Executive Director
About the Organization
Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center (WSC) serves as a national hub to engage partners committed to strengthening inclusive democracy. For 35 years, our work has advanced social, racial, and economic justice by convening, developing, organizing, and supporting the communities most affected by inequities. Our programs have lifted the voices of marginalized communities while providing accessible tools and support for grassroots organizing, civic engagement, and collective action. Our work has resulted in concrete policy and institutional changes across the West and beyond. We've played a catalytic role, working with community partners to build people-centered movements, develop new leaders, and shift culture - with our eyes on the prize of an inclusive democracy where people can live, love, and work free from bigotry and fear.
About the Opportunity
Western States Center is expanding to meet the urgent challenges facing our country. We seek an Executive Director that will work in building and strengthening the Center's organizational infrastructure, culture, practices, programs, and staffing, ensuring sustainability and growth by leading robust fundraising strategies and financial management in collaboration with staff and Board Members, and the formation of strategies and cultivation of relationships that advance the Center's mission. A strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style are essential for this position.
The Executive Director will report directly to the Board of Directors and supervise, coach, and lead the Deputy Director and Directors of the Center. The successful candidate will have demonstrated their ability to fulfill the role by working collaboratively to cultivate organizational culture, facilitate organizational planning, build effective relationships, and demonstrate an understanding of organizational systems and strategies as well as have deep experience with justice movements in the Center's sectors and serve as a catalyst for creating excitement around core strategies to strengthen inclusive democracy.
Executive Director Responsibilities
Organization Development:
Organizational Culture: Cultivate a professional, values-driven environment where all feel proud to participate by developing and maintaining practices, systems, and facilities, including maintaining the organization's four-day work week.
Planning: Facilitate organizational planning in conjunction with the board and staff. Set concrete goals and objectives along with the annual implementation plan. Support staff with creative, collaborative approaches to program development and strategy implementation.
Budget: Create and implement a budget with the support of the program and operations teams.
Equity: Ensure that equity is a key criterion for evaluating activities.
Staff: Select, manage, train, evaluate, and provide professional development opportunities for the Deputy Director and Directors.
Systems: Proactively develop and maintain sustainable and accountable operations by ensuring that WSC invests in upholding its fiduciary and organizational responsibilities.
Board: Provide staff support to the board and Executive Committee. Facilitate communications to ensure effective working relationships and assist in policy that promotes effective discussion and decision-making.
Fundraising and Resource Development:
Maintain a proactive role in the Center's development activities, including advising on overall strategy; working with staff, board, and consultants to ensure implementation of annual fundraising plan; engaging in major donor cultivation and solicitation; and grant writing and grant calendar management as needed.
Ensure that all staff and board are involved in fundraising activities for the organization.
Oversee development staff in fundraising from individual donors, grants, events, and corporate sponsorships, including the generation of new donors and renewal of current donors.
Lead in the identification of grant funding opportunities.
Ensure that grant applications align with the Center's mission and plans, are submitted on time, and are of high quality.
Oversee development staff in their planning and management of all the Center's fundraising events.
Encourage the development of sponsorship arrangements and relationships with businesses and organizations interested in supporting the Center.
Strategic Leadership:
Steward organizational mission and strategic plan, guided by organizational values.
Work closely with the board chair to translate vision into action, evaluate new opportunities through the agreed-upon strategy screen, and leverage assets to work at scale.
Effective leadership, supervision, and partnership with program staff and consultants. Participate in strategy meetings as needed to ensure clear project management, planning tools, and internal communications across programs.
Work across teams to support program design and delivery, including direct project management as needed.
Supervise development and execution of program plans, ranging from the day-to-day to the highly creative and visible.
Ensure successful coordination of WSC's signature biannual leadership development conference, AMP.
Cultivate relationships with movement partners, funders, community members, donors, and elected officials.
Work effectively with and quickly gain the respect and support of various donors, foundation and civic leaders, culture makers, and community partners.
Represent the Center externally through donor relations, coalitions and regional partnerships, training, and public speaking.
Serve as organizational spokesperson with compelling communication of the Center's mission and interests to a broad audience.
Operations:
Work closely with the operations staff to ensure effective organizational governance, risk management, and internal communications.
Develop internal policies and organizational development tools based on sector best practices for board review.
Supervise staff and serve as primary liaison with various consultants as needed.
About the Ideal Candidate
The successful candidates should both possess or demonstrate:
A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and education in a discipline related to organizational development and business administration; a Master's degree is preferred.
10 years of progressive leadership experience in Organizational Development, Strategic Leadership, Fundraising, and Resource Development or equivalent business experience, with a proven track record of success.
5+ years of leadership experience leading a team.
Proven knowledge and experience with fundraising and resource development; implementation and execution of strategic deliverables; developing and maintaining sustainable and accountable operations; and providing board support.
Broad background in cultivating relationships with movement partners, funders, community members, donors, and elected officials.
Knowledge of equitable policies/procedures and best practices, and change management practices.
Ability to work with functional groups, including internal stakeholders and different levels of employees, to achieve results and promote a collaborative and supportive environment effectively and professionally.
Ability to communicate with diplomacy, professionalism, and tact, exhibiting excellent relationship management skills.
Excellent oral communication skills, with the proven experience of serving as an organizational spokesperson.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range is $150,000 - $165,000 annualized, commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid time off (PTO), holidays, dental, vision, life insurance, health insurance, and long-term disability coverage.
Office Location Requirement
This position is a hybrid working model with up to 40-50% required for non-remote, in-person or travel time.
How to Apply
Impact Search Advisors by Nonprofit HR is leading the search process on behalf of Western States Center. Inquiries regarding the search process should be directed to Bert Ruiz, Managing Director, Nonprofit HR, at bruiz@nonprofithr.com. Please submit a cover letter and your resume by November 15, 2022, at nonprofithr.applytojob.com.
Western States Center is an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and organizational needs, and not on race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, weight, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.