our YMCA to new levels of quality and service to our community.

Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi Facts

Current Key Strategic Initiatives

Christian-Mission Focused Leadership; Membership Growth; Community Trust Building; Program Quality; Financial Development; Fiscal Responsibility.

Membership

We currently have 4,396 membership units and 9,380 members.

Branch Information

• Our YMCA has three branches serving diverse communities in the metro area.
• We currently operate with a product line leadership model designed to provide consistency in offerings and quality.
• A recent major debt reduction provides new and exciting opportunities.
• We served over 100,000 meals in 2021.

Programs

• Food Insecurity and Nutrition Initiatives
• School Age Child Care
• Day Camp
• Youth Sports
• Adult Sports
• Swim Lessons
• Land and Water Fitness
• Healthy Living Initiatives and Classes (balance, arthritis, LiveStrong, blood pressure, Parkinson’s, opioid education).

Annual Campaign

There has been no formal campaign (because of the large debt) in a number of years. With the recent debt elimination, a re-focus on fundraising (both annual campaign and otherwise) and raising the profile of the YMCA in the community is desired.

Staff

The program leadership staff members are young, energetic and eager for direction. They are highly qualified and highly mission focused.

Current Staff

15 FT (9 Exempt)

230 PT

Board of Directors

The Board currently has 11 members. The Board is highly engaged and clearly understand the business of operating the organization. They are a blend of leaders in their fields and are exceptional at not leaving their business hats at the door, like happens with so many non-profit boards. These Board members, gratefully, are very willing to ask the hard questions and move forward with hard decisions.

Board of Trustees

The organization also benefits from the experience, talent and expertise of its Board of Trustees, operating through a separate nonprofit entity known as The Heritage Club. The Heritage Club Board of Trustees currently consists of twelve individuals, who are all leaders in the community and state in business, civic and philanthropic matters. The members of the Board of Trustees all have long-standing ties to our organization and remain loyal servants of the YMCA and its mission. Over the years, the Board of Trustees has provided invaluable support to the organization, both operationally, as a sounding board offering advice with respect to material operational decisions, and financially, as a source of additional support for the organization’s needs. Cultivation of the relationship between the organization and the Board of Trustees should be a priority for the President and CEO.

Financial

Facility Maintenance: Facilities are clean and well cared for. Financial stress over a period of time has caused some deferred maintenance needs that will need to be prioritized. The goal of the organization is to make advances in membership services and community programming while avoiding burdensome indebtedness that hindered its operations for many years.

Population & Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 497,197 people, 180,556 households, and 127,704 families residing within the Jackson Metropolitan area. The racial makeup was 53.02% White, 45.29% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

Additional Important Information

Area Amenities and Community Benefits

The Jackson Metropolitan area is a wonderfully diverse and friendly, welcoming community. The State capital of Mississippi, Jackson is home to a variety of museums, historical landmarks, opera, theater, live music venues and some truly outstanding restaurants. It’s located within easy driving distance to the Gulf Coast, New Orleans and Memphis. Sitting at the crossroads of Interstates 20 and 55, and serviced by the Jackson – Medgar Willey Evers International Airport, Jackson is a natural and convenient jumping off point for travelers There are three major local universities in the immediate area. The metro Jackson is an area steeped in history from major civil war battles to significant civil rights milestones. The local reservoir provides many options for the water and fishing enthusiast. There are bike and jogging trails throughout the metro area. The area is also the home of the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The metro Jackson area also boasts a number of quality public and private educational opportunities for growing families, inclusive of the and the Rankin County Public School District and the Clinton Public School District, where our organization has branch locations, as well as the Madison County Public School District located in the immediate vicinity of our locations.

Minimum Criteria for Candidates:

Preferred Criteria for Candidates:

Key Skills and Abilities

Mission-Driven Leadership and Management Skills: Our Association is defined by our Mission Statement, and will always strive to utilize and emphasize Christian principles in the operation of the organization. The successful candidate will need to be an outward reflection to staff, membership and the community of our mission. Our next President & CEO will keep the organization’s mission at the center of their performance and all decision making.

Fiscal Management: The President and CEO must use high-level financial analysis to forecast financial trends, growth and stability, while consistently leading the organization to balanced or surplus operations by growing earned revenue and contributions and controlling costs. Empower and guide staff leaders to lead their departments to successful financial operation. Develop and implement stewardship strategies. Key competencies: Fiscal Management, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Developing Self & Others, Philanthropy

Develop and Implement a Strategic Plan: The President and CEO must work effectively with volunteers, community leaders, and key staff, to create and develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the communities served by the Y. This plan should include defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. Key competencies: Change Leadership, Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management

Improve Operating Performance: The President and CEO must engage the board and appropriate staff to develop an annual tactical plan for identifying and achieving key goals and objectives toward operating with safe, relevant and sustainable practices. He or she should quickly address issues that may arise, forecast future needs, and manage and direct the Y’s operations and activities. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Innovation

Build and Lead Staff: The President and CEO should ensure a talent development system is in place and should execute it in an affirming, culturally competent and effective way. He or she should hire, motivate, nurture, retain, and hold staff accountable for key objectives. He or she should work towards recruiting, retaining, developing and promoting staff that represent the diversity of the communities we serve. He or she should encourage the team by creating a spirit of camaraderie, inclusion, and sense of mission and purpose. He or she should create a learning organization to help staff achieve their highest potential. Key competencies: Developing Self & Others, Inclusion, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership

Steward Fundraising Efforts: The President and CEO should develop and implement an annual fundraising plan that will establish our YMCA as a leading nonprofit organization within the community through the engagement of members, volunteers, staff, and donors. He or she must identify the need for capital campaigns or capital fundraising should project-specific needs warrant the same. The President and CEO should take our organization to a new level of effectiveness and impact in annual giving and endowment. Key competencies: Philanthropy, Engaging Community, Communication & Influence

Salary Range: $115,000- $132,500

Benefits

• 12% paid retirement
• A portion of employee health insurance is paid

Other Sites for Information:

www.ymca.org

Target Dates for the Search Process

• Resumes accepted through: December 31, 2022
• Preliminary interviews scheduled: Week of January 30, 2023
• Final interviews: Week of February 20, 2023
• New CEO on board (anticipated): Mid-March

To Apply

Candidates will apply via the following website: https://tinyurl.com/metro-ymcas-of-mississippi-ceo

You will be requested to submit the following with your online application: A resume and cover letter, along with four professional and two personal references. Note: References will be checked on final candidates.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to:

Shaneé Jenkins, Y-USA Search Director, shanee.jenkins@ymca.net or (312-416-0852) or Charles Trammell, MI State Alliance Partner, charles.trammell@yalliance.org or (205-704-1671).