Chief Executive Officer

Chicago, IL, United States

JASC History

The Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) has served its

community with great care and integrity for 77 years. JASC was

founded by community members, with support from prominent local

academics, in late 1945, and incorporated as the Chicago Resettlers

Committee in 1946 in conjunction with the closing of the Chicago

office of the War Relocation Authority. The organization’s initial

focus was on jobs and housing for the tens of thousands of Japanese

Americans arriving in Chicago from incarceration camps. By the

mid-1950s, the organization was renamed as the Japanese American

Service Committee reflecting its shift to providing social

services. JASC supported seniors with the building of the Heiwa

Terrace Retirement Community and the Keiro Long Term Care Facility,

as well as creating its Home Support Services and Adult Day

Services. Since then, JASC’s programs have evolved to encompass a

myriad of community, cultural, and educational programs serving not

only the Japanese American community but the broader multi-racial

and -ethnic communities at large. Chicago’s Japanese American

history is a unique collection of ancestor stories and experiences,

lessons of history, and cultural values that serve as increasingly

relevant examples to others. As the need to preserve these

important stories, records and artifacts grew more urgent, JASC’s

Legacy Center archives and library was born as a resource to

scholars and the broader community. As a 77-year-old organization,

JASC feels an everlasting duty to adapt and change its programs to

best serve the physical, emotional, and social well-being of its

community.

The Japanese term, 伝統の継承, pronounced “dentou no keishou,” means

passing along a heritage to the next generation or to leave a

legacy. Historically, the Japanese concept of tradition is one of

unwavering continuity rather than celebrating individual innovation

in any one generation. One of the things that makes the JASC

special is taking the gift of knowledge and traditions learned in

previous generations and figuring out how to make the most of it in

creating works that fully respect the spirit of each era. The scope

of JASC’s programs and services have grown far beyond its humble

beginnings to serve a community wider than its founders could have

imagined. By “living our legacy,’ JASC creates a living culture and

hopes to live the values it cherishes through actions every

day.

JASC Mission &

Impact

JASChas

evolved into an organization that serves people of all ages, races,

and ethnicities from a foundation of Japanese American values. The

core of JASC’s mission is to preserve and raise awareness of

Japanese American culture, heritage, and experience, and to promote

the physical and spiritual well-being of Japanese Americans and the

greater multicultural community in the Midwest.

JASC programs include:

Adult Day Services and Home Services in a social, caring, and

medically supervised environment;

Home Support Services for isolated seniors needing quality care

at home;

Youth Volunteer Program offering leadership and volunteer

opportunities to help empower the next generation of leaders;

Annual scholarships to high school and college students. To

date, JASC has stewarded over 140 scholarships totaling

$230,000+;

The Legacy Center, an archive of materials that reflect the

history of Chicago’s Japanese American community. The Center

contains rare books, unique personal collections of documents and

photographs, and other artifacts that provide a window into the

experiences of Japanese Americans from the late 19th century to the

present day with a focus on WWII incarceration and resettlement in

Chicago. The Legacy Center is the Chicago area’s only publicly

accessible, professionally managed, community-based archive

specializing in Japanese American history;

Tampopo Kai and Donguri Kai exposing and educating children

about Japanese culture, customs, and language;

Japanese language, art and cultural classes for all ages;

Community events such as the Holiday Delight and Kodomo Matsuri

(children’s festival) celebration, Soup and Rice, along with

co-sponsored events such as Kagami-Biraki (traditional January

mochi ceremony), Day of Remembrance, Japan Fest, the Japanese

community picnic, and various author presentations, film showings,

and other programs.

Looking forward, JASC is creating a bright and sustainable

future. In 2024, JASC is renovating and opening a new $8 million,

34,000 square feet forever home at 5700 N. Lincoln Avenue, a true

destination center for the community. This new building will open a

world of possibilities for program growth, longevity, and more

opportunities to bring the community together.

The Role

JASC is at an

inflection point. With its 77-year history as inspiration, an

exciting new space, and a foundation of successful programs and

community supporters, the organization is poised to take its impact

to the next level. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief

Executive Officer (CEO) will be a visionary leader who is

future-focused and capable of thoughtfully building upon JASC’s

legacy. The CEO will be an inspiring and seasoned executive leader

who is entrepreneurial, a convener of ideas and people, and has a

proven track record of delivering on strategic plans. By virtue of

assuming the CEO position, this individual will become a critical

leader and spokesperson in the Japanese Americancommunity and

Chicago’s broader cultural community with a seat on the Chicago

Japanese American Council and the Chicago Cultural Alliance and

other national networks.

Scope and Responsibilities

The CEO will be an executive leader who will guide the

organization, its leadership and team through its next phase of

growth. The CEO will be committed to JASC’s mission and lead in all

aspects of its evolution, while working collaboratively with its

board, staff, and community to build and strengthen its regional

and national impact.

