EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) has overall strategic and operational responsibility for Blue Ridge Pride’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. This includes the annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival.
The ED is responsible for articulating the organization’s strategy and for securing and allocating resources to its functions and programs. The ED is supported by the Director of Operations. They oversee Program and Function Directors in their development and execution of operating plans.
The ED is also responsible for overseeing day-to-day activity for the organization with the support of the Director of Operations.
The ED is responsible for reporting to the Board President on a regular basis. Although the board may give suggestions on how to improve the organization, it is the responsibility of the director to decide if those suggestions will be implemented or not.
The ED role requires good leadership, organization, and motivational skills. EDs are responsible for motivating their members and helping the organization develop its philosophy. It is also the job of the director to stay on top of what is going on across programs, functions, staff, and volunteers. They must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and to know how to manage people with different backgrounds and motivations.
The ED must also keep track of the budget, company assets, and other resources.
Responsibilities
Strategic Planning: Oversee the development and execution of the organization’s overall strategy. Allocate resources to programs based on strategic priorities.
Programs: Oversee our portfolio of programs. Secure, support, and manage Program Directors. Oversee the annual development and ongoing revision of operating plans for each program.
Financial / Outcomes Oversight: Direct and track operational budgets across programs and support functions. Ensure timely reporting of program outcomes, revenues, and expenses (to board and grant providers).
Compliance / Risk Management / Contracts: Ensure ongoing compliance with local, state, and national authorities. Ensure appropriate insurance coverage. Oversee all contracts with service providers.
Team Leadership: Lead, coach, develop, and retain a high-performance leadership team. Implement and execute organization values, policies, and procedures. Meet monthly with team leaders.
Fundraising: Oversee and support the Development Director and Events Director to generate new sources of revenue and strategic relationships. Our largest fundraiser is the annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival which requires a great deal of attention and time with the support of other staff and volunteers. An Executive Director will plan/implement/oversee the annual festival in coordination with the team.
Communications: Oversee and support the Communications Director in the development of strategy, operating plan, and procedures that support the organization overall and individual programs. Establish and maintain working relationships with the press, partners, and community
Support Functions / Operations: Ensure quality of finance, administration, compliance, and systems. Look for opportunities to enhance operational efficiency while protecting organizational assets.
Constituents: Engage and energize volunteers, board members, committees, alumni, partnering organizations, and funders. Oversee the maintenance of our Constituent Management System.
Information Systems & Collaboration Tools: Work with Director of Operations to ensure integrity of finance, administration, compliance, and other systems and tools. Ensure security and availability of all records and compliance with our information retention policy.
Policies & Procedures: Develop policies, procedures, forms, and tools to support ongoing execution of our mission and strategies.
Board Relations: Serve as primary contact with the board and its committees. Support and oversee board involvement with programs and functions.
Strategic Relationships: Build and leverage relationships with key partners, funders, and influencers to support program goals. Serve as Blue Ridge Pride’s primary spokesperson and representative.
Qualifications, Requirements
The ED will be thoroughly committed to Blue Ridge Pride’s mission. All candidates should have proven leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience.
College or graduate degree reflecting an interest in organization management.
Track record of effectively leading and scaling 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.
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; set and achieve strategic objectives; manage a budget; and develop supporting processes and tools.
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.
Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning.
Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.
Ready access to PC, smart phone, internet, and webcam.
Commitment Seeking minimum commitment of one year, ideally 2 to 3.
Benefits A chance to become a visible leader in our community.
Opportunities to build relationships with other leaders, organizations, and constituents.