Northwest Center - Executive Director
- Employer
- Northwest Center
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Salary
- $96,000.00 - $125,000.00
- Closing date
- Jun 30, 2023
View more
- Position Type
- Executive
- Fields
- Community Development
- Employment Type
- Full Time
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Executive Director is responsible for the management, vision,
and strategic direction of the Northwest Center (NWC), a 20 year
old organization dedicated to the well-being of residents of the
northwest side, providing housing counseling, financial literacy
programs, and community activism. The Executive Director ensures
the financial health and sustainability of the organization, by
working closely with the Board of Directors, Director of
Finance/Operations and Director of Development. The Executive
Director is the key external-facing messenger for the organization
communicating to funders, stakeholders, elected officials,
partners, and community members.
- Title: Executive Director
- Status: Full-Time Exempt
- Reports to: NWC Board of Directors
- Start date: October 2023
YOU ARE
A knowledgeable, people-oriented leader who understands the complexity of non-profit work, and the importance of centering that work on increasing the quality of life of the community you serve. You bring experience leading teams, developing resources to sustain a growing organization, and serving as a powerful advocate of NW Center’s mission in the city, region, and state. You understand that you are meeting people often in times of hardship and are ready to bring a trauma-informed, empathetic lens to your work. You are committed to fighting for racial equity and social justice for all marginalized communities.
YOU BRING
-
Minimum of five years non-profit
management or leadership experience
Experience working with or managing
non-profit Board of Directors
Working knowledge of power building
and/or grassroots community organizing and leadership
development
Expertise managing and developing
programs that advance the economic well-being of communities,
including community organizing and housing strategy
Understanding of alternative program
models that provide leadership development opportunities for
participants
Ability to utilize an empowering
coaching model internally in your supervision of NWC Directors
Spirit of innovation to the program
work with an eye toward piloting new ideas that could be
incorporated into or will maximize existing work
Experience with developing
cross-departmental and cross-functional collaboration across teams
within an organization
Experience with fundraising, both
public and private grants for a budget size of at least $2 million
dollars/year
Strong belief in racial equity,
specifically the ways in which communities of color are
disproportionately impacted by racialized capitalism and white
supremacist culture
Experience in transformative justice
preferred
Excellent written and oral
communication skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced,
self-directed atmosphere
-
Bilingual/bicultural candidates who
are fluent in Spanish (strongly preferred)
YOU’LL DO
Values and Strategy | 15%
-
Serve as an authentic, passionate,
and visible spokesperson of NWC throughout the organization, among
stakeholders, and in the Chicago community; inspire belonging,
connection, and investment.
Partner with the staff and board to
develop, implement, and track the progress of NWC’s strategic plan
and lead forward-thinking and equitable approaches to
organizational development.
Collaborate with the board and staff
to operationalize NWC’s mission and values, engaging the community
in sustaining and developing the organization.
Partner with NWC’s Directors to
develop organizational priorities, strategies, and goals.
Resources | 30%
-
In collaboration with the Director of
Operations, ensure prudent fiscal management; budget creation and
oversight; and audit completion.
Partner with the Board Finance
Committee to ensure accuracy and transparency in budgeting,
reporting, and financial tracking.
Partner with Development Director to
create and implement annual values grounded fundraising and
communication plans, and support the development team's work in
securing grants and leading fundraising events.
Develop and cultivate relationships
with individual donors and other funders. Develop strategies that
ensure that donors are nurtured from their first gift.
Cultivate relationships with a
portfolio of foundations, governmental agencies, corporate
sponsors, and other granting sources. Authentically communicate the
impact and value of their investment.
Impact | 10%
-
Follow major trends or changes in
non-profit, community development, housing, and community
organizing and position the organization to respond to such
trends.
Serve as lead spokesperson for the
organization and represent the NWC in the media; convene meetings
with local, state, and national elected officials, and liaise with
other non-profit leaders and community members.
Lead crisis management and
communications.
Guide external relations,
partnerships, and collaborations that will facilitate
organizational growth.
Support the Leadership Team in
maintaining effective systems for evaluation and regularly evaluate
the program model, remaining mindful of the need for flexibility to
adapt to the needs of our communities.
