President/Chief Executive Officer

 

LSI is accepting applications through November 6, 2026 for this position

LSI is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the agency's President & CEO. The President will serve as an example of servant leadership and will provide direction to the organization, while ensuring an ongoing commitment to the agency's mission and its continued viability in the context of a changing and challenging human services environment.

What We Do  

As one of Iowa's largest human services agencies, LSI (Lutheran Services in Iowa) has a legacy of serving children and families for more than 150 years. We offer Iowans a wide array of services and support, from parenting education, foster care and adoptive support, mental and behavioral health services, services for immigrants and refugees, and services for people with disabilities. You can join us on our mission to provide hope and healing to Iowa families.  

Position Summary:

The LSI President/CEO is charged with promoting the mission, vision and values of the agency related to the provision of health and human services in Iowa, in alignment with the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). The President/CEO is responsible for stewardship of the organization's human and financial resources; strategic direction of the agency, subject to approval by the Board; and the assurance of the highest quality of care services. In collaboration with LSI Board and management, the President/CEO must be able to provide servant leadership and direction to the organization that will ensure both its ongoing commitment to mission and its continued viability in the context of a changing and challenging environment. The President/CEO provides leadership and direction in the creation and maintenance of a work environment that attracts, retains and empowers employees, creating an environment that supports their continued professional development.

Stakeholders:

The President/CEO serves the following stakeholders in a multi-cultural setting:

• Clients and families

• LSI staff members

• Donors and potential donors

• Community partners

• Funders and referral sources

• Legislators

• LSI Board of Directors

• LSI Foundation Board of Directors

• Iowa ELCA Synods

Job Responsibilities:

Visionary Leadership (creating the vision, generating results, change management)

• Provide leadership in establishing relevant, meaningful and effective organizational principles, standards, structures and values.

• Develop and assess the annual strategic plan for LSI on an ongoing basis.

• Deliver organizational results that meet or exceed strategic objectives and benchmarks.

• Through both personal example and professional leadership, demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the mission and values of LSI.

• Model exemplary ethical standards and comportment both within the organization and externally.

Executive Management (business planning, financial management, systems thinking, problem solving)

• Responsible for the stewardship of agency resources, including development, implementation, and maintenance of agency budget goals.

• Guide the leadership team in the achievement of the highest operational standards and efficiencies.

• Promote continuous quality improvement and service delivery that are aligned with LSI's mission, vision and values.

• Responsible for oversight of designated contracts and agreements, including monitoring for compliance, performance measures, progress reporting, and financial performance.

• Ensure that the organization maintains active accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting body.

Interpersonal Effectiveness (emotional intelligence, communication, relationship management)

• Achieve organizational alignment with strategic objectives through leadership, communication and transparency.

• Demonstrate servant leadership through an inclusive approach, active listening and team-building with staff, partner organizations and other stakeholders.

Talent Management

The CEO is responsible for:

• Ensuring a technically proficient, professional workforce.

• Ensuring a positive work culture that fosters professional growth and motivates staff          throughout the organization.

• Providing direct supervision and leadership to the LSI executive staff team.

• Fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion to ensure a workforce that reflects at all levels of the organization the diversity of the people LSI serves.

Stakeholder Relationships

The CEO assumes primary responsibility for maintaining strong relations with various internal and external constituents, including in the following areas:

• Represent LSI in external fora, including with partner organizations.

• Ensure LSI is regularly and positively represented to the public, including constituencies and governmental and regulatory agencies. Nurture relationships with state funding agencies. Utilize feedback from funders to build strong, healthy partnerships.

• Strengthen the agency's relationship with the Iowa Synods of the ELCA congregations and pastors, enhancing their opportunities for financial and volunteer involvement by creating programs that match their interests and capabilities with agency, client and community needs.

• Represent LSI in its efforts to develop collaborative working relationships with other providers; health associations; other Lutheran social ministry organizations; professional societies; business and political leaders; governmental agencies and organizations, and other key stakeholders.

• Understand and promote the agency's advocacy plan. Actively advocate at the local, state and national levels to help shape public policy.

• Actively participate in donor relations and the organization's fundraising activities.

Relations with Board of Directors

• Keep the LSI Board of Directors informed and engaged, to allow them to effectively and efficiently perform their fiduciary and governance duties.

• Report to the Board of Directors and serve as the interface between LSI and the board.

• Work collaboratively with the board to ensure that annual and long-term strategic objectives are met.

• Understand and effectively operationalize the tenets of the board policy manual.

• Keep the board apprised of regulatory, policy, and funding trends to position the agency to continue to adapt and thrive.

• Maintain regular and ongoing communication to build strong relationships with the entire board, providing support to members in the fulfillment of their functions.

Qualifications:

• Must have a completed master's degree in a qualifying field; MSW preferred.

• Ten years of full-time, progressive management experience in a multi-site, multi-service human service organization preferred, with a minimum five years of executive leadership experience required.

Competencies:

• Technical sector expertise: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the human services field; including human growth and behavior, social service systems, varying treatment modalities and interventions, evidence-based treatment models, trauma informed practices, crisis interventions, case management and client advocacy.

• Exceptional organizational development, change management and consensus-building skills: Ability to lead the creation of a shared vision for internal and external groups and to ensure alignment and communication of this vision.

• Strategic Planning & Implementation: Track record of significant responsibility in leading strategic planning and programs, and developing and managing people and processes. Possess a strong capability to lead the development of strategic and operational objectives and ensure their successful execution.

• Financial management: Demonstrate budget development skills and acumen, and fundraising experience.

• Servant leadership: Demonstrate a commitment to serving people, including employees, clients and stakeholders.

• Talent management: Strong human resource leadership, management, coaching and mentoring skills. Ability to help employees define and follow through with actions that support excellent performance and personal development, and that align with the core values of LSI. Demonstrated ability to develop a healthy team environment in which members actively participate, collaborate and support each other.

• Leadership & Teambuilding: Ability to foster and maintain a strong team approach among LSI, its board and other stakeholders. Skill in interacting with executive management and board members, and in leading staff in supporting the work of a board.

• Communication skills: Provide consistent and effective communication, both written and verbally. Skilled public speaker, able to represent LSI to external stakeholders.

• IT proficiency: Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel).

Physical Requirements:

• Position requires standing 15% of time, walking 15% of time and sitting 70% of time.

• This position requires occasional stair climbing, pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, crouching, and kneeling. Must be able to lift 20 pounds.

• Must have average hearing and visual acuity.

Other Requirements:

• Maintains a valid driver's license to operate a motor vehicle.

• Must meet and maintain agency insurance coverage requirements for secondary driving classification.

• Must submit, prior to hire, to various background checks to verify there are no convictions of crimes, founded child abuse and elder abuse reports, or unacceptable driving records.

How We'll Support You

In addition to joining our team, you'll be eligible for:

• A competitive salary
• Medical, vision and dental insurance
• 401(3b) with employer match
• Agency vehicle or mileage reimbursement for travel
• Paid time off

Who We Are

LSI is an equal opportunity employer. At LSI we respect diverse life experiences, cultures and heritages, and strive to provide that all voices are heard and valued. You can learn more about our commitment to inclusion at https://lsiowa.org/who-we-are/

LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations.

This position requires a valid driver's license, auto insurance, a good driving record and the ability to pass an extensive background check including checks of the Dependent Adult and Child Abuse registries, Sex Offender registry and a criminal history check.