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CEO - NewOrg

Req Number: Y31E1G
Location: Remote
Posted: 10/8/2024
Category: Government/Not-For-Profit : Education
Job Type: Permanent

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
NewOrg, formed through the recently announced intention to merge the Enrollment Management Association (EMA) and the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), combines the strengths of two leading not-for-profit membership organizations with deep roots in the educational sector. EMA offers unparalleled leadership and service in meeting the admission assessment, and enrollment needs of schools, students, and families, while ERB serves as the trusted leader in assessment and data-driven insights for independent school educators and families. By bringing together the expertise, data insights, and professional tools of ERB and EMA, this new organization will build an even more vibrant community of champions for transformational student journeys.

With the educational landscape changing and student needs evolving, there has never been a greater opportunity for a trusted thought leader to deliver the comprehensive resources independent schools need to expand access and deliver more tailored educational experiences. NewOrg will help these
schools demonstrate the additional value they offer and make it easier for families to discover the opportunities the schools provide.

NewOrg inherits EMA's and ERB's legacies of innovation and service, offering a robust portfolio of services designed to support the entire student journey. NewOrg provides a comprehensive suite of solutions that will play a pivotal role in expanding access to independent schools for all students. This includes a range of tools and resources designed to make the admission process simpler and more equitable, as well as holistic assessments on student qualities to open doors and enhance success.

NewOrg is dedicated to championing transformational education journeys for school leaders, educators, students, and families. The organization’s mission is to offer unparalleled leadership and service in meeting the diverse needs of schools, from admission assessment and enrollment strategies to tracking and enhancing student academic achievement and well-being. By equipping schools with the tools and insights they need to empower students on their unique paths to success, NewOrg remains committed to evolving alongside the institutions it serves, ensuring they continue to progress, learn, grow, and shape the future of education.

THE OPPORTUNITY
This moment marks a critical juncture for the education sector as it faces a dynamic landscape of both opportunities and challenges. While independent schools offer students access to specialized curricula, smaller class sizes, and a more personalized educational experience, economic pressures and other factors are starting to impact schools of all sizes. These institutions must balance accessibility, affordability, and equity while building diverse classrooms and adapting to changing academic policies. Achieving a sustainable model involves nimble planning, partnership, and a commitment to delivering exceptional education for students and their families. With the collective network of its members, partners, and staff, NewOrg is uniquely poised to support the sector through this time of evolution and change while helping to create solutions that will positively shape the academic sector and the student experience in years to come.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead NewOrg through a phase of growth and transformation, leveraging the merger as an opportunity to enhance impact by creating comprehensive solutions for student success. The Chief Executive Officer will serve as a prominent force in supporting and reimagining the future of independent schools and ensuring NewOrg is the leading authority on K–12 testing, enrollment, and academic issues and trends. The CEO will work in close partnership with the Board of Trustees, volunteer leaders, and staff to increase the value and engagement of members and serve as an enthusiastic champion for NewOrg’s stakeholders in the broader academic sector.

