CEO & President

Civic Action Project Inc.

Job Description

Civic Action Project, CEO & President


***Promote civic engagement, diverse leadership, and civil discourse***
***Foster public-private dialogue and collaboration***
***Invest in the next generation of public sector leaders***

Impossible? Imperative, and immediately possible as the first CEO & President of the Civic Action Project. The Civic Action Project (CAP) is a Massachusetts nonprofit founded in 2019 to achieve each of these goals through fellowship programs for both seasoned executives and emerging leaders, as well as strategic initiatives that leverage the decades of expertise and unique cross-sector collaboration that CAP offers.

Founded by three icons of the Massachusetts public policy, private sector, and nonprofit landscape, CAP has grown from the Founders’ agreement to work together to use their collective expertise to make Massachusetts better, to a successful nonprofit “punching above its weight,” by offering three programs and periodic special efforts that have been celebrated by Massachusetts leaders in all sectors. Corey Thomas, CEO of Rapid7 and Chair of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce says “Society builds on trust…and that is exactly what you are trying to rebuild with the CAP Collaborative.” According to Allie Lyamuya, a CAP Summer Fellow and doctoral candidate at USC Annenberg, “CAP helped me link theory with practice and to acquire more of the practical skills needed to move things along.”

The Position

CAP was founded and has been led by George Bachrach, Steve Crosby, and Ira Jackson, Massachusetts leaders who have contributed a collective 150 years of service to the Commonwealth. From an idea over breakfast, George, Steve, and Ira have launched three unique program areas, attracted an experienced Executive Director to professionalize operations, and recruited a Board of Directors representing CAP alumni from leading Massachusetts companies, agencies, public service, and key industries. Together CAP’s founders seek to bring the organization to its next level of success by hiring a CEO & President who can not only lift the management of CAP from their shoulders, but also elevate strategy and impact for its next iteration.

The successful candidate will serve as CAP’s first formal CEO, collaborating with a Board eager to secure CAP’s future. CAP has many partners, from the leading Massachusetts universities educating public policy leaders to the area’s leading businesses, hospitals, biotech, software, AI & robotics, real estate development, foundations, nonprofits, and quasi-public agencies preparing for the economy and workforce of the future. CAP’s CEO should bring a reputation for excellence and integrity to the role, as well as the humility to roll up their sleeves and get the job done.

In addition to partners, CAP’s Alumni hold a special affinity for the organization, the program in which they participated, and the colleagues and friends they have made who share that experience. This affinity and alumni willingness to show up for each other at social, impact, or learning events is real. This should be nurtured to enable CAP to continue to grow its impact and sustain the learning and benefits of an ever expanding group.

CAP is also a group that can be effective as a platform to advocate for ideas or to speak out on issues. This requires particular care, as CAP intends to remain a big tent of ideas and discussion rather than a source of dogma or repeaters of rhetoric - but when there are critical issues where it would be valuable for CAP to express a voice on behalf of our community, the CEO will need to be equipped to do so skillfully, respectfully and thoughtfully. This is an opportunity for influence in our state, through the access and credibility of the platform our founders have built and the CEO would lead.

CAP’s CEO & President will report to the Board of Directors, collaborating closely with a new Board Chair from among the independent members. CAP has two full-time staff, in addition to the founders. The CEO will benefit from their experience contributing to CAP’s quality and reputation, and will lead them in iterating the next chapter.

Qualifications and Qualities

CAP’s next CEO should bring a passion for civic action and positive change, and a history as a proven fundraiser and respected voice among Massachusetts public and private sector leaders. Candidates who understand that Massachusetts has a key role to play, not just in the United States, but on the global stage - being home to a progressive legislature, the top educational institutions, and several world leading industries such as life sciences. Massachusetts also has a rich history of bravery, innovation and of leading change for the better.

Candidates should have a proven track record of building relationships across government and private sectors, have significant depth in at least one key area of economic or civic development, and be willing to lead and inspire other leaders with a continued and compelling vision for the roles we all can play in building a better society. This will include being able to recruit program participants, speakers, institutional and corporate partners and donors.

CAP is unique and extremely fortunate because of the background, experiences, and networks of its three founders. CAP’s CEO will be skilled at leading the founders to make their evolving contributions to the respective programs, while creating space at the right time for new contributors. The CEO will also need to develop and maintain a coherent strategic narrative about what CAP is about and continue to demonstrate that through execution, program delivery and community building. Central to this role is effective, credible and energetic communication with stakeholders.

While the successful candidate might come with experience in the public, private, and/or nonprofit sectors, CAP’s Founders and Board members anticipate that candidates should demonstrate each of the following:

  • Organizational development experience, having grown an innovative initiative (a start-up, nonprofit, campaign, or other) to stability and sustainability.
  • Leadership, providing a recognizable and authentic voice in Massachusetts circles, particularly among Massachusetts’ leading private sector businesses. At the same time having either the experience or potential to collaborate beyond the state’s borders as an advocate for and veteran of cross-sector education and partnerships will be valuable.
  • Professional development, demonstrating an appreciation for or leadership experience in programs, classes, credentialing, or other efforts in which universities and/or employers are willing to invest.
  • Fund development, bringing proven success in attracting 5 to 7 figure investments in a strategic and compelling manner from philanthropists, corporate sponsors, private foundations, and/or the public sector sector.
  • Management expertise, overseeing a nonprofit or similar organization to grow staff, produce outstanding programs, work with a volunteer board, and understand and apply best practices throughout a changing infrastructure.
As is true for the leader of any initiative with grand ambitions and limited resources, a sense of humor and the ability to give and accept feedback will also be welcomed and preferred.

More about Civic Action Project

CAP’s mission is to promote better policy-making and to diversify policy-makers. We train the next generation of civic leaders and build bridges for new strategic, public-private partnerships for innovative policies for the future. By fostering a greater awareness of the major issues facing our society among current and future Massachusetts leaders, and by creating opportunities to explore together, we aim to accelerate effective policy making, empower a better response to critical issues, and encourage leaders to build a stronger, more inclusive society.

Much more about CAP, its programs and initiatives, its accomplished Alumni, and its Board are available on the website, thecivicactionproject.com.

Salary and Benefits

As CAP is hiring its first CEO & President, we are exploring the right salary ranges for the role, but expect it to be in the $175k - $250,000 range. Compensation will be quite candidate-dependent.

CAP is a virtual workforce, but frequent in person meetings, events, and the occasional travel within Massachusetts will be required.

Inquiries and Referrals

CAP is an equal opportunity employer.

As this is CAP’s first CEO & President search, the Board imagines there are many potentially successful profiles for candidates. Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and detailed resume to our search consultant, CoCo Search/Carolyn O’Brien Consulting, LLC at this link. We are unable to have conversations with every candidate, but we’re deeply grateful for your interest in furthering civic engagement and civil dialogue on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its residents.