Position- General Secretary / Chief Executive Officer
Company - Wespath Benefits and Investments
Location- Glenview, IL
Reporting Relationship - Board of Directors
Website - www.wespath.org

COMPANY INFORMATION

Wespath is a not-for-profit agency that has been serving The United Methodist Church (UMC) for over a century. In accordance with its fiduciary duties, Wespath administers benefit plans and, together with its subsidiaries, including Wespath Institutional Investments, invests over $28 billion in assets on behalf of over 100,000 participants and over 100 United Methodist-affiliated institutions (as of December 31, 2020).

Wespath invests in a sustainable manner that seeks to achieve positive financial, social, and environmental impact while upholding the values of the UMC. Wespath maintains the largest reporting faith-based pension fund in the world. Wespath works globally with corporations to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, with a focus on responsible and sustainable investing.

A unique, values-driven organization, Wespath has been awarded recognition year-over-year as “a great place to work.” The Glenview, IL headquarters building has also been awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for efficiencies in the building’s design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Wespath strives to lessen its environmental impact, reinforcing the organization’s core value of stewardship.

Our Mission: We care for those who serve by providing investment and benefit services that honor the mission and principles of The United Methodist Church.

Our Values: Our six core values are teamwork, integrity, stewardship, spirituality, customer satisfaction and mutual respect.

Operating Divisions:

Wespath Institutional Investments

The Wespath Institutional Investments serves the needs of institutional investors through a multi-manager platform of broadly diversified funds, positive social purpose lending, and the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into our investment strategy.

Retirement Plan Services

Retirement Plan Services administers the denomination’s retirement plans, in partnership with United Methodist Church (UMC) annual conferences and other plan sponsors, to help assure clergy, surviving spouses and lay workers receive financial benefits at retirement.

Health, Well-Being and Welfare

Wespath seeks to improve multiple dimensions of health and well-being—physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and financial—for clergy and lay workers of the UMC and their families. We provide health and welfare plans to UMC annual conferences and other plan sponsors.

Central Conference Pensions

Central Conference Pensions (CCP) provides retirement support for clergy and surviving spouses in the Church conferences outside the United States. The initiative is developing sustainable pension plans where none previously existed. CCP provides funding for immediate pension support and education and training to help each region develop its own self-funded pension program.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer will report directly to the Board of Directors of Wespath. The direct reports include the Chief Operating Officer; Chief Financial and Information Officer; Chief Legal and Governance Officer and Chief Investment Officer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Wespath Benefits and Investments, functions as chief fiduciary and is responsible for providing visionary leadership, guidance, and management to the organization and its staff.
Specific responsibilities of the General Secretary/CEO will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Leadership

• Provide exemplary, innovative, and inspired executive leadership within the Wespath organization
• Provide leadership in the UMC, as part of the Connectional Table, and through key engagements with other agencies of the UMC. The CEO will not only need to comprehend the structures, disciplines and processes of the UMC, but will also need to provide leadership for them as a servant leader
• Create an ethical, sustainable, diverse, and inclusive working environment, such that Wespath operates in the highest aspirations of the United Methodist Church and in compliance with state, federal, and international law, regulatory organizations, and business partnerships.
• Model the value of diversity and provide leadership on diversity initiatives throughout the organization.
• Instill care, compassion, empathy for the benefit participants, staff members, board members and other constituencies.

Vision

• Work with the Board to analyze, evaluate, and implement a clear, distinctive, and comprehensive vision of what Wespath will become in the future, balancing the realities of the business model with the mission and changes within the United Methodist Church.
Strategy
• Establish and implement current and long-range goals, objectives, and policies as well as systems to continually assess key indicators of organizational performance, institutes methods for continuous improvement of those key indicators.
• Assess the overall environment and, with the Board of Directors, chart the course of the organization in response to developing needs of The United Methodist Church and formulate sound strategies and plans to meet those needs.
Communication
• Communicate effectively; translate and interpret Wespath’s mission, issues, and other important information regarding the organization to a broad range of constituencies.
Management
• Ensure that the benefit plans are well managed and that the participants have financial security.
• Strive for outstanding investment performance and provide stewardship of the investment resources which reflects the organization’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainability.
• Ensure the strong financial health of Wespath, which will provide necessary funds for beneficiaries, and for future growth whenever possible.
• Attract and manage an effective, motivated, cohesive, and high-performance executive team.

External Affairs

• Significant involvement in the ongoing preparation for the General Conference.
• Represents Wespath as the largest participant in the Church Alliance.
• Serve as the chief spokesperson for Wespath.
• Ensure that the interests of Wespath are fully represented to all external regulatory bodies - local, state, federal, and international.
• Maintain and enhance key business relationships that help foster the mission of Wespath.

Board of Directors

• Keep the Board informed and engaged in all areas of corporate board oversight/responsibility.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors to develop prioritized goals, objectives, and initiatives to be carried out within specified time frames

DESIRED COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Vision – Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Global Perspective – Taking a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens.
• Courage – Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Balances Stakeholders – Anticipating and appreciating the varying needs of all parties invested in outcomes.
• Navigates Networks – Effectively building formal and informal relationships inside and outside the organization.
• Engages and Inspires – Creating a climate in which people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
• Situational Adaptability – Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
• Manages Ambiguity – Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.
• Ensures Accountability – Holding self and others accountable for meeting commitments.
• Aligns Execution – Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.

YEAR ONE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

• Establish broad-based relationships across the organization. Develop trust amongst the Board, Senior Leadership team, and broader UMC community.
• Listen, learn, and ask questions to understand the needs for UMC.
• Continue the trajectories in place (i.e., technology, cyber security, commitment to diversity & inclusion, etc.).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• 10 years of proven executive leadership and management.
• Active membership in his/her local United Methodist Church.
• Demonstrated level of investment acumen, and awareness of financial markets.
• Expertise in employee benefits systems with large plan experience and investments experience is ideal.
• Commitment to inclusiveness and to facilitating conflict resolution in a fair and equitable manner.
• Extensive experience working in a diverse environment.

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

• It is required that the successful candidate be a Methodist and an active member of his/her local United Methodist Church. The candidate must be committed to acquiring a thorough knowledge and comprehension of structures, discipline, institutions and functioning of The United Methodist Church and its related agencies.

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in management, business or finance is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

KORN FERRY CONTACTS

Lauren Metzler
Senior Associate
200 Park Avenue
33rd Floor
New York, NY 10166
(212) 973-5826
[email protected]