Join our team: Executive Director
Empower and Transform Lives!
Solace, a newly formed nonprofit organization, formed through the consolidation of three long-standing organizations, is dedicated to providing support, healing, and hope to those in need of trauma informed care, crisis intervention and long-term mental health support and wellness, is seeking a passionate and visionary Executive Director.
As the strategic and executive leader of Solace, you will play a pivotal role in driving our mission forward, collaborating closely with the Board of Directors and our dedicated team. If you are a transformational leader with a commitment to servant leadership and a desire to foster growth within a supportive organizational culture, we want to hear from you!
Key Responsibilities
Are you a trailblazer who wants to champion our cause through:
Strategic Leadership:
- Partner with the Board to develop long-term strategies that align with our mission.
- Serve as the key spokesperson for the organization, effectively communicating our vision, values, and goals to stakeholders.
- Research and establish innovative programs that further our mission and meet the needs of our community.
Fundraising and Donor Engagement:
- Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan that fosters relationships with major donors and cultivates new partnerships.
- Actively participate in fundraising events and initiatives, creating opportunities for community involvement and donor appreciation.
Community Engagement:
- Represent Solace at community events, enhancing awareness and building connections with potential donors and partners.
- Identify and pursue strategic partnerships that amplify our impact and ensure sustainability.
Organizational Culture and Operations:
- Ensure the financial health of the organization by overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and operational policies.
- Foster a nurturing environment that empowers staff and volunteers, promoting ongoing team development and collaboration.
- Supervise direct reports and provide essential support for their roles, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and goals.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
BA/BS degree in business or a related field, preferably with 10 years of successful senior leadership experience, and ideally in a nonprofit context.
Leadership Approach:
Proven commitment to transformational and servant leadership styles, along with a transparent and a high-integrity approach to management.
Skills and Abilities:
- Exceptional people skills, effective communication abilities, and the capacity to engage with diverse communities.
- Fundraising experience, particularly with major gifts and estate planning.
- General knowledge of human resources, business development and analytical decision-making.
Why Join Us
At Solace, we believe that every individual deserves support and empowerment. By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others while cultivating a thriving, collaborative work environment. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive team culture committed to professional growth.
Ready to Make an Impact
If you are ready to take on the rewarding challenge of leading Solace and advancing our mission, we invite you to apply for the Executive Director position. Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest, how your experience aligns with our mission and your salary expectations.
Please submit to:
EDsearch@seeksolace.care
Solace is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Join us on this remarkable journey to empower lives and inspire hope!
Summary:
The Executive Director serves as the strategic and executive leader of the Solace reporting directly to the Board of Directors. This pivotal role involves collaborating with the Board and the SOLACE team to set long-term goals, develop effective strategies, and implement policies that cultivate a strong, positive, and supportive organizational culture for the purpose of “empowering people to navigate their unique journeys towards emotional well-being, resilience, and hope.” The right person for this role will have a strong passion and commitment to the mission, along with a desire for effective outcomes for the clients while being fiscally responsible.
In this role, the Executive Director will foster a nurturing work environment that supports and empowers all staff members. This includes overseeing financial stability through diligent budgeting, sound financial management, and the deployment of programs that align with SOLACE's mission. Additionally, community engagement is a critical aspect of this position. The Executive Director will actively facilitate partnerships within the community and steward relationships with donors, enhancing SOLACE's impact and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
Direct Reports:
- Clinical Director
- Chief Development and Communications Officer
- Manager Operations and Technology
- Manager Billing and Facility Management
- Executive Assistant
- Third Party Accountant
- Consultants (PRN)
Essential Functions:
1. Board and Strategic Leadership Responsibilities (25%)
- Develop long-range plans and strategies in coordination with the Board of Directors.
- Act as the agent of the Board of Directors in providing strategic leadership and communicating the mission, vision, values, goals, programs, etc.
- Organize and attend all board meetings, as well as the annual membership meeting. Serve as a liaison between the Board and agency staff.
- Present reports and other records on financial, operations, and donors as requested by the Board and apprise them of important issues.
- Research and establish new programs when appropriate that would further the goals and mission of the organization.
- Seek alternative funding sources, write, and manage grant proposals.
Major Gifts Donor Cultivation and Fundraising (30%)
- Develop and implement a robust fundraising plan that includes cultivating relationships to attain estate and sustainable major gifts while maintaining existing annual giving through mail solicitations and other means.
- Build strong relationships with volunteers to cultivate new donors and steward existing donor relationships.
- Participate in organization fundraising events.
- Solicit planned giving donations by networking with attorneys, estate-planning organizations, trust departments, etc.
2. Community Engagement and Visibility (15%)
- Attend community events, such as, service clubs, chamber events, community gatherings to promote increased awareness of the organization and connect with current and potential donors.
- Serve as the primary spokesperson and advocate for the organization with the media, the city and other key partners.
- Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships that can support the mission of the SOLACE.
3. Organization Culture and Administrative Responsibilities (25%)
- Oversee the financial stability of the organization, reviewing expenses and income, financial reports, fundraising goals, and establishing and working within a budget.
- Oversee the daily operations of the organization, ensuring that all policies and procedures are followed in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
- Ensure Human Resource practices are in place and followed and are in accordance with applicable local, state and federal laws.
- Ensure organizational policies related to Human Resources, benefits and overall team behavior are available to employees in a handbook and updated on a regular, but at least, annual basis.
- Ensure the organization has a strong benefit and compensation program and oversees benefit renewals or rebidding benefits is handled each year.
- Provide direction and assistance as needed for the handling of personnel matters.
- Supervise direct reports and provide direction to oversee the staffing of employees and volunteers
- Provide oversight and make key decisions on facilities, risk management, security, inspections and insurance coverage. Oversee all contracts with cities and counties.
- Facilitate relationship with state and private universities for access to resources and to provide internship responsibilities.
- Respond to inquiries pertaining to policies, practices and services.
- Facilitate leadership and staff meetings.
- Facilitate team building and development opportunities.
- Go through mail, e-mails and voicemails directed to the position daily, and return calls and correspondence on a timely basis.
Other Functions: (5%)
4. Perform other functions/special functions as assigned by the Board of Directors.
Qualifications and Requirements:
1. Education and Work Experience
- BA/BS degree in business or related area, up to 10 years of successful senior leadership experience preferred, previous work in non-profit organization(s) a plus.
2. Leadership Approach
- Experience and commitment to transformational and servant leadership styles.
- Transparent, high integrity, and positive leadership style
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
- Previous managerial and supervisory experience.
- Proven fundraising skills in major gift acquisition and cultivating estate planning gifts.
- Strong people skills; able to assess skills and personalities.
- Effective verbal and written communications skills.
- Ability to work with diverse people and organizations.
- Professional and tactful.
- Strong analytical skills and decision-making skills.
- General human resource and customer service knowledge.
- Effective software skills, including Outlook, Excel, Word, Publisher, website and social media.
- Accurate and timely.
3. Physical Capabilities Required
- Generally light work – exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally to lift or move objects.
- Frequent speaking, listening, typing and repetitive motion; moderate to minor amounts of walking, standing, reaching, lifting, crouching, stooping, pushing, pulling, grasping, and feeling are required.
- Must have visual acuity to read and analyze data, work on computer terminal, and to check accuracy neatness and thoroughness of work.