Chief Executive Officer

Responsibilities

Though an established organization, in the context of the merger within the past year, The 712 Initiative is in the beginning stages. The organization currently has four staff members and the model is to expand to a staff of 11 divided between two focus areas. The right CEO will be energized by expanding the organization – determining strategic priorities, getting the right staff “on the bus,” and launching new programming. The CEO will be the public face of the organization in the community and regionally.

Leadership & Management.

• 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 the strategic goals
• Actively engage and energize The 712’s Initiative’s volunteers, board members, event committees, partnering organizations, and funders
• Develop, maintain, and support a strong Board of Directors: ensure the success of the advisory committees, seek and build board involvement with strategic direction for both ongoing operations and development projects
• Recruit, lead, coach, develop, and retain The 712 Initiative’s staff. Ensure that staff have the aptitude, alignment, attitude, and accountability to be support the execution of the organization’s mission.
• Ensure effective systems to track/scale progress, and regularly evaluate program components, to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other constituents. Ensure records are maintained to meet organizational and funder requirements.

Fundraising & Communications.

• Generate revenue through development projects, events and program activities, and fundraising to support projects and operations
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communications—from web presence to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger public brand
• Use external presence and relationships to build support for The 712 Initiative, especially with key partners such as the City of Council Bluffs

Strategic Planning & Organizational Development.

• Conduct a visioning / strategic planning process and branding approach.
• Build partnerships, establishing relationships with the funders, and political and community leaders both locally and regionally
• Be an external local and regional presence that publishes and communicates program results

Qualifications

The CEO will be thoroughly committed to The 712 Initiative’s mission. All candidates should have proven leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience. Concrete demonstrable experience and other qualifications include:

• Advanced degree, ideally an MBA, MPA, or Urban Planning degree, with at least five years of senior management experience; track record of effectively leading a performance- and outcomes-based organization and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth. Candidates without an advanced degree will be considered provided they can demonstrate appropriate additional professional experience.
• Good knowledge of community development and redevelopment projects, especially an understanding of commercial and housing development practices. Additionally, should demonstrate a broad knowledge development financing/funding tools, principals, and mechanism.
• Politically savvy and able to work with elected officials, government agencies, the philanthropic community, and the private sector to successfully sell the projects and implement the plan to completion. Ability to understand and navigate the political, economic, social, and cultural issues that impact the region.
• Demonstrated fiscal responsibility with experience managing / developing budgets, and creating appropriate financial controls.
• 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, and set and achieve strategic objectives.
• 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
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
• Passion, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, self-directed, and able to exercise sound judgement
• Must be or become a resident of Pottawattamie County

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $85,000.00 to $100,000.00 /year