Leadership

Organizational Leadership: Ensure the

effective and thoughtful delivery of programs and activities that

advance JASC’s mission and values. Be the face of JASC by creating

visibility for the organization, representing its purpose and

impact to internal and external audiences.

People Leadership: Provide people-centric

leadership ensuring JASC creates a culture that attracts the right

talent, participants, volunteers, and supporters to the

organization and builds a sustainable team of people to ready to

lead and work together for purpose.

Executive Leadership: Maintain executive-level

business acumen and communication to manage the business side of

JASC, including its ongoing operation, finance, administration,

fundraising, communications, and community relations.

Community Leadership: As a key leader and

spokesperson in the community at large, actively engage and

collaborate with the JASC community, board members, staff,

volunteers, partner organizations, government entities, interested

scholars and academic institutions, and funders. Position JASC as a

catalyst of ideas relevant to the Japanese American community.

Strategic Planning: In collaboration with its

leadership, create a strategic plan for JASC’s next phase, and

develop a vision that will serve as a roadmap for the JASC’s

future.

Management

Mission: Be mission-focused, working

effectively and collaboratively to establish JASC’s culture and

standards of excellence required to serve its mission.

Operations: Oversee the management of the

operations to ensure efficient systems, processes and an

organizational structure that allows team members to accomplish

individual and organizational goals laid out in the strategic

plan.

Budget: Ensure the organization maintains

strong financial health with proper financial management of its

budget, investments, fundraising, and risk profile.

People: Effectively provide direction,

motivate, oversee, and hold accountable JASC’s staff to deliver on

operational and strategic plans. Coach and develop people to

achieve their professional goals.

Fundraising & Communications

The CEO will play a critical role in leading and executing on

JASC’s fund development plan that supports the organization’s

goals, both short and long term;

Lead creative strategies to grow JASC’s donor base, secure

grants, plan events, engage corporate sponsors and other donors,

and find innovative ways to promote support the organization’s

work.

Support the organization in the completion of the Serve,

Preserve, Grow Campaign; work with the Board and team to build on

the momentum established with donors.

In collaboration with the Board and senior staff, lead the

cultivation and solicitation of significant donors; identify

opportunities to engage and solicit new donors.

Oversee the execution of all marketing and communications

efforts, working with senior staff to ensure creative and

consistent communication with JASC stakeholders.

Finance

Work with the Board to establish budgetary priorities and

manage the annual budget while maximizing its impact; monitor

JASC’s financial performance and report to the Board.

Establish financial plans to identify pathways for growth and

sustainability.

Ensure legal compliance, accountability, and proper risk

management.

Properly manage the organization’s investments, grants, gifts,

and overall portfolio.

Board Relations

Develop and support a strong Board of Directors; work

collaboratively with JASC’s Board Chair to develop a strategic

vision for engagement and recruitment.

Serve as an advisor and resource to the Board in the areas of

program, fundraising, governance, and finance; cultivate a strong

and transparent working relationship with the Board.

Seek and cultivate relationships on behalf of JASC with

individuals who might serve as Board members.

Provide ongoing reports to the Board on finance, fundraising,

program delivery and team management.

Work with the JASC Board Chair to prepare for Board

Meetings.

Other Qualifications

Affinity, inherent passion, and understanding of JASC’s

community; familiarity with Japanese American history and cultural

dynamics and a passion for preserving community history.

Related nonprofit, public administration, or related business

experience; experience in education or archival work a plus.

Experience leading strategic planning, setting a vision, and

ability to operationalize that vision, working at the strategic or

tactical level as necessary.

A strong track record of working with boards and staff to

deliver short and long term goals.

Proven experience in management, administration, systems

development, budgeting and staff management.

Experience managing and building effective teams and serving as

an effective internal leader.

Experience in an externally-facing leadership role.

An ability to cultivate effective relationships with and

mobilize the engagement of a wide variety of stakeholders (donors,

staff, corporate sponsors, government officials, audiences,

scholars and academic institutions, the national and international

arts community, the media).

Experience and familiarity with funding environments.

Bachelor’s or equivalent degree required; Master’s degree or

higher preferred.

Proficient in the use of Microsoft programs.

Personal /

Professional Attributes

Vision, an ability to see potential and develop plans to expand

an organization’s programs and reach.

Developed leadership skills; a flexible self-starter who is

nimble and able to navigate thoughtfully through change.

Excellent communication skills with a broad range of

constituents.

A developed understanding of how to develop operational

complexity as an organization grows.

A collaborative, solutions-oriented work style that

demonstrates initiative and sound judgment.

An ability to make persuasive presentations to assist in the

development of relationships for JASC.

Self-awareness and empathy; a healthy combination of confidence

and humility, political savvy, and a sense of humor.

An authentic commitment to JASC’s work and

accomplishments.

Self-motivation, integrity, sound judgement.

Additional

Information

Base compensation is commensurate with candidate experience,

estimated between $130K - $160K. As an equal opportunity employer,

JASC encourages applications from all individuals regardless of

age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status,

physical ability, or any other legally protected basis.

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