About Baker Industries
Baker Industries (Baker) is one of the Philadelphia region’s most highly regarded workforce development programs serving and employing adults with barriers to employment since 1980. Each year, Baker provides paid work assignments and job readiness training in a trauma-informed setting for up to 200 individuals challenged by parole/probation, substance use disorder, disability, and homelessness. We bring talented, traditionally undervalued people off the sidelines into the workforce, working in a collaborative team environment to build skills and capabilities that prepare them for success with local companies. Dozens of individuals make the leap from Baker Industries to regular employment annually.
Unique among workforce development programs, Baker program participants perform real work for real customers for a real wage. We serve a wide range of local companies with packaging and mailing services, competing every day with for-profit entities. We believe there is no substitute for real work experience to prepare individuals for regular employment. We perform our work in two large, well-maintained warehouse operations, one in north Philadelphia (Kensington) and one in the western Philly suburbs (Malvern).
Individuals earn a paycheck from Baker Industries, along with innovative job readiness training and coaching that helps them reach their potential as effective and productive employees. Dozens progress to regular employment each year. Baker Industries strengthens communities across Philadelphia. We believe that a good job is foundational to addressing systemic poverty, recidivism, recovery and financial stability. Baker Industries says “yes” to job seekers who often only hear “no.” In doing so, Baker Industries changes lives.
Learn more about Baker Industries at https://www.bakerindustries.org/.
The Opportunity
Baker Industries is looking for a President who can build upon a strong foundation of tradition, while also bringing an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset as Baker Industries looks to the future. The President will be responsible for overseeing and leading on strategic initiatives, trauma-informed programming, operational efficiency, dynamic fundraising, and excellent customer relations. Additionally, the President will continue to foster collaborative community partnerships that forward Baker’s mission and increase impact.
With an annual budget ranging from $2.2M - $2.4M, eight full-time staff, four part-time staff, and up to 70 program participants, the President will be inheriting a strong balance sheet and team of people to help realize its mission. The President will bring a creative approach to revenue generation building upon a strong donor base of grants, individual giving, and business revenue from our packing services.
Reporting into the Board of Directors consisting of 21 diverse and talented professionals from across the Philadelphia business and community service sphere, the President will be a collaborative and communicative leader.
Leading with empathy and compassion, the President will be a hands-on leader, not only for the team but also the employees working within the program. Open to new ways to scale and impact, the President will bring a growth-mindset ensuring that Baker Industries thrives in a dynamic landscape. The role is a unique opportunity to not only lead an organization focused on lasting impact but also support and serve a community that has been underserved.