FAQs Interim Exec. Dir. Candidates

The Interim ED program is an essential element of ESC’s comprehensive Executive Transition Management strategy. An Interim ED responds to the unique needs of organizations during the period of leadership transition when there is a required or desired gap between permanent Executive Directors. This intentional strategy brings in a seasoned outside interim professional who helps board and staff ensure stability, address important systems/capacity issues and lay the groundwork to assure the next leader’s success. Using a qualified Interim helps take the pressure off an organization’s board to rush though the hiring process just to fill a vacancy, and in some cases can enable the board to resolve major organizational issues prior to the hiring of a new executive.

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2. I’m between jobs and looking for the right next permanent position. Is being an Interim ED for ESC an option for me?

Probably not. ESC Interim ED candidates are either self-employed consultants or semi-retired or retired Executive Directors. Interim ED job opportunities do not happen on a regular basis and opportunities are not guaranteed since they are a function of client demand. Expecting to find the right Interim-ED position during a job search is unrealistic. Additionally, when you accept an interim position, the expectation is that you will stay with the client agency throughout the entire length of their interim period and not leave the assignment prematurely. For this reason, we do not accept people who are looking for permanent work into the Interim ED program.

3. Do Interim EDs ever go on to being hired for the permanent position?

The Interim ED is never a candidate for the permanent position. ESC presents Interim EDs to potential client organizations as individuals who are especially suited to helping agencies meet the challenges of transition because of the neutrality they bring as outsiders as well as their commitment to focus on clear time-specific client goals. Becoming a candidate for the permanent position creates a conflict of interest and negates that neutrality..

4. I’ve never been an Executive Director before. Is the Interim ED program at ESC a good way to learn?

No. Interim ED positions can be challenging assignments that require candidates to have a high level of experience of working effectively with boards and staff, sometimes in pressurized and emotionally-charged environments. Those who will be considered for the ESC Interim ED pool are exclusively current and former executive directors with deep, successful experience in nonprofit executive management and with a clear interest in serving in this role for organizations facing leadership transition.

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5. As I am an experienced ED, will I have to undertake any training to become an ESC Interim ED?

Yes. Before a candidate can join ESC’s Interim ED referral pool they must complete the two-day training course. The training has been designed to equip experienced EDs with the tools, skills and confidence to face the sorts of challenges and obstacles that emerge during temporary leadership assignments. The course also offers candidates an invaluable opportunity to build peer relationships with other interims in the ESC pool, thereby providing a forum for sharing ideas and experiences as their assignments progress.

The modest training fee, which also includes lunch and a comprehensive toolkit, represents a small investment in each candidate’s ongoing professional development. ESC’s Interim ED training program is the only course of its kind in Chicago. It has been designed and will be led by national experts in the field of nonprofit executive transition management who are able to draw on a wealth of personal experience from working with Interim EDs across the US. Those who complete the training not only become part of ESC’s Interim ED referral pool but can also utilize and market the essential skills acquired on this course for their own independent work.

6. How do I get assigned to an Interim ED position?

When a client agency contracts with ESC for assistance in finding an Interim ED, ESC will conduct an onsite assessment to identify the key areas that should be addressed by the Interim. From that information a skills profile and Interim ED job announcement is developed. We then match the needs of the agency with the known skills of the Interim EDs in our pool. If we feel the position is a match for your skills and interests we will send you the job announcement. Once you have confirmed your interest we will forward your resume to the client for consideration. If they, in turn, are interested in your qualifications ESC will contact you and schedule an interview. ESC refers up to three candidates from the pool to each Interim ED client agency, so you will be competing with your peers for any given Interim ED position.

7. If I am hired as an Interim ED, do I become an ESC employee?

No. While you represent the quality of the ESC program and are expected to support the mission of ESC to the clients, you are not an employee of ESC. When offered a position, the Interim ED negotiates and agrees on terms and compensation directly with the client organization.

Some Interims negotiate for part-time temporary employee status, others as paid hourly consultants (independent contractors). ESC does not dictate the terms of the agreement, but suggests to client agencies that they consider IRS regulations regarding employee vs. consultant status in their hiring decision.

8. After I am hired as an Interim ED by an organization, what is my relationship with ESC?

The client agency remains an ESC client for the duration of your interim assignment, regardless of whether or not they contract ESC for any additional assistance beyond Interim ED referrals. Your performance and professionalism will be considered a direct link with ESC since the client will always consider you as the ‘Interim from ESC’. As such, you will be expected to perform to the highest standards possible by both the client and ESC and you will be required to report to ESC as needed.

Frequently the Interim ED will be teamed up with an ESC Executive Transition Management consultant or consulting team, which will often have been in place prior to the interim’s arrival. In such cases the Interim ED and ETM team are expected to negotiate a coordinated work plan to ensure the full transition needs and goals of the client are met in a timely and effective manner.

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9. Can I contract with the client directly for other work beyond the Interim ED job description?

In participating in the ESC program you are agreeing to promote and support ESC services and not compete for additional work with the client. For example, it is often the case that an Interim ED client agency has postponed their decision to proceed with the search for their permanent ED until they have an Interim ED in place, or are similarly deferring onset of strategic planning or addressing other critical organizational issues. It is expected that you will promote ESC as the appropriate assistance for such when applicable.

10. Will I ever be expected to do the search for the permanent ED?

The Interim ED’s role is most commonly to manage the day-to-day activity of the organization and address identified organizational issues. ESC typically informs a client agency that expecting the Interim ED to also conduct a search is not an efficient approach; it normally detracts them from the other responsibilities required for the Interim role.

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11. Will ESC provide me with support while I am serving as an Interim ED?

Yes. ESC will be available to you on an as-needed basis to provide you with support and referrals to other sources of support throughout your Interim position. You will be provided with the name and number of the ESC Interim ED Coordinator who will be available to assist you. Other resources that are available to you are peer group meetings at ESC with other members of the ESC Interim ED program.

12. Are Interim ED positions full-time and what kind of payment can I expect?

Most Interim ED assignments are approximately 24-30 hours per week. This time frame aligns with most Interim EDs’ need or desire to not be engaged full-time and also with an agency’s interim leadership needs. On rare occasions an agency may express a need for someone full-time due to extenuating circumstances, but about 24 hours a week is typical.

The current rate for Interim ED services is $65-$95 per hour without benefits. This amount is typically lower than a consultant’s regular hourly rate for contract work, but it is a market-rate balance between an Interim having a guaranteed number of hours over an extended period and what an agency can realistically pay for that extended period. The rate of $65-$95 per hour for a 24 hour week often coincides with an agency’s line item budget for the permanent position with benefits.

13. How long do Interim ED assignments last?

Interim ED assignments usually run approximately 4-8 months. An assignment will sometimes go beyond 8 months if the agency needs more time to prepare itself for a successful search for their new permanent ED. We try to estimate the expected length of the position up front, but it is not always possible to do so accurately.

14. Will I be expected to sign an agreement with ESC in order to be included in the Interim ED program?

Yes. When you complete your training, you will be required to sign an Operating Agreement that specifies conditions and expectations regarding your participation in the ESC referral pool and your work with client agencies.

15. Does ESC charge me a fee for matching me with interim ED assignments?

The only cost to the Interim is a modest up-front, one-time cost for training, which includes ongoing professional development opportunities. Satisfactory completion of the training entitles the Interim to be part of the referral pool at no additional cost.

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For more information about becoming an Interim ED

Contact etm@esc-chicago.org or call 312-580-1840 X324.

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