Posted on January 26, 2013

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Executive Director

Organization

Founded in 2005, Lakeside’s mission is “to preserve and create affordable housing opportunities in Chicago through education, advocacy, and real estate development.” The organization supports this mission by providing comprehensive housing, education and counseling programs; conducting research; engaging in community-based and regional advocacy, and developing real estate projects. Agency annual revenues of $405,000 (FY 2012) are generated from government, corporate and foundation sources, individuals, events, and fees. For more information, please visit www.lakesidecdc.org.

Position

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) has strategic and operational responsibility for Lakeside’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of the mission. The ED will initially a deep knowledge of the affordable housing field, core programs, operations, and business plans. S/he will subsequently work with board, program management, and staff to execute the agency’s strategic plan. The ED is primarily responsible for securing the resources necessary to execute his/her responsibilities; assisting the Board in refining the vision of the organization; and directing staff and volunteers to implement the vision through strong, efficient, and impactful program activities.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Understand and articulate a vision for the organization and help it pursue its self-interests in relationships with and to other affordable housing providers
• Ensure ongoing local programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications, and systems
• Recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve strategic goals
• Sustain, develop, and support a strong Board of Directors and serve as ex officio of all committees
• Actively engage and energize Lakeside CDC volunteers, board members, event committees, partnering organizations, and funders
• Ensure that the board is kept fully informed on the condition of the organization and critical factors influencing it

Management

• With Housing Program Manager, encourage staff and volunteer development and education, and assist program staff in relating their specialized work to the total program of the organization
• With Housing Program Manager, ensure effective systems to track scaling progress, and regularly evaluate program components, so as to measure outcomes that can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other constituents
• Execute Real Estate Development program to facilitate agency acquisition of properties, independently and/or in partnership with like-minded organizations and partners

Administration

• Maintain responsibility for the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, including staff and volunteers
• Foster a climate that attracts, develops, and motivates a diverse, high-quality staff
• Ensure that job descriptions are updated, timely performance evaluations are completed, and human resource practices are followed and updated, as necessary
• Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations
• Monitor performance on contracts and comply with reporting requirements
• Maintain sound financial practices and update agency policies and procedures, in conjunction with the Finance and Executive Committees
• Work with the staff, Finance Committee, and the board to prepare a budget and ensure that the organization operates within budget guidelines
• Ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work
• Jointly, with the president and secretary of the Board of Directors, conduct official correspondence of the organization, and jointly, with designated officers, execute legal documents

Fundraising & Communications:

• Expand revenue-generating and fundraising activities to support and expand program operations, while maintaining fiscal discipline and increasing net assets
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communications -- from web presence to external relation -- with the goal of creating a stronger brand
• Leverage external presence and relationships to create new opportunities, especially in the area of affordable housing real estate development and fee-for-service program expansion
• Publicize the activities of the organization, its programs and goals

Planning & New Business:

• Operationalize, monitor, and support implementation of the agency strategic plan (2013-2018)
• Maintain and expand existing contract relationships and build on strengths of core program competencies in housing counseling and education
• Expand partnerships with like-minded organizations and establish relationships with new funders, political and community leaders, and others
• Serve as principal agency spokesperson to communicate program results, with an emphasis on the successes of the programs as models for nonprofit community development
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the affordable housing field.

Salary and Benefits

Salary range is $52,000- $72,000 (plus opportunity for performance bonus),
Position provides employee health coverage and optional coverage for employee-paid dental, vision, and life insurance. Paid vacation and other benefits.
Applications will be accepted until position is filled. Lakeside CDC is an equal opportunity employer.

Mandatory Qualifications:

The ED will be thoroughly committed to Lakeside’s mission. All candidates must demonstrate proven leadership, coaching and relationship management experience. Other qualifications include:

• Advanced degree, ideally an MBA, with at least five years of senior management experience
• Track record of effectively leading and scaling a performance- and outcomes-based organization and staff
• Ability to create and execute operational strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget
• Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approaches to business planning
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse constituencies
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed

Desired Qualifications:

Experience in real estate development, preferably in the nonprofit or public sector

Application Instructions

Please submit resume and cover letter, including salary expectations, to edapplicant@lakesidecdc.org.