Chief Executive Officer

UTEC is looking for a new CEO to lead our next chapter of impact. Following in the footsteps of a long-serving and deeply respected CEO, Gregg Croteau, we are looking for a visionary, collaborative, and empathetic leader who can steward UTEC's powerful legacy while boldly steering us into the future. The CEO will build on UTEC's strong foundation grounded in deep commitment to justice-involved youth and our core values.

As CEO, you will serve as UTEC's chief executive, leading fundraiser, and external advocate. You will drive strategic direction across the organization and will work closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership to align our strategy with our new Theory of Change. You will champion strong fiscal management practices, guide performance improvement initiatives, and lead the organization's budgeting and financial strategy to ensure stability and growth. You will model inclusive leadership practices, ensuring that UTEC's programs and internal systems reflect a commitment to racial equity, youth empowerment, and social justice. And lastly, as CEO you will play an active role in securing diverse streams of support for UTEC's mission by cultivating donor relationships, strengthening the organization's profile, and building strategic alliances with policymakers and community leaders to amplify UTEC's impact.

To be successful the incoming CEO must balance visionary leadership with the ability to deliver measurable results, set clear priorities, empower a strong and committed team, and foster a data-driven culture of accountability all while maintaining a vibrant and inclusive organizational environment.

This is an ideal position for a dynamic, community-centered leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, community, and impact—someone committed to showing madd love to young adults, while continuing to build on UTEC's incredible legacy.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Vision and Direction

• Partner closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team to refine and execute the organization's Theory of Change and overall strategic priorities, ensuring alignment with UTEC's mission and vision for the future
• Maintain a focus on long-term impact, ensuring UTEC stays agile and adaptable in an ever-evolving landscape while remaining grounded in its core values and mission
• With support from program leaders and senior leadership, champion the development and implementation of innovative, scalable programs that directly address the needs of justice-involved youth while ensuring consistent program quality and impact
• Provide oversight and leadership in the areas of financial management, including guiding the budgeting process, ensuring the alignment of resources with strategic priorities, and ensuring long-term financial health and stability

Empowering People and Cultivating an Inclusive Culture

• Champion UTEC's commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion by modeling inclusive leadership practices, ensuring they are embedded in all programs, policies, and internal systems
• Promote staff development, ensuring that UTEC's talent acquisition, retention, and professional development strategies reflect the organization's DEI goals and commitment to fostering an environment of belonging and opportunity for all team members.
• Empower staff to thrive in their roles through mentorship, feedback, and support, ensuring alignment with the organization's broader mission and vision

Operational Excellence

• Lead organizational performance improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, impact, and operational transparency, ensuring that key financial metrics are met and organizational resources are maximized.
• Foster a high-performance organizational culture by overseeing systems and structures that support accountability, sustainability, and growth
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by guiding internal systems and processes to ensure they are responsive to both organizational goals and the needs of the communities served

Fundraising and External Leadership

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for UTEC, articulating the organization's impact, values, and future direction to external audiences, ensuring UTEC remains a respected voice in the justice-involved youth space
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to develop and implement strategies for diversified funding streams, with an emphasis on grant management, individual donors, and government partnerships
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government officials, community leaders, and policymakers, to increase UTEC's visibility and influence
• Leverage UTEC's strong community ties to build partnerships that will amplify the organization's mission, advancing both social and policy change for youth empowerment

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to the Board of Directors.
• You will supervise the Chief Development Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Social Enterprise Officer, Chief Program Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief People Officer, Executive Director for the Center of Excellence, Senior Policy Director, and Chief of Staff. They will oversee a staff of 101 team members.
• You will frequently collaborate with community partners, program participants and young adults at UTEC, public and law enforcement officials and agencies, and coalitions.

• At least 10 years of experience leading a nonprofit organization, preferably in the youth development or social justice space, with a focus on justice-involved youth
• Proven ability to set a bold strategic vision, charting a clear path for growth while staying true to an organization's mission and values
• Strong background in financial management, including overseeing budgeting, financial strategy, and securing diverse funding streams, ensuring fiscal health and sustainability
• Experience in developing and executing long-term strategies, particularly in collaboration with senior leadership teams and Boards of Directors
• Proven success in fundraising, including cultivating relationships with major donors, foundations, and government partners to support organizational growth
• Skilled at building and maintaining strategic partnerships with community leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders to amplify an organization's impact
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience embedding DEI practices across organizational culture, programs, and policies
• Ability to empower and lead senior leaders and staff at all levels, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and professional development
• Strong public speaking and advocacy skills, serving as an organization's primary spokesperson to represent its mission, values, and impact to varied and external audiences
• A commitment to understanding the challenges and opportunities related to justice-involved youth, ideally with past work designing or overseeing impactful programs in this area
• Brings a healthy sense of humor, a humble demeanor yet confident disposition and an ability to have fun while working hard

Location and Work Environment

This role is based in Lowell, Massachusetts and will require on-site presence. The role will also require occasional travel within and across Massachusetts, most significantly to UTEC's programs in Lawrence and Haverhill, as well as to the state house.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $225,000+ with the exact salary depending on experience and alignment to the key skills of the role.

To Learn More About Benefits

To learn more about what it is like to work at UTEC, click here.

UTEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and firmly believes in creating a workplace that respects and values diversity of all cultural, ethnic, and experiential backgrounds. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. As an organization committed to the success of justice-involved persons, we strongly encourage candidates who share the life experiences of the young adults we serve to apply.