Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) - Rotary International - Evanston, IL

Position: Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)

Company: Rotary International

Location: Based in Evanston, Illinois

Reporting: This position reports directly to the General Secretary of Rotary International. Direct supervision of 20 staff members.

Website: www.rotary.org

Company Background

Founded in 1905, Rotary is a volunteer organization of 1.2 million business and professional leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service to build goodwill and peace. More than 35,000 Rotary clubs, in more than 200 countries and geographical areas work to advance ethical business standards and philanthropic efforts in local communities. Working with its local clubs, RI is a global leader for programs addressing today’s problems of illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water, and environmental concerns.

RI is governed by a 19 member Board of Directors from around the world with equal representation of all 34 of its global zones. The Board is led by the President of Rotary International who is a volunteer and serves a one-year term. Rotary International and its Foundation have combined annual revenues of over $450 million with assets in excess of $1.0 billion.

In addition to our world headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, Rotary has offices in Korea, Japan, Australia, India, Switzerland, Argentina and Brazil. Rotary’s permanent staff numbers of 750 worldwide.

Position Overview

The Chief Strategy Officer is responsible for the overall vision and mission of Rotary International and its Foundation and is a member of the Executive Management Team. Working closely with the Executive Management Team and Rotary volunteer leadership, this position will help facilitate, define, and coordinate strategy development for the organization. The Chief Strategy Officer also works with volunteer leadership on annual and long-range goal development and action plans to implement the organization’s strategic plan. In addition, the position is responsible for oversight and execution on key enterprise wide projects to support the organization’s goals and objectives.

The position reports to the General Secretary and will ensure that strategies are aligned, consistent and integrated with the organization and its overall business objectives. The leader will oversee three direct reports, with a staff of approximately 20.

If you want to be part of an organization that is changing the world, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities for the position will include:
Develop and coordinate both long- and near-term strategic plans across the organization to foster growth for both Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.

Align strategic initiatives and objectives across the organization, including planning and developing new or expanded programs/initiatives, collecting/evaluating metrics and data to supporting strategy, and driving innovation.

Develop processes to source ideas, adapt and integrate approaches, and drive innovation and growth.

Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop and implement plans for strategy, research, evaluation, measurement, and project execution.

Monitor performance towards strategic priorities using tools and techniques consistent with industry practices.

Facilitate the execution of strategy by working collaboratively with the Rotary leadership and the Executive Management Team and ensure that the strategy is communicated and understood by the volunteers and the staff

Serve as point of contact and coordinate strategy work with directors and trustees, including initiatives focused on Rotary’s growth strategies.

Provide forecasts of future trends and growth expectations for Rotary.

Work collaboratively on identifying input on assumptions for planning, forecasts, and plans.

Lead large-scale initiatives to grow the organization and maintain Rotary’s relevance.

Communicate and implement Rotary’s strategy internally and externally so that Rotary members and employees understand the company-wide strategic plan and how it carries out the company’s overall goals.

Monitor the execution and report on progress toward the strategic plan and annual goals.

Partner with volunteer and staff leadership, committees, and consultants to support execution of key initiatives.

Translate strategies into actionable and quantitative plans.

Mobilize and manage teams of individuals charged with executing strategies.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

The candidate should have a minimum of 10-15 years’ experience in senior management role with demonstrated success designing and executing organizational strategy. The ideal candidate will be/have:

Executive presence, a dynamic professional style that inspires confidence both internally and externally

A leader who builds strong, high performing teams and develops and mentors talent

Earn the trust, confidence, and respect of the leadership team and the functional organization by listening, learning, and building relationships.

An understanding and respect for the multinational culture of Rotary International and a passion for its mission

A team player with a “coach/player” mentality who is willing to “roll up their sleeves” and make sure the job gets done.

Strong change management and organizational development skills.

Ability to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty.

Ability to be proactive in cultivating new and innovative approaches and solutions to business problems.

Ability to improve data quality and accuracy and its utility for strategic decision making.

Must be willing to challenge the standard thinking with new ideas, new approaches, and new solutions.

Must have strong decision-making skills and the determination to see projects through to the end.

Demonstrated skills in leadership, management, and collaboration.

Must be self-directed and able to work independently.

Multi-cultural sensitivity and experience in international environments is essential.

A leader with the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and performance.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office required (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Project)

Education

A Bachelors degree in business, management, non-profit or other related fields; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.