Oversee health equity work as part of
NWC’s external facing work and strategy.
Management | 30%
-
Hire, onboard, mentor, and supervise
NWC’s leadership team, including the Deputy Director, Director of
Finance and Operations, Director of Development, Director of Health
Equity, and Director of Organizing, Director of Older Adults,
Director of Youth and Community Schools, Director of Financial
Opportunity Center and Housing Counseling.
Collaborate with the leadership team
to ensure long-term organizational goals are met;
decision-making at all levels is equitable; and management policies
are regularly updated and implemented effectively.
Foster a culture of learning both in
self and team; participate in ongoing educational growth
opportunities and encourage others to do the same.
Facilitate annual management schedule
of goal setting and work planning; staff development and training;
self-reflection and performance evaluation.
Protect the organization's value by
keeping information confidential.
Board Partnership | 15%
-
Build, cultivate, and nurture a true
partnership with the NWC Board of Directors that is values-based
and centered on mutual respect and trust.
Provide the Board of Directors with
the resources, information, and training necessary to fulfill their
duties and to be organizational ambassadors.
Facilitate, in collaboration with the
Board Chair, the coordination of the Board of Directors
meetings.
Support the coordination of the
Governance and Development Committees; provide staff support, and
implement board decisions into daily operations.
Serve ex-officio on other board
committees (Finance, Development, Culture, and Ad-Hoc) when
appropriate and ensure committee progress and alignment with
organizational strategy and goals.
Actively engage with the Governance
Committee to help identify prospective board members who bring the
skills, attributes, and lived experience necessary for the board to
be a strong strategic partner.
Support board infrastructure
development and training as needed; stewardship of official board
documents and records.
Perform other duties in collaboration
with the Board Chair.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
-
Given the current status of the
COVID-19 pandemic as well as NWC’s office renovations and expansion
plans, NWC’s office is operating in a hybrid/off-site model through
December 2023 with a plan to return to work in person at NWC’s
office Tuesdays-Thursdays in January 2024.
As our team continues operating in a
hybrid work environment, schedules are arranged by position to
maximize flexibility and the need of the position.
This position operates primarily in
an office environment that is fully accessible and routinely uses
standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers,
copiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.
While performing the duties of this
job, the employee is regularly required to converse and exchange
information, and will frequently need to move/traverse. The
employee will operate office technology and equipment, and may
occasionally move/transport objects up to 25-40 pounds.
The nature of our community-based
work often involves evening and weekend obligations, and some
travel to off-site locations in the Chicago metro area. Schedule
can vary depending on the needs of the agency.
Occasional travel to conferences
related to NW Center’s mission, both in-state and out of
state.
Our workplace is a non-smoking and
drug-free environment.
SALARY & BENEFITS
-
Salary range: $95,000-$125,000
(commensurate with experience)
401K (matching may be available
depending on annual budget)
HMO and PPO Health Insurance Options
with monthly employee contributions of $50-$100
Free Vision, and Dental, Long-Term
and Short-Term Disability Insurance
Accommodating work schedule
(including half-day & fully remote Fridays)
PTO, starting at 20 days a year, plus
2 weeks of additional paid time off at the end of each calendar
year
16 week fully-paid parental leave
with flexible and alternative scheduling options
Equal Opportunity Employer
Northwest Center is committed to diversity among its staff, and recognizes that its continued success requires the highest commitment to obtaining and retaining a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to supporters and constituents. We strongly encourage diverse candidates—people of color, immigrants, women, gender nonconforming, and people with disabilities, to apply.
Decisions and criteria governing the employment relationship with all employees are made in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, military service and/or marital status, order of protection status, handicap, disability, or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state, or local statutes.
Northwest Center recognizes that job seekers from marginalized communities (for example, women, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color) can be less likely to apply for jobs if they do not meet every qualification listed. We encourage you to still consider applying. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the job, and that may be you.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please complete this form. In lieu of a cover letter, please answer the questions provided. You will be prompted to upload your resume and a list of three references at the end of the form. The Application deadline is July 21, 2023. Please email our Hiring Committee at edsearch@northwestcenterchicago.org with questions. No phone calls, please.
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