Civic Action Project, CEO & President

COCO Search (Civic Action Project)
-Boston, MA, United States

Tagged: Education, Civic Engagement

*** 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…