Executive Director

JOB TITLE: Executive Director

REPORTS TO: Board of Directors

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES

At Community Action, we fight poverty. In doing so, every employee is responsible for supporting the agency’s mission, vision, and values. This includes actively and regularly demonstrating high quality customer service, accountability in all aspects of your position, and respecting the diversity and differences in our staff, customers, and communities. Expected behaviors and qualities include professionalism and competence, active collaboration, effective communication, initiative and innovation, respect, and goal achievement. Employees are to be able, at any time, to provide basic information about the breadth of customer opportunities available through Community Action and to help customers make connections within the organization.

Community Action is more than an equal opportunity employer. Our agency recognizes and understands historical and systemic racism, classism, and other forms of unwarranted bias and discrimination have resulted in disparities that cannot be healed through equality efforts alone. Community Action is committed to a company culture that celebrates and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion among all people.

BROAD FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director is the primary, day-to-day leader for the Corporation. The Director promotes and furthers the agency mission and values, protects the best interests of the Corporation, strategically positions the organization for the future, represents Community Action publicly, and provides a united approach to general oversight of all staff. The Director ensures the Board has the information and tools needed to effectively govern the Corporation.

The Executive Director is provided with a high degree of autonomy in their day-to-day work and oversight of the organization. The Director is responsible for ensuring all regulations, required standards and funding source expectations are met. The Executive Director should be fully able to demonstrate how the work and projects of the agency are responsive to the identified needs of lower-income people, are financially sound, meet and exceed established goals, produce mission-related outcomes, and have a positive reputation among stakeholders. The Executive Director is held to the highest standards of accountability within the agency.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Deliver Quality Outcomes. (Function Value = 25/100)

a. Anecdotal and statistical data should be accurate and clearly demonstrate that the work and products of the agency are mission-driven and meet identified needs. Key performance indicators should be well-defined, tracked and reported. There should be clear and consistent understanding regarding outcomes and value of work to the agency mission.

b. The Executive Director must plan and operate from an evidence-informed platform that uses a customer-centered focus, employs trauma informed care, and practices racial equity. Engagement of customer voice is essential to success.

c. The Executive Director must demonstrate intentionality about preserving and improving Community Action’s model of integration of support across the agency and, as appropriate, throughout the communities served.

2. Operate Accountably (Function Value = 20/100)

a. Audits and monitoring results of the work should be free from findings of avoidable errors and unallowable activity.

b. Reports to the Board and its committees should be timely, thorough and accurate, ensuring the Board has the full set of information and resources necessary to effectively govern the Corporation.

c. Products and assignments should be completed timely, accurately, and according to direction.

d. All financial operations must be carried out with sound judgement, solid planning, and according to law and policy. Adherence to fiscally responsible budgets and cost allowability is required.

e. The Executive Director must demonstrate consistency and transparency in making sound, ethical business decisions.

f. All relevant laws and policies should be followed.

3. Model and Manage an Effectual Workforce. (Function Value = 25/100)

a. The Executive Director is responsible for implementing and maintaining a staffing design that fully meets the needs of customers, funding sources, and Community Action. The Organizational Chart of Positions should be appropriate to the goals and resources of the agency and updated as needed. Vacancies should be filled in a timely manner and with qualified personnel.

b. Staff and volunteers should be well-trained, effectively supported, and given appropriate opportunities for professional development. Open and regular communication with agency Directors is required. The Executive Director must ensure supervisors are trained to carry out supervisory roles and that they successfully adhere to company policy and protocols.

c. Staff performance must be documented according to policy and best practices. Performance concerns must be addressed in a manner consistent with agency culture, policy, and practices, and remedied effectively. Staff performing above expectations should be recognized in positive ways, within agency policy, to maintain a culture of encouragement and best practices.

4. Plan, Develop and Grow Successful Initiatives (Function Value = 15/100)

a. The Executive Director is not only expected to oversee and manage day-to-day operations, but to actively plan for the future. It must be evident that planning occurs, engages stakeholders, and focuses on ethical, efficient, mission-driven implementation within organizational and grant policies (if applicable).

b. The Executive Director is responsible for development (with stakeholders) and implementation of the Board-approved, agency-wide strategic plan. Regular reports to the Board on planned progress and challenges should be provided.

c. Successful initiatives should be sustained and grown (and new, mission and strategic plan driven initiatives developed) as capacity and resources allow. This includes, but is not limited to, active engagement by the Executive Director in grant writing and resource development.

5. Build and Maintain Relationships and Organizational Culture (Function Value = 15/100)

a. The Executive Director is responsible for creating and maintaining an organizational culture of professionalism, respect and responsible, ethical behavior. The Promise of Community Action should be at the forefront of these efforts and the Executive Director should be one that leads by example in these matters.

b. Building, maintaining and strengthening relationships is at the core of the organization’s work. With this in mind, the Executive Director is expected to be the face of the organization in the community. This includes stakeholders such as service users and partner organizations, funders such as DHS and the City of Topeka, sitting on community-wide committees, and with news organizations/other PR opportunities. This will include occasional travel outside of Topeka for conferences and meetings,

c. Relationships are not only important with external facing constituents but internally as well. The Executive Director should, therefore, create opportunities to interact with staff and volunteers in positive ways to encourage trust, communication and team building.

AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

The Employee is delegated full authority necessary for the effective performance of all assigned responsibilities subject to the restrictions, requirements and terms of the Employer’s policies and instructions; applicable local, state, and federal laws; and the dictates of sound business judgment, prudence, and ethical conduct. The Employee’s performance will be measured against the foregoing standards. The Employee is fully accountable to the Board of Directors.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The knowledge, skills, achievements, and/or abilities required or preferred, are listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

REQUIRED AT TIME OF HIRE:

• Receipt of a high school diploma or and the equivalent and of a certificate or at least 15-credit hours of formal, post-secondary education in one or more areas of management, administration, advocacy, human services and/or a related field.
• At least two years of successful professional experience managing a program or organization with multiple public and private funding streams and regulations.
• At least one-year of successful, professional experience inspiring coaching and leading supervising frontline and management staff, from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities, on a common mission or goal, and overall personnel management.
• Successful, professional experience writing public and private grants and managing program-level and/or organization-wide budgets.
• Demonstrated successful, professional experience developing and maintaining relationships with public officials, other non-profit organizations, civic and community organizations, and for-profit businesses.
• Previous engagement in policy advocacy.
• Strong understanding of the vision, values, and mission of Community Action.
• Must not be on Federal Excluded Parties List System, must be bondable, and must pass required background screenings and TB Test.

PREFERRED AT TIME OF HIRE:

• Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) designation.
• Previous professional experience within the Community Action network.
• At least one year of professional experience working for and reporting to a volunteer Board of Directors.
• Advanced understanding and practice of principles related to one or more of the following: Trauma Informed Care; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Evidence-Informed practices; and/or Whole Family/2-Generational approaches to fighting poverty.

REQUIRED AFTER HIRE:

• Within 8 years of hire, the Executive Director is expected to obtain the Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) designation. The Executive Director is expected to retain the designation throughout their employment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• How did you hear about this job posting?
• How many years have you worked within Community Action prior to apply for this role?
• Are you a Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP)?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• senior-level management: 1 year (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $90,000