General secretary's contract expires in 2011

General Secretary Ed Futa will leave Rotary International after 12 years of service when his contract expires in June. During his years with Rotary, Futa has provided the leadership and vision to carry forward the fight against polio and strengthen Rotary. He will be missed by RI staff and the Rotarians with whom he has worked.  

Rotary International is partnering with Korn/Ferry International on a global search for a new general secretary. Expressions of interest or recommendations of potential candidates will be held in strict confidence and should be sent to RotaryInternational@kornferry.com. The position specifications are listed below. 

Function and duties 

The general secretary serves as the chief operating officer for both Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the RI Secretariat with a staff of over 600 professionals. RI is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, USA, with offices in seven countries.  

Rotary International and the Foundation have a combined annual budget of over US$250 million with assets in excess of $1 billion. The general secretary has responsibility for all fiduciary and management issues for both corporations.  

The general secretary is responsible for all operations of the Secretariat, including but not limited to those functions related to finance, technology, programs, communications, strategic planning, and oversight of The Rotary Foundation. The general secretary is responsible for implementing the policies, strategies, and programs approved by the Board and Trustees.

Qualifications

Qualifications for a new general secretary will include the ability to lead a complex, global organization composed of deeply invested volunteers and a committed staff. The general secretary directs the staff in their efforts to work with Rotarian volunteers who together support and strengthen the clubs, focus and increase humanitarian service, and enhance the public image and awareness of Rotary International on a global scale.

The general secretary is instrumental in ensuring the success of RI's Strategic Plan and The Rotary Foundation's Future Vision Plan. This person should have excellent communication skills, serving as a visionary who communicates and illustrates the purpose and objectives of these plans to the staff and volunteers worldwide.  

The general secretary is expected to provide institutional leadership and keep the organization focused through routine changes in volunteer leadership. It is important that the general secretary be a transparent and motivational leader who is personable and approachable. This person will have the ability to manage both "up" and "down."  

In addition to working with the staff and volunteers, it will be necessary for the general secretary to interact with the media, government officials, and business leaders to generate visibility for RI globally and to forge strategic partnerships with organizations worldwide that share common objectives. 

Rotary International is a truly global organization. It is important that the general secretary have a global point of view and the ability to work across the varying cultures and global protocols represented throughout Rotary.  

The successful candidate will have held a leadership position in a multi-discipline organization (either not-for-profit or for-profit) at the CEO, COO, or other senior-level executive position with demonstrated success in management of an organization with a comparable operational budget and employee base. International business experience is preferred. The individual will have experience working with a board of directors. The general secretary reports directly to the RI Board of Directors and The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. 

RI is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors from around the world with equal representation of all 34 of its global zones. The Board is led by the president of Rotary International who is a volunteer and serves a one-year term.  

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are needed to work with both the volunteer Rotarian leaders and paid professional staff in carrying out the goals and objectives of RI and the Foundation.  

Being a Rotarian is helpful, but not required. It is important in either case that the individual be open to learning about Rotary and its values. Rotary is a service organization, and it will be important for the general secretary to be service oriented and passionate about the programs and mission of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. Proficiency in English is a requirement.      

For more information or to express interest or make a recommendation, please contact Korn/Ferry International at RotaryInternational@kornferry.com.