Transition Planning and Management Services During this phase of the transition process, our ELSS Specialists:

• Establish and coach the Transition Committee to prepare the organization for the upcoming change

• Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Transition Committee and the ELSS Specialist

• Develop a transition plan with an appropriate timeline for managing the transition

• Initiate the process of finding an Interim Executive Director for the organization though the Support Center’s IED Referral Service

• Conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment by interviewing key stakeholders (board members, funders, staff, constituents), and reviewing documentation regarding governance, finance, fundraising, program operations and accountability

• Identify key issues influencing the transition

• Make recommendations regarding potential trouble areas and opportunities for increasing capacity during the transition

• Identify and clarify priorities and leadership roles of the board and staff

• Draft organizational expectations, requirements and attributes for the new executive director

• Assess and formulate appropriate infrastructure, board and staff change

• Build and renew relationships with key stakeholders

• Create a job description consistent with the organization’s current and future leadership needs as revealed by the organizational assessment
  

Search, Recruit, Select & Hire
During this phase of the transition process, our ELSS Specialists:

• Develop a strategic search plan and timeline with the Transition Committee

• Coach the Transition Committee on the entire “Search, Recruit, Select & Hire” process which includes the following:

1. Recommendation of various places to post the Executive Director Job Announcement (Internet, Print Media, Mailings, Email Blasts, etc.)
2. Strategic use and importance of networking to widen the applicant pool
3. Creation of appropriate and legal interview questions
4. Fair, legal, and applicable evaluation of the job applicants
5. Vetting of incoming resumes and adhering to the established evaluation criteria during screening

• Make candidate recommendations to the Transition Committee
• Sit in on select candidate interviews upon request
• Offer sample documents to assist the Transition Committee throughout the process (applicant evaluation forms, employment applications, employment offer letters, employment contracts, etc.)
  

Post-Transition Services
During this phase of the transition process, our ELSS Specialists:

• Facilitate the Orientation Process for the new Executive Director
• Assist the board and the new ED in clarifying their roles, responsibilities and expectations for their working relationship
• Facilitate board development to foster an effective working relationship between the board and the new ED
• Facilitate the process of establishing Performance Goals and an Evaluation Plan for the new ED
• Assist the board and the new ED in creating an effective Communication Plan
• Assist the board and new ED in establishing a Professional Development Plan for the new ED
• Coaching (one-on-one) to further develop pertinent skills and increase productivity and performance for the new executive director’s professional and personal success
• Mentoring (one-on-one) to support and assist the new executive director with the challenges and questions that arise while managing the day to day operations of the organization
• Peer network of new executive directors that meet quarterly to discuss issues and to share ideas and creative ways to solve problems from funding to management

Transition Resources & Information