Center for Safety & Change Executive Director Search is Now Underway

TITLE: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LOCATION: NEW CITY, NEW YORK

DATE POSTED: October 22, 2014

ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1979, the Center for Safety & Change, Inc. is a not-for-profit, community-based organization serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes against individuals in Rockland County, New York. The Center has approximately 45 full and part-time employees and a budget of approximately $3.2m.

The Center for Safety & Change provides a comprehensive range of programs and services, including a 24-hour hotline; a 15-bed emergency residential shelter; advocacy and accompaniment; information and referrals; services for children and families of survivors; a 2 lawyer/2 paralegal law project; transitional housing support; sexual assault and other trauma counseling; a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program at both of Rockland’s acute care hospitals; and outreach and community education, including programs targeted to law enforcement and immigrant and other marginalized communities; and teen dating violence and sexual assault education and prevention programs. The Center is also the designated comprehensive crime victims agency in Rockland County, and in that capacity serves victims of all crimes who are eligible for crime victims’ assistance.

Responding to Rockland’s rich cultural diversity, the Center works to ensure that all of our programs, policies, and procedures reflect and respect the varied needs of our clients, including those in immigrant and other marginalized communities. In all of our programs and services, the Center strives to serve our community in all its diversity including race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, gender, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Under the direct supervision of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (the “ED”) is responsible for managing, supervising and directing the operation of the agency in support of its mission. The ED is responsible for the daily operation and administration of the agency and has overall responsibility for all of the programs offered by the agency, including all operations and policies, procedures and regulatory requirements. The ED is also responsible for securing funding, budgeting, and strategic and financial planning.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The ED has overall responsibility for the development, implementation and evaluation of all programs in addition to the administration and evaluation of all human resources, fiscal and operational activities, including the following:

Administration: The ED is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Center to insure that the activities of the agency are accomplished efficiently and responsibly. The ED

· Attends monthly Board meetings and presents an ED’s Report at each meeting

· Attends meetings of Board committees as schedule permits

· Makes recommendations to the Board on the formulation of policy

· Is responsible for the implementation of policy and to insure compliance with laws and regulations

· Has public accountability

· Undertakes legislative information activity -- advocacy, education, hearings, follow-up

· Oversees plant operation and maintenance

Finance: The Center for Safety & Change is a complex organization with many diverse funding sources and requires an ED with budgeting experience and good/conservative fiscal management skills. The ED will be responsible for leading

· Fiscal planning

· Budget development and management, monitoring and controls

· Fundraising, including public appeals, special events and soliciting grants and donations from individuals, foundations, etc.

· Soliciting government funding

Personnel: Staff and volunteers are a top priority for the effectiveness of Center’s programs. The ED must lead and work with diverse and creative staff and volunteers. The ED will be a leader in

· Recruitment, retention, development and motivation of staff and volunteers

· Development of job descriptions

· Evaluation of staff

· Development of personnel policy

· Termination of employees/volunteers

Community Relations: As a community-based agency, it is important that the ED participates in local coalitions, builds relationships with other organizations, etc. The ED will

· Develop government, community and agency relationships and network with other agencies to provide opportunities for collaboration

· Participate in meetings, workshops, advisory groups, task forces, etc. with other community and governmental agencies and alliances

Program Development:The ED ensures thatprograms are developed to respond to the issues and needs of the community and are consistent with the mission and values of the agency.The ED has responsibility for

· Planning and developing program objectives, evaluating existing programs, establishing program priorities and quality control metrics

· Assessing service needs of community and defining target populations

· Developing income-generating programs whenever and wherever possible

Public Relations: The ED has responsibility to inform the public and to promote the agency, including

· Interpreting the Center’s goals and services to the various constituencies—Board, staff, contributors, clients, legislators, etc.

· Overseeing preparation of an annual report

· Overseeing development of program literature and marketing initiatives

· Seeking speaking engagements to enhance the visibility of the organization

QUALIFICATIONS

The Center for Safety & Change Executive Director must possess:

· An understanding and belief that domestic violence is pattern of controlling and intimidating behaviors that include physical, psychological, financial, sexual, electronic and other abusive tactics by one intimate partner against another

· An understanding and belief that gender plays a significant role in acts of abuse and violence against women and that men’s violence against women stems from social norms and patterns rooted in the historical beliefs that men should be in control and are more valuable than women

· A proven commitment to ending violence against women and promoting social justice, with major focus on ending sexism, racism, heterosexism, racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of oppression

· Extensive experience in a direct service field related to servicing survivors of violence against women, preferably domestic violence and/or sexual assault

· A high degree of financial literacy and financial management experience, including experience managing a budget of not less than $1.5M

· Ability to lead within a shared leadership/collaborative model

· A successful record of Executive Director experience or the equivalent with a history of accomplishment in the nonprofit, public and/or business sector

· Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal and public speaking skills, and experience working with diverse populations and multiple constituencies

· Experience in developing and evaluating program initiatives

· Ability to use Microsoft Office suite of software products and on-line social media applications

· Reliable transportation and the ability to travel locally to various agency, community, industry and government-related meetings and functions on a regular basis

Additional consideration will be given to candidates with one or more of the following additional qualifications:

· A background in nonprofit leadership with a broad, diverse network of peers and positive relationships with leaders in local government, business and other nonprofit agencies

· A background managing an agency funded primarily by private and government grants

· A background managing grants, contracts, and compliance with contractual obligations

· Work experience in a residential shelter

· Work experience in primary prevention education

· Work experience in a human trafficking/crime victims program

· Work experience in clinical services

· MSW or other clinical degree, preferably with current New York State license

· A background in corporate or not-for-profit finance

· Law degree

· Experience interacting collaboratively with law enforcement

· Experience navigating complex local political systems

· Experience with capital campaigns and other not-for-profit fundraising

· Experience on, or working for, a board of directors

· Experience managing volunteers

· Experience managing facilities/physical plants

· Multilingual/multicultural

REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY

· A letter explaining the applicant’s interest in the position and her/his salary expectations

· A current resume

· A writing sample

Deadline to Submit Letter, Resume and Writing Sample is November 30, 2014

If an applicant becomes a finalist for the position, he or she will be asked to provide additional writing samples, three references, including at least one from a current or former supervisor and agree to a background check and a check of the provided references.

Applicants may apply by sending application materials (no phone calls please):

· Via email to edsearch@centersc.org or

· Via fax to (845) 634-3396

Center for Safety & Change is an equal opportunity employer.