The Board is seeking an innovative and trustworthy leader who has knowledge and expertise in youth development, to maintain and enhance the organization’s achievement of its mission and vision through achievement of the organization's strategic plan.
Accountable to the Board of Directors the Executive Director will serve as the primary leader of the organization and manage its day-to-day affairs. Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Oversee the day to day operation of the organization’s programs and services and ensuring that they accomplish the organization’s strategic objectives. To accomplish the organization’s objectives the Executive Director will also nourish and protect the unique atmosphere and organizational culture of Alternatives Inc.
- Provide leadership, guidance and direction to staff to ensure the successful operation of the organization as well as new initiatives aimed at fulfilling the overall organizational plan.
- Create and maintain annual operational plans and balanced budgets; monitor expenditures, and ensure the overall financial health of the organization.
- Be available to address major issues and concerns with the community and staff as needed.
- Visioning/future development:
- Maintain and strengthen the legacy of the organizational history and cultural values as it implements strategic objectives and moves into the future.
- Oversee the development of programming within the organization that are in line with the mission and values of the organization and best communicate the principles of the organization
- Work with the board to oversee the implementation of the Strategic Plan.
- Participate actively with the board in the design and undertaking of fund-development activities that support the Strategic Plan.
- External relations:
- Ensure a communications strategy to increase its linkage with stakeholders, local community members, and organizational partners including state and national partners.
- Ensure communication of Alternatives’ expertise in youth development and related fields especially as it pertains to the application of theory/research to practice.
- Develop a positive public image of the organization.
- Increase contributions to the welfare of the public good in the local community and potentially beyond.
- With board support, continually monitor changes to legal and tax law developments that may impact on the organization
- Overall: Conduct all activities of the organization, guided by the organization principles.
- Fund Development and Financial Management:
- Securing unrestricted funding from individual, corporations, foundations or other organizations.
- Oversight of grant preparation and submission
- Negotiation of contracts
- Oversight of donor relationships
- Management of annual operating budget, cash flow, and expense tracking.
Ideal candidates for this position will share our commitment to ensuring that the organization continue to provide quality services to the community. The candidate will bring the necessary skills and attributes to attend to the broad range of tasks to nourishing the life of the organization, while simultaneously implementing a broad vision to expand the organization’s focus in targeted areas.
Skills: The following are essential skills for this position:
- Leadership:
- Able to work collaboratively with the board and staff in envisioning and strategizing change and in addressing key organizational challenges.
- Ability to translate vision and mission into specific, measurable goals and actions.
- Ability to effectively balance the need for introducing change with the need for continuity.
- Demonstrated social and emotional intelligence.
- Communication:
- Interpersonal communication including: team building, coaching, building alignment and partnership, creating accountability, and conflict resolution.
- Ability to establish rapport with a wide range of individuals and groups, and across multiple generations.
- Ability to create harmony and unity in a diverse community.
- Ability to maintain current funding relationships and nurture new possibilities for fund development and fund raising.
- Management:
- Core management skills (planning, organizing, directing, coaching, assessment).
- Basic financial management including budgeting and accounting
- Ability to read nonprofit financial statements
- Knowledge of the QuickBooks accounting software
- Ability to deliver results in accordance with board direction.
The above skill sets are inclusive of non-profit management skills or experience including:
- Volunteer development and management
- Management of external relations
- Fund-raising
- Addressing legal and tax issues
- Facility with financial investments and endowments.
While some skills can be learned on the job, it is essential that the candidate be able to demonstrate a propensity for acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills within a reasonable period of time.
Attributes:
The effectiveness of this position is largely dependent on the nature of the person who will be filling it. Therefore, in addition to possessing the above skills, the following are personal attributes that the ideal candidate will possess:
- Full dedication to the purposes of Alternatives Inc.
- An approach to interactions with staff, organizational partners, and key stakeholders that demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence including an orientation toward creating harmony.
- Service leadership mindset, including a bias toward collaboration and teamwork.
- Independent thinker: objective, fair, and open minded.
- Visionary and proactive orientation.
- High level of responsibility, reliability, integrity, discretion, diplomacy, flexibility, and resilience.
- High level of availability and commitment to serve the organization as needed, including occasional irregular hours and evening/weekend meetings, and dealing with emergencies and crises.
In addition, the candidate will need to either currently be, or willing to become, a full-time resident of the Hampton Roads area.