CEO

The CEO will champion an inclusive and equity-centered organization that inspires staff and members and advances YWCA Ashevilles mission to eliminate racism empower women and promote peace justice freedom and dignity for all. Leadership includes all aspects of organizational operations including strategic planning fundraising program development financial management advocacy and staff leadership. As the organizations chief ambassador the CEO will focus on building community partnerships and advancing programs and initiatives that promote equity and social justice throughout the region.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide visionary leadership in executing the organizations strategic plan advancing the YWCA Ashevilles mission community impact and long-term sustainability.
• Drive revenue growth and long-term sustainability through strategic financial planning program innovation and stewardship of earned and contributed income.
• Lead major capital initiatives including the natatorium renovation ensuring strong fiscal stewardship proactive risk management stakeholder alignment and successful project outcomes.
• Cultivate a culture grounded in equity inclusion accountability continuous improvement and transparent communication.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to drive strategic vision governance fundraising and organizational accountability supporting effective planning and decision-making.
• Strengthen board effectiveness through recruitment committee support board education regular communication and service as an ex-officio advisor to board committees.

Community Engagement & Advocacy

• Elevate awareness and understanding of the YWCA Ashevilles mission programs and community impact through effective external communications and relationship-building.
• Serve as the organizations primary spokesperson advocate and ambassador with community stakeholders government officials media and the general public.
• Advocate locally regionally and nationally for policies and initiatives that advance racial justice gender equity and social change at the local state and national levels.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with community organizations civic leaders corporate partners and other stakeholders to advance the YWCA Ashevilles mission and collective impact.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• In partnership with the CFO ensure sound fiscal stewardship regulatory compliance risk management and effective operational practices across the organization.
• Steer the development of annual budgets and financial strategies ensuring resources are deployed effectively to achieve organizational goals and mission outcomes.
• Monitor organizational performance through financial operational and programmatic metrics to ensure accountability effectiveness and mission impact.
• Provide oversight of facilities campus operations and capital assets to ensure safe efficient accessible and mission-aligned environments.

Fundraising and Resource Development

• Lead fundraising and resource development efforts to secure the philanthropic support necessary to advance the organizations mission and strategic priorities.
• Actively cultivate solicit and steward relationships with major donors foundations corporations government funders and other key funding partners.
• Build and leverage strategic partnerships with community organizations mission-aligned stakeholders and the Board of Directors to advance organizational impact expand funding opportunities and execute annual and long-term fundraising strategies.
• Expand and diversify funding sources to strengthen long-term sustainability and mission impact.

Talent Team and Culture

• Cultivate an inclusive collaborative culture that reflects the YWCA Ashevilles mission values and commitment to equity accessibility and belonging.
• Work closely with the Director of People and Culture to enhance employee experience through talent retention strategies fair and competitive compensation practices and a culture of engagement respect and continuous improvement.
• Champion a thriving workplace culture by promoting employee engagement staff appreciation professional and leadership development performance excellence succession planning and YWCA Ashevilles commitment to racial justice and gender equity throughout the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in social work nonprofit management business administration public administration or a related field; advanced degree or equivalent executive experience welcomed.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity gender justice and the empowerment of women girls and gender-diverse people.
• Progressive leadership experience including meaningful time in executive or senior leadership roles; experience in nonprofit management strongly preferred.
• Proven track record in fund development including major gifts capital campaigns and grant acquisition.
• Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing organizational budgets managing fiscal risk and reporting to a governing board.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build trust across a wide range of stakeholders including donors community partners government officials program participants and staff.
• Experience with board governance and effective board-staff relationships.
• Ability to lead through complexity ambiguity and organizational change with clarity and stability.

Preferred

• Familiarity with the Asheville/WNC region the community the local history and the philanthropic landscape.
• Experience leading organizations serving multilingual communities
• Spanish language proficiency is a plus
• Experience with capital construction projects or facility management.
• Experience leading health and wellness aquatics or community center programming.

Benefits

YWCA offers a competitive executive compensation and benefits package including comprehensive health and welfare benefits retirement savings opportunities employer-sponsored insurance programs wellness resources and other benefits designed to support employees financial physical and personal well-being. Details of the executive compensation and benefits package will be discussed with selected candidates.

YWCA Asheville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As such in compliance with and as required by federal and state law all applicants are considered without regard to race color religion national origin sex (including gender identity sexual orientation and pregnancy) age disability or genetic information.

Required Experience:

Chief