What are the responsibilities and job description for the President and CEO position at Avesta Housing?
The President and CEO will serve as the strategic leader of Avesta Housing, advancing its mission to improve lives and strengthen communities through safe, affordable housing and supportive services. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the President and CEO will guide the organization’s philosophy and strategies, ensuring measurable community impact and long-term sustainability.
As the public face of Avesta Housing, the President and CEO will spearhead initiatives to address systemic housing challenges, expand affordable housing opportunities, and promote equity and inclusion across Maine and New Hampshire. They will build and maintain strong relationships with community partners, donors, public officials, and community partners to enhance Avesta’s influence and secure resources for innovative programs.
The President and CEO will lead a high-performing team, driving operational excellence and financial sustainability while aligning efforts with the organization’s strategic goals. They will prioritize transparency, collaboration, and trust to maintain and expand Avesta Housing's position as a recognized leader in the affordable housing sector. Additionally, the President and CEO will implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to diversify revenue streams, expand philanthropic support, and strengthen Avesta’s financial foundation for the future.
Must Haves :
Extensive Leadership Experience : The candidate must bring over 10 years of progressive management and leadership experience, including at least five years in a senior leadership role within commercial real estate, affordable housing, or related sectors like community development and nonprofit management.
Visionary Strategic Leadership : The candidate must have a proven ability to craft, articulate, and execute transformative strategies that deliver measurable growth, ensure long-term organizational sustainability, and create significant community impact. They must have a visionary mindset and be able to identify and pursue innovative growth opportunities while navigating dynamic challenges and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
Business and Financial Acumen : The candidate must demonstrate exceptional business and financial acumen, with expertise in managing multi-million-dollar budgets, audits, and asset portfolios. They must have a proven record of ensuring fiscal discipline, sustainability, and compliance with federal, state, and private funding regulations. Familiarity with financing structures involving multiple capital sources is highly desirable.
Fundraising Expertise and Donor Engagement : The candidate must demonstrate a proven track record in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including securing major gifts, grants, and corporate sponsorships. They must possess the ability to engage and steward donors, cultivate philanthropic relationships, and identify innovative funding opportunities to ensure Avesta’s long-term financial sustainability.
Team Leadership and Culture Building : The candidate will have a proven record of cultivating, mentoring, and leading high-performing teams. They should excel in fostering trust, empowering staff, and creating an inclusive, collaborative culture that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), professional growth, and employee engagement. They must have a demonstrated ability to address key challenges, such as retention, leadership development, and building a workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds, is essential. The candidate should thrive in dynamic, fast-paced settings, balancing operational priorities with mission-focused objectives and inspiring confidence during periods of change.
Knowledge of Affordable Housing : The candidate must have a passion for Avesta’s mission and a healthy understanding of the organization’s business model, including but not limited to affordable housing development and related financing mechanisms (e.g., Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, HUD programs, and state housing authorities), property operations, resident services, and asset management.
Who We Are
Our mission is to improve lives and strengthen communities by promoting and providing quality affordable homes for people in need.
Avesta’s core values are :
Humanity, Stewardship, Relationships, and Quality.
Avesta has been forward-thinking in its approaches, including a program called “Housing First”, which provides permanent housing to people in need with low barriers to obtain it and no strings attached to keep it. It has been thoughtful in assessing its future in the communities it serves and the opportunities it should pursue, including at intersections with healthcare. Healthcare is a significant employer in Maine, and housing and health are intricately related in providing opportunities to improve the quality of life for residents.
Racial Equity Pledge
Avesta has a responsibility as a nonprofit organization and housing provider to use our voice to fight racism in the community at large and within our own organization and residential properties.
We have prioritized building racial equity through self-reflection, learning, growth, action, and change, beginning with an examination of our policies and approaches.
What We Do
Avesta Housing is a leading nonprofit affordable housing organization and the largest in northern New England. Avesta was established fifty years ago with three staff members, determined to improve lives and strengthen communities. Today, it has over 320 employees and is headquartered in Portland, ME, a vibrant coastal city known for its excellent recreational opportunities, dining scene, arts, educational institutions, and business resources.
Avesta’s founding principles are grounded in expanding access to safe, affordable housing and acting to address inequities in housing to provide a platform of opportunity for all genders, races, and people of all backgrounds. It focuses today on advocacy, development of affordable housing, property management, senior / assisted living, and homeownership counseling to strengthen communities and provide quality affordable homes for people in need. Avesta delivers on this through its experience in developing and managing a current portfolio of 110 properties, 3,200 apartment units (owned and managed) and two assisted-living facilities, located in their footprint of Maine and New Hampshire.
Avesta has a current annual budget of $62.3 million and total assets of $437.5 Million, and an 18-member Board of Directors who come from the financial, business, public-sector community, social-service, healthcare, education, and housing sectors as well as resident and community Board members.
Salary : $62
