CEO JOB DESCRIPTION
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides leadership and direction in fulfilling and advancing the mission of the Asia Community Foundation (ACF). The CEO is responsible for leading the Foundation in its achievement of its operational and strategic goals including the success of the Foundation’s fund and donor development, fiscal management, solutions and program operations, board relations, human capital management, community relations and administrative matters.
Reporting: Board of Directors
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy Development and Planning
- In collaboration with the Board of Directors, the staff and other key stakeholders, the CEO develops and executes the Foundation’s strategic plan, long term goals and operational plans.
Fund and Donor Development
- Ensures a sustainable asset base by building long-term relationships with key donors and fund holders based on mission, cultivation, stewardship, and sound fiscal management and ensures the annual and on-going integrity of donor intent and stewardship.
- Oversees all fund development and fund-raising activities including: cultivation and stewardship of donors, event planning, and identifying new sources of donors.
Fiscal Management
- Ensures the Foundation has the financial where-with-all to thrive and deliver on its mission. Including the necessary financial discipline and the investment in resources needed to achieve its goals.
- Supports the CFO in the preparation and management of the annual budget including expense management.
Grants and Philanthropic Leadership Program Management
- Oversees the Foundation’s philanthropic leadership efforts and all grant making activities.
- Develops new programming ideas, solutions and initiatives to benefit the Foundation and its donors;
- Is a thought partner for other philanthropists, NPO leaders in Singapore and regionally and for the leadership, staff and members of the Asia Philanthropy Circle.
Board Relations
- Cultivates partnerships with the Board of Directors;
- Oversees the preparation and distribution of Board / Committees materials.
Human Capital Management
- Ensures the Foundation has the necessary resources to achieve its goals and its mission.
- Manages the Foundation’s human capital including: hiring, termination, ongoing staff development and providing verbal and/or written evaluations of staff. Informs the Board of Directors regarding staffing issues as appropriate.
- Ensures that employment policies are enforced and in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and Foundation policies.
Community Relations
- Promotes the Foundation’s visibility through participation and membership in community forums, and activities that align with the Foundation’s mission and vision.
- Serves as the Foundation’s representative to the public, provides education and assistance to residents and others in understanding the Foundation’s interests, mission, and concerns.
- Directs the Development team in developing and implementing a strategic marketing and communication plan that provide a clear and concise message of the Foundation’s mission.
Administrative Management
- Leads and oversees the administrative components of the Foundation including grant contracts and outside consultants. Works with the Foundation’s legal counsel to ensure legal and regulatory compliance in all aspects of the Foundation’s operations and maintaining the Foundation’s certification with the Council on Foundations. Designs, reviews, maintains and implements all operational policies and guidelines for the Foundation and presents these to the Board of Directors for input and approval.
- Ensures the Foundation has the appropriate communication systems, physical space and technology to operate efficiently and effectively.
- Maintains current skills and knowledge of best practices within the field of philanthropy, attending seminars and professional training institutes as appropriate.
DESIRED OUTCOMES
- ACF will be seen as a trusted partner and force for good within Singapore and beyond
- ACF will be a highly desirable place to work, able to attract and retain top talent
- ACF will be a philanthropic services provider of choice among donors
- ACF will be a model for philanthropic innovation, quality, and impact
- ACF will be a convener, an influencer of public policy and “go-to” resource for diverse stakeholders on Singapore and the region’s most pressing issues
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate will ideally have a diverse set of professional experiences and a proven track record of successful “servant leadership” in a multi-stakeholder, operationally complex organizational environment of some meaningful scale. S/He will have had significant positive impact on the entities s/he has served; more specifically, s/he will have experience:
- Building morale, culture, and a shared sense of purpose and commitment within an organization.
- Leading a relationship-driven, service-oriented business to new levels of success.
- Serving in the nonprofit/philanthropic sector either as in a senior management position or as a board member in multiple organizations and countries in South East Asia.
- Building enduring partnerships with institutions and individuals and leveraging those relationships to deliver outsize impact.
- Excellent understanding of Singapore and regional philanthropic landscape.
Candidates able to present REFERENCES from Singapore-based established philanthropists are invited to apply.
CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
Collaborating and influencing
The CEO must be:
- A natural team builder who is able to increase collaboration across the organization – tapping into the motives and values of the team to energize people – and build the organization’s capacity to collaborate with external stakeholders as well.
- A partnership builder who acknowledges individual differences but creates a strong sense of commonality. Systematically builds support at multiple levels and across groups, and builds ongoing partnerships with key stakeholders.
- A thought leader and convener who can bring people and organizations together to develop innovative approaches to solving complex problems.
Leading people
The CEO will need to:
- Communicate and consistently act in accordance with a clear set of values and guiding principles – s/he will lead by example and lead cooperatively with others.
- Empower teams and other leaders within the organization to drive cultural change; challenge the staff at all levels to be highly creative and collaborative in their work.
- Engage others in fact-finding, problem-solving, and building a culture of personal and professional commitment across the organization, reinforcing independent and open communication among the team members.
Strategic thinking
The CEO, together with the Board, must be a leader and an idea-generator. This person should have the ability to:
- Provide the leadership required to develop an agenda that addresses short- and long-term issues affecting regional giving such as trust, ability to measure impact, transparency.
- Identify promising new initiatives while building upon past programmatic and organizational accomplishments.
- Demonstrate an ability to think broadly and creatively about a variety of issues and contribute substantive expertise to strategic priority setting.
OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Active listener with strong communication skills
- Strong EQ; sense of humility and self-awareness, in addition to IQ
- Highest integrity, character and commitment
- Inspirational
