Job Description

Mission Statement

YW Boston works to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YW Boston is at the vanguard of thought leadership on issues at the intersection of race and gender, helping organizations create more inclusive environments where women, people of color, and in particular, women of color can succeed.

YW Boston invests in our internal culture, including our own racial equity practices. We seek candidates that thrive in adaptive organizations, are comfortable working amidst organizational change, and are excited about helping YW Boston deepen its impact in Boston.

Organizational Values

People, Collaboration, Liberation, Courage, Shared Leadership

Gender Inclusion Statement 

At YW Boston, we are committed to executing our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women through uplifting the experience of all women and girls regardless of their assigned sex at birth. We promote gender equity by amplifying the voices of cisgender women and girls, transgender women and girls, and gender non-conforming individuals who experience oppression and discrimination based on their gender, gender identity, and gender expression.

General Statement of Duties

The Chief Impact Officer (CIO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for driving the organization’s programmatic vision, impact strategy, and evaluation efforts. The CIO will lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of YW Boston’s programs, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and strategic goals. This leader will oversee all programs, policy, advocacy and research to measure and communicate YW Boston’s impact, positioning the organization as a leader in racial and gender equity. CIO will play a primary role in building an inclusive organizational culture, ensuring team members thrive and organizational outcomes are met. The CIO is a high-profile role representing the CEO when necessary, at key functions, to funders, and the media.

The Chief Impact Officer will report to the President & CEO.

Massachusetts residency is required within six months of hire, and YW Boston does not cover relocation expenses. This position is hybrid with a weekly requirement of at least two days at the YW Boston office or on-site for programming, and a maximum of three days remote, starting from date of hire. Occasional evening and weekend commitments are required to fulfill the needs of YW Boston and our partner organizations.

YW Boston follows the latest COVID-19 guidance from the CDC and MA Department of Public Health and strongly encourages all employees to be fully vaccinated and boosted.

Position Outcomes

The successful Chief Impact Officer will achieve the following outcomes:

• Building off YW Boston’s new strategic plan, develop and implement a measurable impact strategy
• Establish a system for measuring and communicating YW Boston’s impact
• Support cross-department collaboration and ensure all teams are engaged and accountable to organizational-wide benchmarks
• Advance internal culture and equity practices
• Oversee practices on internal and external data collection, analysis, and reporting for all programs

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Serve as a thought partner to the CEO and executive leadership team to advance YW Boston’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of the organization’s impact strategy, aligning programming, evaluation, and advocacy efforts.
• Champion YW Boston’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and innovation across all programs and initiatives.

Program Oversight & Management

• Provide strategic oversight of all YW Boston programs, including consulting and training, youth, leadership, advocacy and engagement teams.
• Ensure programs are designed and implemented with measurable outcomes that advance racial and gender equity in Boston and beyond.
• Supervise team leads, providing coaching and leadership to deliver excellence in program execution and service delivery.
• Foster cross-departmental collaboration to ensure program alignment with communications, fundraising, sales and advocacy initiatives.

Impact Measurement & Evaluation

• Oversee program evaluation and data collection to assess organizational impact and inform continuous improvement.
• Develop and report key metrics and impact dashboards to the CEO, Board of Directors, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Utilize data insights to inform strategic planning, policy advocacy, and program growth.

Advocacy & Thought Leadership

• Oversee advocacy efforts that advance YW Boston’s mission, collaborating with community partners and policymakers.
• Represent YW Boston as a subject matter expert and thought leader in racial and gender equity initiatives.
• Serve as a public spokesperson for YW Boston’s programs and impact.

Organizational Leadership

• Actively participate in executive leadership team meetings, organizational planning, and decision-making.
• Contribute to organization-wide culture-building, strategic initiatives, culture-building, and long-term sustainability planning.
• Build a strong, equity-focused team culture rooted in collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

Additional Organization Responsibilities

• Adhere to organization policies and procedures for maintaining organizational culture and transparency, including use of regularly scheduled progress meetings with supervisor, team meetings, scheduling, e-mail and other communications platforms
• Positively represent the organization in all interactions with the public
• Participate in and support organization events
• Support YW Boston advancement through participation in education, outreach, cultivation and stewardship efforts
• Perform additional tasks as requested by the President & CEO

Experience/Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven organizations
• Proven experience program strategy, design, evaluation, and scaling initiatives
• Strong track record of advancing racial and gender equity
• Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage data for decision-making
• Prior executive leadership or senior management experience required
• Strategic thinker with exceptional communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills
• Experience working with boards, funders, and community leaders
• Openness to learning and willingness to give and receive feedback
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and analytical skills
• Demonstrated commitment to YW Boston’s mission to promote racial, gender and social equity
• Experience in racial equity, gender equity, or social justice organizations strongly preferred

Key Competencies

• Equity-Driven Leadership: Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and gender equity.
• Visionary Thinking: Ability to translate vision into actionable strategies.
• Collaborative Leadership: Builds strong relationships across teams and external partners.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Skilled at leveraging metrics and evaluation to demonstrate impact.
• Change Management: Adept at leading teams through growth, adaptation, innovation, and transformation.

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