President and Chief Executive Officer – 2023 Search

A complete position description may be found here. The search timeline is located here.

The President and Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Chair of the Board of Trustees. The President and Chief Executive Officer is evaluated on an annual basis by the board’s Executive Committee.

Omicron Delta Kappa seeks a visionary leader skilled in driving organizational success and empowering high performing staff. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will have overall management responsibility for a growing, impactful collegiate society.

Combining inspirational leadership and strong management abilities, they will advance the society in terms of culture, capability, processes, and impact. While working closely with the society’s executive team, the President/CEO will inspire innovation and ensure that the society is continually well equipped to advance its mission, vision, and leadership values.

The President/CEO will be responsible for initiating, cultivating, and extending relationships with the organization’s portfolio of individual, foundation, and corporate supporters, and to ensure the society’s financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves.

The President and Chief Executive Officer’s specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Guide the Society in the development and implementation of strategic plans; monitor completion of goals and objectives; provide progress reports as appropriate. Administer the day-to-day operations of the Society
• Provide leadership and vision for fundraising and advancement initiatives for the Society, including annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving
• Travel on behalf of the Society to visit members, donors, circles, host colleges and universities, and prospective circle institutions
• Manage, with the O∆K Board of Trustees, the governance of the Society; maintain governing documents of the Society
• Serve as a spokesperson for O∆K and its mission of collaborative and inclusive leadership
• Implement policies for O∆K as directed by the Board of Trustees
• Oversee all financial operations of O∆K, including appropriate administration of resources and assets, including the National Headquarters facility; identify and develop non-membership and fundraising revenue opportunities; secure lines of credit as necessary; evaluate investment strategy; and ensure annual audit and compliance with financial regulations
• Evaluate technology platforms and current use including those supporting membership recruitment, processing, and engagement; member recognition; member, donor, circle, and institution information; financial administration; and board operations
• Champion data integrity for circles, advisors and collegiate officers, members, volunteers, and donors
• Oversee the member, circle officer, and host campus communications, including the coordination of the website, magazine (The Circle), and social media platforms
• Promote and administer current programming, including the annual National Leadership Conference, awards given for exemplary leadership and/or service to the Society, scholarships, circle grants, community service initiatives, gift of membership, and ethical leadership development workshops
• Develop and introduce new programs as appropriate; sunset current programs as necessary
• Secure and promote external member benefits such as travel and entertainment discounts, educational experiences and opportunities, and access to professional services

Candidates will be required to possess a master’s degree and a minimum of 15 years of relevant professional work experience with a record of progressive responsibilities in educational administration or non-profit or government organization leadership. It is preferred that the candidate have non-profit or board governance experience, membership and volunteer service in Omicron Delta Kappa, and an earned doctoral or other terminal degree.

The ideal candidate will be:

• An enthusiastic champion of the Society who will find ways to connect not only with current members, but seek to make the Society relevant to a new generation of prospective collegiate members
• A leader with integrity and credibility, able to develop relationships with members, circles, headquarters staff, and the Board of Trustees
• An experienced financial manager who is able to ensure fiscal stability for the Society
• Trustworthy and capable of operating at the highest standards of ethical behavior
• Able to encourage collaboration amongst multiple stakeholders
• Excited to engage a diverse and inclusive membership, and seek ways to support the Society’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusivity
• Experienced in conflict management and resolution
• Willing to travel on behalf of the Society

Omicron Delta Kappa offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including the following:

• Double match (up to 5% of base salary) to the Society’s TIAA retirement plan
• Health insurance coverage as well as contributions to a health savings account
• Three weeks paid vacation per year in addition to paid holidays (to be used in accordance with the Society’s policies)
  • Paid holidays: Christmas Day through New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (or President’s Day when OΔK responsibilities require work on MLK, Jr. Day), Juneteenth, Presidential election day (every four years)
• Sick leave – accruing 8 hours per month
• Travel reimbursement for official trips (employee may retain for personal use any points earned for frequent-flyer miles and hotels)
• Travel insurance on official business
• Workers’ compensation coverage
• Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance coverage
• Optional participation (at employee cost) in life insurance available through the Society’s plan
• Educational reimbursement for some coursework/training subject to approval of the Board of Trustees
• Professional memberships, attendance at conferences, and professional training as subject to approval by the Board of Trustees

While the Society’s National Headquarters are housed at the Johnson Center for Leadership in the historic Lexington, Virginia, train station, the daily expectations and requirements of the position may be completed remotely. Currently, the Society has two full-time remote, one part-time remote employee, three hybrid, and two full-time onsite employees.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, list of at least three professional references, and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Omicron Delta Kappa, as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected. Preference will be given to those candidates who submit an application by January 31, 2023.

Cynthia “Cie” Cochran is the special projects coordinator who is supporting the search. Application materials should be emailed to cie@odk.org – documents should be addressed to the search committee co-chairs, Willie L. Banks, Jr. and Peter A. Christiaans.

Nominations may also be sent to the attention of the search committee chairs at cie@odk.org.

All inquiries will be held in confidence.

• Willie Banks, co-chair (University of Georgia, 2002)
• Peter A. Christiaans, co-chair (University of Miami, 1993)
• W. “Beau” T. Dudley (Washington and Lee University, 1979)
• Melissa M. Cancio (Florida International University, 2016)
• Michael T. Benson (Southern Utah University, 2012)
• Andristine M. Robinson (St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 1999)
• Darwin C. Jones (University at Albany, 2004)
• Jamie F. Bouldin (Stephen F. Austin State University, 2004)
• Maureen E. Morgan (Marietta College, 1992)
• Caroline L. Sangal (University of Akron, 1997)