Executive Director - The Training Source

Creative Mindset Consulting has been retained to conduct the search for this position.

About The Training Source:

The Training Source, Inc. is an award-winning 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to provide education, training and services that promote positive economic mobility. We provide employment and job readiness training for youth and adults; youth leadership, college, and career planning; community outreach, education, social and supportive services for individuals in need; and corporate management and employee development training for employers. Our goal is to develop not only the skills needed for success, but also the motivation to succeed by utilizing the skills and abilities of our staff to assist others in realizing their full potential.

The Training Source, Inc.is proud to display the Standards for Excellence® seal awarded by the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Accreditation in the Standards for Excellence® is bestowed only to the most well-managed and responsibly governed nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated compliance with 55 specific Standards for Excellence® based on honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability. The Training Source, Inc. has met, complied with, and integrated the Standards for Excellence® into all its activities to successfully complete this voluntary certification program. For more information about the Standards for Excellence program, please visit www.StandardsForExcellence.org.

The Training Source was founded by E. Kim Rhim in 1993 with a vision to solve an unemployment crisis. Since the founding of The Training Source, Kim has served as the organization’s integral Executive Director. Under Kim’s leadership, the organization has experienced significant growth over its 31-year history. With that successful tenure in mind, in 2022, Kim proudly announced to the Board of her intention to retire at the end of 2024. Kim is ending her tenure at The Training Source with a legacy of serving more than 42,000 individuals since 1993, growing the annual budget to $635,000, and reengineering the post-COVID staffing model to employ a team full-time staff members, interns, contract employees, and consultants to carry out the operations and functions of The Training Source.

The Opportunity:

The Training Source seeks a highly motivated, passionate, and experienced executive to lead the organization, guiding the team in a fast-paced environment, generating new revenue, overseeing operations, and ensuring the successful implementation of The Training Source strategy. The Executive Director will supervise a dedicated and committed team with diverse levels of experience in an in-person work environment located in Seat Pleasant, Maryland.

The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in implementing, articulating, shaping, and promoting The Training Source mission, vision, and strategic direction and advocating for policies at the local, state, and federal levels to combat the lack of funding for workforce programs.

The new leader will oversee a committed team and engage with partners with a personal connection to workforce development. The Executive Director will serve as an anchor for the team, often pulled in multiple directions, and will support and guide staff as they juggle various critical activities.

The ideal candidate for this role is a visionary nonprofit leader with a deep sense of justice, workforce development, and an unwavering commitment to The Training Source mission and vision. The ideal candidate also brings a proven track record in diversified fundraising by cultivating partnerships and successfully navigating the landscape of policy, public engagement, and grassroots organizing.

Key responsibilities:

Vision, Strategy Development, and New Initiatives

Work closely with board, consultants, and select employees to:

• Develop and implement strategies for The Training Source accomplish its vision.
• Ensure that strategies are documented and shared within the organization, and fully owned and carried out by staff.
• Initiate new projects and programs that can catalyze change and build on core strengths, while ensuring consistency with strategic direction.
• Protect and advance the strong organizational reputation and brand.
• Maximize marketing, outreach and impact using a variety of website, social media and digital tools, data metrics, and analysis.
• Work closely with the Executive Committee and Fundraising Consultant to understand, implement, and support fund development initiatives.
• Accomplish the target milestones and deliverables approved by the Board.

Fundraising:

Work closely with Board and development consultant to:

• Lead the fundraising efforts of TTS, including hiring high-performing development staff and supporting the Board’s involvement in fundraising.
• Establish a coherent fundraising strategy in partnership with staff and Board and set actionable timelines and goals for implementation.
• Personally cultivate, maintain, and nurture relationships with major individual/institutional donors and solicit program support.
• Expand visibility and support within corporations, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, and other target donor constituencies.
• Drive visibility of TTS within key audiences (corporations and others) and encourage the development of philanthropic initiatives in partnership with various partners.

External Visibility & Representation:

With support from staff and board, be the lead public face for the organization in support of key visibility, development, and influence goals:

• Ensure positive relationships with partner organizations, policymakers, media, and others.
• Represent the organization by participating strategically in key associations and organizations, serving on committees, boards, and advisory groups.
• Speak in major public settings and to high-profile business, policy, and philanthropy forums to sustain and build organizational visibility and influence.
• Play key role in garnering major media attention, engaging in strategic and high-profile media opportunities as appropriate.
• Represent TTS in a positive way within the organization and in interactions with individuals and organizations external to TTS.
• Maximize outreach and impact using a variety of social media and digital tools, data metrics, and analysis.

Leadership & Management

In conjunction with the Deputy Director:

• Provide leadership for entire organization, including staff and volunteers.
• Lead by example in modeling vision and core values of TTS as well as advancing strategic direction and plan with all staff.
• Model effective leadership with TTS Executive Team, staff, Board, and outside constituents.
• Supervise, support and mentor TTS staff members.
• Develop and implement a staffing structure and personnel policies that support the efficient delivery of programs and services, accomplishment of major goals identified in the strategic plan, and effective overall management that represents the core values of the organization.
• Ensure all functions, programs, and policies are inclusive and diverse.
• Ensure retention, development, and growth of staff talent.

