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Organizational Overview: Northwestern University Settlement House

Northwestern University Settlement House (Northwestern Settlement) has spent more than 135 years helping children, families, and communities build stronger futures, evolving into a comprehensive social service organization serving people of all ages throughout Chicago and beyond. Today, Northwestern Settlement provides early childhood education, a charter school for elementary and middle school students, after-school mentorship and enrichment, emergency services, food distribution, outdoor education and summer camp at a year-round Wisconsin campus, and mental health services for individuals, families, and groups in multiple locations. 

Northwestern Settlement is unified around the vision that the people they serve will be better prepared to seize opportunities and build a foundation for greater personal success within stronger communities. Built on fundamental values and a call to nurture, educate and inspire, Northwestern Settlement is driven by collaboration with the purpose to co-create alongside community, innovating with managed risk and operating with compassion, respect and a commitment to excellence. 

Position Summary: President & Chief Executive Officer

Northwestern Settlement seeks an accomplished, highly collaborative, and external-facing President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization into its next chapter of impact and growth. The next CEO will be responsible for translating Northwestern Settlement's mission and strategic direction into measurable results. This is a highly external and relationship-driven leadership role. This individual must be equally comfortable building trusted relationships in the community, championing educational outcomes, developing and scaling effective programs, cultivating philanthropic support, and ensuring strong financial and organizational performance. Most importantly, the CEO will ensure that program growth is accompanied by measurable impact, financial sustainability, strong organizational systems, and meaningful engagement with the communities Northwestern Settlement serves. 

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will be the primary ambassador for Northwestern Settlement and will work on behalf of the organization with families, students, staff, donors, government and civic leaders, partner organizations, schools, foundations, corporations, and the broader Chicago community. 

Location, Compensation and Benefits

This position is based in Chicago, Illinois. The CEO is expected to maintain a visible and accessible presence among Northwestern Settlement’s staff and throughout the community it serves.

Northwestern Settlement offers a competitive executive compensation package, including a base salary of $285,000, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.