Posting: Executive Director - Hope Village
June 13, 2022
HOPE Village Revitalization (HVR) is seeking an Executive Director with the passion and experience to lead the organization to achieve its vision and mission. HOPE Village Revitalization is a community-controlled organization focused on equitable sustainable neighborhood development, championing a fresh local food system, sustainable affordable housing, and access to opportunity for the Hope Village neighborhood.
OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND
HOPE Village Revitalization (HVR) is a nonprofit community development corporation serving the HOPE Village neighborhood in central Detroit. HVR is a community-controlled organization focused on equitable sustainable neighborhood development, championing a fresh local food system, sustainable affordable housing, and access to opportunity for the HOPE Village neighborhood.
HOPE Village Revitalization (HVR) was incorporated in 2002 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Focus: HOPE. In 2019, it was spun off and as a separate community development corporation. With the spinoff of HVR the organization’s emphasis shifted from community services to community self-determination and neighborhood renewal.
HVR’s success is largely attributable to the partnerships between neighborhood residents, businesses and institutions and external supporters. Neighborhood organizational partners include Neighborhood Service Organization, The Village of Oakman Manor, Wellspring Lutheran, Demographic Inspirations, the Yunion, Inc., The Andy Arts Center, Detroit is Different and Focus: HOPE. The organization receives financial support for its program and operations from a range of organizations including Enterprise Community Partners, The Kresge Foundation, Ford Foundation and Bank of America Foundation, the Jewish Fund and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. HVR also contracts with Focus: HOPE for financial management, information technology and other services.
HVR's mission is to move the HOPE Village neighborhood in a way that mitigates disparities in wealth. Beginning with its early days as a subsidiary of Focus: HOPE and continuing as a new organization, HVR is having a significant impact on the community. Over its 20-year history, HVR has assembled land resulting in more than 200 units of affordable housing and assisted with the restoration of four neighborhood parks. Other recent projects and programs include fresh food access programs such as the Hope Village Farmers Market, minor home repair and energy efficiency improvements for neighborhood residents, the La Salle Eco-Demonstration home (complete with solar panels, LED lighting, water sense and energy efficiency features), neighborhood resource navigation (connecting neighbors to resources and opportunities) and neighborhood health deliberations as well as heart health and asthma reduction programs.
Executive Director Job Description
The Executive Director will be an experienced community development professional and nonprofit administrator who is committed to serving the needs of residents in lower-income neighborhoods. In addition to effectively and efficiently overseeing operations (including owning and operating the organization’s space and property), managing the organization’s finances and fundraising, the Executive Director will work closely with the Board of Trustees, staff, and consultants, to carry out or delegate the following responsibilities:
Leadership
- Leads the organization to create impact and move the neighborhood forward in its three key focus areas of sustainable affordable housing, fresh and local food access, and health.
- Expands and grows partnerships with community leaders, government agencies, corporation, foundations and other institutions to advance and promote policies and programs that support the HOPE Village community and Detroit neighborhoods.
- Expands and grows relationships with HVR neighborhood residents, businesses, and institutions to provide a voice in what happens in the community.
Management:
Financial
- Ensures that standard business practices, effective operating policies and procedures are in place and all staff are held to a high degree of accountability,
- Maintains sound procedures for implementing the organization’s financial policies.
- Develops with staff support an annual budget and financial plan for Board of Trustee approval. • Manages the organization’s finances in accordance with the Board of Trustee approved policies.
- Works with outsourced financial management team to assure accurate and timely financial reports for Board review.
Program
- Ensures that programs and services further the organization's mission and are consistent with the strategic plan and the Board policies and priorities.
- Ensures that program activities are in compliance with funder requirements
- Works with the staff to develop the annual work plan and goals for approval by the Board of Trustees.
- Sets program and service goals and oversees planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of program and service activities.
- Ensures that programs and services are consistent with the strategic plan, and the Board’s policy guidelines and priorities.
- Communicates effectively and regularly, as needed with Executive Committee members and Board regarding program progress and development.
Personnel
- Leads, empowers and motivates a team of dedicated staff
- Hires, supervises and evaluates staff
- Creates a working environment that encourages transparent, two-way communication to support high performance and goal achievement by staff.
- Sets clear, results-oriented goals with realistic and measurable outcomes for individual staff members.
- Works with staff members to help them develop the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in pursuing the organization’s mission.
Fund Development
- Raises corporate, foundation and government funding to create revenue streams, including funding for existing programs and operations as well as funding for new program growth.
- In partnership with Board of Trustees, develops and implements a fund development strategy.
- Cultivates new relationships and strengthen existing ones with government agencies, foundations, and corporations and individual HVR supporters.
- Researches and secures new sources of revenue.
- Creates and implements a stewardship program.
Planning and New Business
- Collaborates with the Board of Trustees to create a long-term vision and strategic business plan, ensuring that the plan reflects the community’s vision and plan and addresses community concerns and ensuring that the community’s voice is heard on issues impacting the neighborhood.
- Develops partnerships with HVR stakeholders (residents, area businesses and institutions, government, and funding partners) and other community-based organizations
Community Engagement
- Advocates for and within the neighborhood to address community concerns and ensure that the community’s voice is heard on issues impacting the neighborhood.
- Develops and implements a communications plan that informs the community and other stakeholders about HVR’s mission, goals, and activities.
- Proactively solicits opinions and feedback from neighborhood residents and other external stakeholders regarding the organization’s programs and priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Demonstrated success working in low-income, racially diverse communities required • Work with government agencies, foundations and other community organizations required
- Demonstrated successful fund development experience (commensurate with job responsibilities) required
- Three years or more years of executive or senior level staff in a community development, social service or related sector organization required, including nonprofit management (five years preferred)
Core Competencies
- High level of proficiency in computer applications (including but not limited to Microsoft WORD, Excel, PowerPoint)
- High level of proficiency in written and verbal communications including public presentations.
- Knowledge of principles and practices of fund development and donor cultivation
- Knowledge of community engagement and/or advocacy strategies
- Knowledge of community development strategies and practices
Personal
Required
- Embraces community decision making as a fundamental philosophy, strategy and priority
- Passion for and demonstrated commitment to lower-income communities and people of color
- Able to work effectively with racially, socially, and economically diverse populations
- A team leader, who is also capable of serving and working as part of a team
- Resilient and undeterred by challenges
- Strong commitment to diversity and civil and human rights
Highly Preferred
- Familiarity with the HOPE Village neighborhood
- Well organized with strong attention to detail and deadlines
- Sense of humor and tolerance for ambiguity
Other
- Strong leadership, analytical and internal management abilities
- Detroit resident and/or extensive experience working in the Detroit community development environment preferred
- Resident of Hope Village highly preferred
HOPE Village Revitalization is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to embracing the diversity of people, beliefs and ideas that make up a fair and just society.
Salary: $70,000
Benefits: Paid time off and holidays (including most federal holidays, Good Friday, Friday after Thanksgiving, winter break between December 24 and January 2); medical, dental, vision and life insurance, Simple IRA with employer partial match) Application deadline: June 30, 2022
Start date: January 2, 2023
Application process: Submit initial application and upload resume, cover letter and writing sample.
Contact Information:
Debbie Fisher, Executive Director Hope Village Revitalization
313-942-6820
fisherd@hopevillagecdc.org