Specific responsibilities (in no particular order) include:
  • Strategic Visioning: Partners with the Board of Trustees, volunteer leaders, and staff to formulate and implement a dynamic, bold, and visionary strategic plan for NewOrg that ensures the organization will adapt and grow in response to evolving industry trends. Develops comprehensive annual operating plans aligned to the strategic plan to ensure that the budget, staff, and program priorities continue to advance the core mission of the organization and ensures alignment with financial and operational goals.
  • Brand Development: Develops a clear, compelling, and unified brand that is increasingly recognized across the school landscape. Ensures successful execution against strategic communications plan.
  • Change Management: Leads change management initiatives to support the merger. Addresses cultural integration and promotes a unified, productive, and inclusive environment with staff, board, and membership. Oversees the integration of systems, processes, and teams to ensure continuity and service to members during this time of transition.
  • Board Relations: Forges a transparent, collaborative, and trusting relationship with the Board of Trustees to drive engagement among the NewOrg’s volunteer leadership. Provides regular communications to Trustees on strategic, operational, and programmatic matters impacting the organization, keeping them apprised of progress and challenges in meeting key goals in strategic and operational business plans.
  • Member Engagement: Orchestrates a robust organizational strategy focused on maintaining and building a strong, cohesive membership and advancing the broad application and use of NewOrg products and services. Identifies opportunities to expand NewOrg’s reach into potential new member markets domestically and internationally. Identifies meaningful strategic partnerships within and beyond the industry to increase student and family access to independent schools globally.
  • Staff Management: Integrates, inspires, and retains an exceptionally talented professional staff in a remote environment while developing future leaders for NewOrg. Fosters a culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and one that allows everyone to do their best work to support the mission of the NewOrg. Provides effective leadership of a professional staff (60 at present), fostering a commitment to excellence and delivery of high quality, innovative programs, and services. Sets a clear vision for goals and expectations, while promoting an atmosphere that promotes innovation, collaboration, respect, integrity, inclusion, and a culture of service.
  • Financial and Operational Oversight: Leads financial planning and analysis for the merged entity. Develops and implements financial strategies that align with strategic plan, goal setting, and performance management. Ensures compliance with financial regulations and reporting requirements. Strengthens the association’s financial position through membership growth and by identifying diverse sources of funding and new lines of revenue. Provides strategic recommendations on investment opportunities, risk management, and capital allocation.
  • Technology: Sets a comprehensive technology strategy for NewOrg that integrates legacy systems and data to better serve students, families, and schools. Ensures NewOrg has the necessary infrastructure and resources in place to deliver cutting edge solutions for student growth and success, financial aid, and enrollment strategy. Invests in digital resources and advanced technologies to create state of the art programs and services for members.
  • External Affairs and Strategic Communications: Develops strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders to build and support partnerships that advance NewOrg’s overall mission and work. Serves as a primary spokesperson, amplifying the voice of the organization while elevating NewOrg’s brand across various audiences including members, customers, business leaders, academia, policymakers, funders, and other stakeholders.
  • Thought Leadership: Expands advocacy activities that enhance independent schools’ public trust and goodwill. Stays abreast of emerging academic policy issues and trends and leads efforts to advance timely and constructive discussions among policymakers, key stakeholders, and industry experts.
  • Product Leadership: Provides strategic direction and oversight for the development, implementation, and expansion of NewOrg’s portfolio of market-driven testing and enrollment tools and product lines. Improves utilization, growth, and perceived value of NewOrg’s tools in current member markets.
  • Research and Data Analysis: Oversees the development and execution of research initiatives that support NewOrg’s mission and service to members and the industry. Ensures NewOrg remains at the forefront of industry trends and developments.
  • Program and Service Development: Ensures NewOrg maintains a unique value proposition amongst an increasingly competitive landscape. Fosters an agile organizational structure and culture that delivers best-in-class events and networking, educational offerings, state of the art testing, and other vital services. Anticipates trends and develops strategies that enable the organization to innovate, grow, and increase impact to the myriad stakeholder groups that NewOrg serves.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS
The Chief Executive Officer will be an accomplished, visionary leader who will guide the future direction, growth, relevancy, and impact of NewOrg. The CEO will have a successful record of cultivating innovation and transformation with proven management, business and financial acumen, and technology expertise. They will demonstrate relevant experience, background, and leadership in an organization with diverse product and service lines. Ideal experience and qualifications will include the following:
  • Passion for and commitment to the continued success of academic institutions including students, families, educators, and schools themselves. Knowledge of the nonprofit sector and/or familiarity with the independent school community is preferred.
  • 10+ years in executive management and leadership experience. Demonstrated experience leading through a large-scale transition or merger strongly preferred.
  • Proven ability to foster a strong, positive internal culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, and mutual respect.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, influence, and relationship building skills, key to forging strong relationships, establishing trust, and enhancing engagement with trustees, members, customers, staff, peer organizations, government, and other key external stakeholders.
  • Experience building collaborative, transparent, and trusting relationships with a board of trustees to effectively co-create and implement an organization’s mission and strategy.
  • A proven record of accomplishment leading, engaging and empowering professional staff operating in a fully remote environment. Success in attracting, developing, motivating, and retaining a world-class, diverse, results-oriented team, and fostering a culture that embraces collaboration, diversity, equity, engagement, belonging, respect, empowerment, and innovation.
  • Experience in generating earned revenue and diversifying financial streams through strategic initiatives.
  • Practical knowledge of technology to ensure NewOrg offers superior service, tools, and efficiencies to support its mission and objectives.
  • Effective at anticipating market trends and leading organizational change to address market dynamics and opportunities.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience as an effective public speaker.
  • Proven record of promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging both internally and externally.
  • An entrepreneurial leader with the combined passion and vision to shape a robust business strategy that advances the mission and inspiring work of NewOrg.
  • Unquestionable integrity, credibility, character, and demonstrated high moral and ethical behavior.

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree required. An advanced degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent is desired.

COMPENSATION
Compensation includes base salary and discretionary bonuses. The anticipated base salary range for this role is $450,000 to $550,000, and may vary based on factors such as skill, experience, and qualifications for the role. Total package provides additional benefits including access to health coverage and time off

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.

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