Programs:

In conjunction with the Program Manager:

• Manage the programs of The Training Source, including hiring high-performing personnel with knowledge of programmatic priorities and deep understanding of funding partners and their contexts.
• Oversee the creation, development and implementation of programs and services that best advance the mission of The Training Source.
• Sustain and expand the organization’s strong relationships.
• Advance effective organizational advocacy, communications, and campaign activities that build visibility, influence, and engagement among key audiences on critical issues related to the mission.
• Ensure positive relationships with partner organizations, policymakers, media, and others.
• Speak effectively about the direct impact of all programs with donors and partnership organizations.

Impact & Effectiveness:

In conjunction with the Deputy Director:

• Manage the impact and effectiveness function of The Training Source, including hiring high-performing staff with knowledge and expertise in planning and executing key elements of the work.
• Sustain a clear theory of change, that is well understood internally and externally and that evolves as necessary.
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and assessment structures are built into design of grantmaking initiatives.
• Develop and implement of an organization-wide learning, and monitoring and evaluation framework.to capture information regarding The Training Source’s short-term and long-term impact.

Finance & Administration:

In conjunction with the outsourced accounting and operations firms:

• Manage the operations of The Training Source, including hiring and developing high-performing staff to understand and comply with personnel and fiscal policies and procedures.
• Develop realistic annual financial goals and plans as well as make decisions consistent with those goals and plans approved by the Board.
• Comply with financial guidelines and controls to monitor spending and hiring practices, ensuring the organization stays within its approved budget for spending.
• Maintain and enforce, and/or develop and recommend, organizational policies and procedures to ensure consistent and sustainable operations.
• Conduct research and provide insight for the continuous update of employment cycles and job market trends.

Qualifications & Requirements:

The Executive Director will be highly energetic and passionate, with a track record of achievement in previous leadership roles in philanthropic organizations, a commitment to youth and adult workforce development, established regional networks and relationships within the youth and adult development sector, and demonstrated business acumen. The Executive Director will be skilled at working in close partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to develop and set the strategic direction of a credible charitable organization. While respecting the historic grant portfolio, this seasoned, confident leader will effectively bring new approaches forward that will enable The Training Source to achieve continued impact with its philanthropy.

The Executive Director will bring strong academic and programmatic discipline to the role, with a postgraduate degree, professional designation or continued professional development preferred. The Executive Director will have a true passion for the mission of The Training Source and an optimistic commitment to championing people development on a regional scale. In addition, ideal candidates will have the following professional competencies and personal characteristics:

Competencies:

An individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position.

Strategic and Visionary Leadership: The Executive Director will, with the Board of Directors and staff, set and articulate an ambitious, inspiring, modern vision for the next chapter of TTS and how it can effectively deploy its human and financial assets towards championing workforce diversity and inclusion. This resilient executive will understand the full potential, power, and impact of TTS to use both its leadership and grantmaking in combination to meet the needs of young people across the region. The Executive Director will display intellectual curiosity and critical thinking and have a history of being creative, innovative, and bold in identifying and responding to the needs of marginalized communities and capturing new opportunities for effecting systemic change worldwide. This leader will be skilled at engaging staff, the Board of Directors, and the broader community in strategy and execution.

Expertise in Fundraising: The Executive Director will have a measurable track record of success in and genuine enthusiasm for development, and the expertise and mindset to build strong relationships with current and potential donors and the Board. This leader will have demonstrated expertise with various fundraising and communications channels, and the ability to engage with all of TTS’s constituents throughout the world, including foundations, individual donors, community leaders, and other supporters. The Executive Director will be a flexible, self-motivated team player who will offer insight as appropriate to the Board of Directors in identifying and devising development strategies for TTS to strengthen its resource base.

Exceptional Communication: Collaboration and Relationship-Building: A natural bridge and coalition builder, the Executive Director will have the ability and sophistication to inspire trust and confidence with a diverse range of stakeholders, including target populations, staff, donors, the Board, grantees, and partner organizations, and build connections between them. This individual will be flexible, energetic, positive, creative, and ambitious and will be experienced in successfully establishing strong working relationships and partnerships in furtherance of the organization’s mission. The Executive Director will be an inclusive leader who builds and supports a culture of collaboration and trust among the Board and staff. This individual will be a mature leader who embodies humility, wisdom, and strength of character.

Operations Management & Business Acumen: The Executive Director will be a seasoned executive with strong staff and financial management experience. This will be an executive who takes pleasure in being a “hands-on” manager of an organization during a period of transition and growth. The Executive Director will excel at leading teams and have demonstrated success in attracting, managing, and retaining top-tier staff with a diverse set of skills and providing them with a productive work environment and professional growth opportunities. A thorough and transparent communicator, this individual will demonstrate the ability to provide clear expectations and accountability measures for staff deliverables while encouraging innovation and initiative. This natural leader will understand the strengths of the leadership team and staff and will deploy them effectively to meet organizational goals.

The Executive Director will have a strong business sense and a thorough understanding of operations and finance to implement against TTS vision. This executive will strategically prioritize resource allocations and will creatively examine TTS’ current business model with an eye to how to sustain and grow the organization and venture into new areas. Technologically savvy, the Executive Director will understand how best to use new and existing technologies at TTS to increase impact.