Chief Executive Officer - Grandma's House of Hope

The new Chief Executive Officer of GHH will need to be skilled in donor/community relations and contributed income generation, and provide empowering leadership to a talented staff. He/she will represent the agency in collaborations with funders, contracting agencies and media platforms.

He/she will also need expertise in strategic business planning and be savvy in fiscal management and technological advances within a volatile service environment. He/she will need to be a resourceful problem-solver, provide empathetic leadership, maintain standards of active client interaction and ensure a positive environment.

 

 

GHH seeks to be a leader in the housing and supportive services field and to continue offering high caliber trauma-informed support and restorative care to the most vulnerable unsheltered individuals in OC, most of whom are survivors of trauma. The new CEO will help position the organization for long-term success and sustainability through diversified funding streams, strong donor relationships, robust partnerships, long-term staff retention and strong financial management.

POSITION DUTIES RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT:

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive plan for the acquisition of philanthropic funds from individuals, foundations and corporations; develop and interact with potential and current major donors;
• Maintain and enhance relationships with governmental funders who can or do support the service population; ensure adequate systems for solicitation and fulfillment of service commitments of all governmental contracts;
• Joyfully assume the role of chief storyteller, attaining wide visibility among all stakeholders as a leader in the field.

FISCAL INTEGRITY:

• Maintain, monitor and evolve financial recording and reporting systems to ensure accuracy, efficiency, safekeeping, and understandability for decision-making;
• Develop and monitor realistic budgets for each component of GHH, that will provide adequate information for governance decision-making and resources for agency programming; establish and maintain systems to ensure that managers comply with controlling costs; provide options for dealing with unexpected fluctuations;
• Work hand-in-hand with the Board to closely monitor GHH’s financial health, cash flow, reserves, investments and liabilities, and make informed, strategic decisions (financial and organizational) to best position the organization for long-term sustainability and impact. The new CEO will need to guide the organization onto more solid financial footing, make decisions to keep spending aligned with revenue, prepare GHH to repay debt, and build reserves.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT:

• Evaluate existing programming and research new opportunities to broaden services within fundable and needed categories of service;
• Maintain and monitor quality client services that are provided in safe, enjoyable, clean, well-maintained and supportive living environments; maintain systems for quality assurance and improvement;
• Ensure the solicitation, retention, evaluation and support of sufficient and qualified personnel to provide quality services to clients and maintain high-quality business operations;
• Ensure records and reports meet agency timelines and regulatory criteria; study and analyze recommended changes before implementation;
• Oversee operations in multiple locations and maintain policies, protocols and systems to ensure consistency with overall operational goals and contract requirements;

OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS:

• Maintain and grow an appropriate referral base; stay abreast of various community programs with which the agency can collaborate and encourage reciprocal referrals and collaborative delivery of services to meet clients’ needs;
• Actively engage in legislative advocacy to ensure that the needs and nuance of our client populations are visible to policy-makers and that realistic and sensible governmental support programs are put into place; participate in appropriate meetings and with necessary alliances for the benefit of the clients;
• Actively cultivate community partnerships to enhance credibility and visibility of GHH and to influence enlightened policy change.

SUPPORT FOR GOVERNANCE AND PLANNING:

• Maintain a keen eye on the changes in the field and present options to the board for their strategic decision making; maintain interactive engagement with organizational strategic planning processes and goal-setting;
• Provide primary staffing for the board to ensure its efficient and effective discharge of its duties; assist the board in its recruitment, diversity, development, orientation and training.

Qualities Sought

The ideal candidate for this position will be knowledgeable and passionate about GHH’s mission and will actively work to understand and honor its rich traditions. He/she will oversee and direct the programming, organizational leadership, fiscal, marketing and management activities needed to achieve the mission. The ideal candidate will have proven business and nonprofit management skills and be an inspirational and collaborative team builder and leader. The CEO      must exhibit a facilitative leadership style, active listening with a diverse group of people, a transparent work ethic, and openness in considering and valuing the contributions of many in a collective impact effort. Essential qualifications include:

• A history of successful resource generation among private and public funders;
• Demonstrable knowledge, understanding and passion for the diverse population served by GHH, along with knowledge of best practices in housing and social services and changes in the field;
• Demonstrated leadership skills in inspiring, empowering and developing current and future staff to achieve strategic organizational goals, and experience implementing performance management and accountability systems;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in representing organizational vision, mission, goals and outcomes to a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders in a variety of venues;
• The ability to work effectively and proactively within a complex organization with diverse programs in multiple sites;
• Excellent verbal, written and computer skills in order to effectively communicate and work with individuals at varied levels and backgrounds, and ability to utilize multiple media to communicate;
• Advanced knowledge of nonprofit management and human resources best practices, laws and regulations; collaborative leadership style; keen attention to staff equity, diversity and professional development, and the latest changes in staff motivation/support; and
• Strong change management skills to build effective community- and organization-wide systems and structures.

Priorities for the Position

Building on GHH’s unmatched experience in creating environments where individuals with varying health and social challenges may thrive and rebuild their lives, the CEO will need to be creative in developing programs that are built on best practices, in alignment with governmental and private funding streams.

A number of priorities have been identified that will be paramount within the work scope of the new CEO in the first 12 to 18 months:

• Significantly expand fundraising activities, donor base, grant sources, event sponsorships and attendance, and overall fundraising revenue;
• Maintain current contract revenues and maximize organizational efficiencies to ensure that Housing Program services can be sustained primarily through contract revenues;
• Seek opportunities to qualify for continuing or increased funding for services for the unhoused;

explore additional wrap-around services that would be reimbursable;

• Expand, diversify and strengthen the Board, involve all Board members on active committees, and meaningfully engage all Board members in fundraising;
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels to meet programmatic and operational needs, ensure staff are appropriately rewarded and incentivized to stay, and achieve high staff retention;
• Broaden community awareness of GHH’s services, increasing referrals, cultivating new partnerships and volunteers, and ensuring the “safety net” approach is sustained; and
• Maintain physical assets, operational policies and electronic systems to adequately and efficiently support program and administrative needs.

The board will expect the new CEO to prepare an initial assessment of needs and priorities approximately 90 days after hiring.

Requirements of Applicants

• A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to GHH mission and services [educational qualifications may be waived depending on work history]
• Five years of experience in a senior level of nonprofit administration (with knowledge and experience in the Human Services and/or housing fields) including fundraising, outreach, planning, budgeting and fiscal management, with a minimum of three years of experience at an executive level
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, current vehicle insurance, and ability to use personal vehicle for GHH business
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite and Google Suite is required; knowledge of Bloomerang is preferred
• High level of integrity, honesty, dependability, accountability, creativity and confidentiality in performance of duties
• Willingness to travel within GHH’s service area, and beyond for conferences, etc.
• Must be able to pass criminal background check