Executive Director - WA
Title: Executive Director of the Carl Maxey Center
Reports to: Carl Maxey Board of Directors
The Organization
The Carl Maxey Center (CMC) is a Black-led and Black-centered 501c3 non-profit organization, based in the East Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. CMC is both a neighborhood cultural center and gathering place, as well as a community-based organization that provides programs and services focused on addressing the needs of Spokane's African American/Black community.
The Carl Maxey Center serves as an innovative hub and gathering place on 5th Avenue in Spokane's East Central neighborhood. CMC is committed to changing lives and improving the well-being of Spokane's African American community by expanding the educational, economic, and cultural opportunities that are currently available. The Carl Maxey Center was formed to address the racial disparities that currently exist and have persisted in Spokane and will do so by focusing on Equity; Racial & Social Justice; Business & Workforce Development; Education & Advocacy; and Cultural Enrichment. The long-term goal of the Carl Maxey Center is to uplift, empower and transform Spokane’s African American community from the inside out.
Position Summary
CMC’s Executive Director (ED) is responsible for operationalizing the overall vision and mission of the CMC. In particular, the ED is responsible for ensuring that the CMC remains focused and thrives as a social justice, educational, and economic development organization supporting the African American community. The ED ensures the quality and consistency of CMC’s programs and services, and that they meet or exceed their expected outcomes. The ED manages and coordinates the activities of CMC’s staff and consultants and cultivates an engaged, strategic-oriented, and effective board of directors. With the Board of Directors, the ED drives the strategic planning and direction of CMC. S/he is responsible for the overall financial and operational health of CMC, including finance and HR systems, compliance and legal management, the economic model, program strategy and delivery, strategic partnerships, salary structure and benefits, technology, equipment, and space. S/he is responsible for the integrity and compliance of all high-level financial and legal decisions. The ED hires all staff and serves as the liaison between the staff and board of directors.
The ED also establishes, embraces, and promotes a vision of CMC as a local leader in the field of social justice representing and voicing the needs of the African American Community and all communities of color. The ED is the public face of CMC, providing thought leadership and building strategic partnerships that accrue benefits to CMC and all communities of color.
The ED is a leader in the conversation about how best to promote the growth and impact of progressive social justice work. The ED’s role includes defining and promoting a clear definition of success for CMC and ensuring internal and external audiences understand CMC purpose and goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
CMC’s next ED will lead an organization focused on increasing opportunities for African Americans in the greater Spokane area. Leveraging CMC’s existing programs and services, the CEO will chart the organization’s next chapter and identify opportunities to grow the impact of the organization, including developing a vision for 5th Ave becoming the “Black Wall St.” of Spokane. The
CMC ED will engage in the following essential activities:
- Fundraising: Coordinates all fundraising activities including development of annual fundraising goals/plans, grant writing, events, and management of donor relations to elevate CMC’s visibility and meet revenue goals.
- Program Management: Oversees existing programs and manages development, rollout, and implementation of new initiatives.
- Advocacy/External Relations: Works closely with public and private organizations to assess the needs/gaps for African Americans in Spokane, identify and prioritize opportunities, support the development of community collaborations, and monitor performance and compliance toward goals to improve life outcomes for African Americans in Spokane.
- Budgeting: Generates the annual budget, obtains board approval, and manages day-to-day operations and expenses to meet all budget goals.
- Leadership & Culture: Building on CMC’s organizational values, the ED will model and continue to champion a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation that informs programming and CMC success. The ED will deepen CMC’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).
- Communications: Develops communication, marketing, and PR strategies and coordinates implementation of each (i.e.,
website, newsletters, press releases, events, etc.).
- Financial: Supervises accounting and yearly audits to ensure compliance with internal control policies and GAAP.
- Human Resources: Maintains HR policies and procedures and conducts all employee performance evaluations.
- Strategic Planning: Works with the board to develop, and update yearly, a board-approved 3-year plan defining strategies and goals to achieve the CMC mission.
- Board Relations: Works with the board chair to help lead board meetings, cultivate board prospects, approve CMC’s strategic direction and vision, and communicate information in a timely manner.
Qualifications
We are seeking a candidate with strong and tested managerial skills as well as a demonstrated commitment to the African American community and social justice. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned manager with the ability to think strategically, collaborate effectively, and lead with heart. S/he will be a creative person with a strong business sense, who understands customer service, finance, and marketing in the nonprofit environment. The applicant must have many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Organizational & Operational Leadership
- Leadership experience managing complex operations or programs within an organization addressing communities of color and underserved & marginalized populations.
- Experience building sustainable and effective partnerships with government agencies, school districts, funders, and community organizations toward common goals and objectives.
- Success building and scaling organizational growth strategies across programs and/or geographies.
- History of building and sustaining relationships with mission-aligned donors and experience raising significant fundraising investments from public and private sources, including individuals and foundations.
- Thoughtful, timely decision-maker with experience using data and evidence effectively to inform strategy and promote continuous learning and improvement.
- Effective organizational champion and partner who can elevate CMC’s visibility and secure new partnerships.
Connection to the Mission
- Sophisticated understanding of the barriers and interconnecting systems that African Americans and marginalized communities must navigate when trying to access programs and services, particularly in attaining educational and economic equity.
- Deep commitment to social justice and demonstrated ability to lead candid and brave conversations about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Ability to engage with community members and stakeholders with both professional and lived experience facing the systemic barriers to educational, economic, and professional opportunities.
Values & Management Style
- An experienced manager who has built opportunities for staff leadership and champions staff growth across a program or organization.
- Highly relational style: ability to build relationships and engage in healthy dialog that fosters mutual understanding and trust.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to reach and inspire internal and external audiences; ability to connect with community, funders, and partners in both individual and group settings.
The Basics
- 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit, human services, community-based organization, or educational institution.
- A compelling presence; strong public speaking skills and understanding of marketing.
- The ability to think and act strategically, make thoughtful and clear decisions that support the projects and the organization, and the ability to thrive in an environment of change and support staff to do the same.
- Ability to model personal/professional balance, integrity, resilience, sense of humor, adaptability, commitment to learning, and humility.
Education
An undergraduate degree is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
Compensation
This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with a competitive benefits package, vacation/PTO schedule, and potential for board-approved annual performance bonuses. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Projected range is $70,000 - $82,000.