Chief Executive Officer

Maven Recruiting & Consulting; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Maven Recruiting & Consulting seeks a CEO to guide a prominent Chicago-based workforce development organization at the intersection of workforce development, education, and public-sector partnerships. The CEO will provide strategic, operational, financial leadership and be a trusted partner to the Board, balancing vision with execution while strengthening internal systems and external credibility.

Key priorities include strategy, grants and compliance oversight, building a high-performing team,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant senior executive leadership experience in complex, stakeholder-intensive environments.
• Experience with workforce development, education, or economic development systems is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, operational, financial, and external leadership for the organization.
• Balance vision with execution while strengthening internal systems and external credibility.
• Lead and develop a high-performing executive team and organizational culture.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial stewardship

Board governance

Stakeholder management

Public-sector experience

Change leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Compensation: Up to $250,000, commensurate with experience

Maven Recruiting & Consulting has been retained to conduct a confidential national search for a Chief Executive Officer to lead a prominent Chicago-based workforce development organization operating at the intersection of workforce development, economic opportunity, employer competitiveness, education, labor, community impact, and public-sector partnership.

The organization operates within a highly visible and complex ecosystem of government entities, employers, community-based organizations, education and training partners, workforce stakeholders, funders, and civic leaders.

The next CEO will have an opportunity to lead an organization with significant regional impact while strengthening its strategy, infrastructure, financial and operational performance, partnerships, and long-term sustainability.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The CEO will provide strategic, operational, financial, and external leadership for the organization while serving as a trusted partner to the Board and key public, private, civic, and community stakeholders.

This executive will be expected to balance vision with execution—strengthening internal systems and organizational performance while maintaining the external relationships and public credibility necessary to advance the organization's mission.

Key priorities include:

• Establishing and executing a clear, forward-looking organizational strategy
• Providing strong financial, operational, grants, compliance, and risk oversight
• Leading and developing a high-performing executive team and organizational culture
• Strengthening systems, infrastructure, data, technology, and performance management
• Building productive relationships across government, employers, labor, education, philanthropy, and community organizations
• Advancing employer-responsive workforce and economic opportunity strategies
• Convening diverse stakeholders around regional workforce priorities
• Strengthening organizational sustainability and diversifying resources
• Ensuring transparency, accountability, measurable outcomes, and public confidence

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We are seeking a credible, politically astute, nonpartisan, and highly collaborative executive leader who brings both strategic vision and strong financial and operational discipline.

Competitive candidates will demonstrate significant senior executive leadership within a complex organization, public-purpose enterprise, workforce or economic development system, nonprofit, government, education, human services, employer/talent ecosystem, or similarly regulated and stakeholder-intensive environment.

The successful candidate should bring demonstrated experience in several of the following areas:

• Enterprise-level executive and organizational leadership
• Financial and operational stewardship within a substantial, multi-funder or grant-driven environment
• Board governance and executive-level stakeholder management
• Public-sector, governmental, regulatory, or politically complex environments
• Workforce development, economic development, education, employer talent, labor, or human services
• Organizational transformation, change leadership, and senior team development
• Employer engagement and cross-sector partnership development
• Resource development and revenue diversification
• Performance management, accountability, and measurable outcomes
• Public communication and regional convening

Experience with WIOA, federally or state-funded workforce programs, workforce boards, American Job Centers, public grants, or similarly regulated funding environments is highly valued.

A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and executive experience is required. An advanced degree is preferred.

LEADERSHIP STYLE

The successful CEO will be:

This individual must be equally comfortable in the boardroom, with public officials, engaging employers and funders, working alongside community partners, and leading internally.

COMPENSATION

The anticipated compensation is competitive and may reach approximately $250,000 for an exceptionally qualified candidate, along with a comprehensive executive benefits package.

All inquiries, nominations, referrals, and candidate materials will be handled with appropriate discretion and confidentiality.

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