Who We Are
Common Roots Housing Trust is the first community land trust (CLT) for permanently affordable homes in the Blue Mountain region of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. Common Roots is grounded in community-based research, organizing, and advocacy, and leverages local and national expertise. Since 2020, volunteers and two area nonprofit organizations have been building Common Roots’ foundations. Common Roots is now ready to become an independent nonprofit organization and hire our first executive director, who will be responsible for fundraising for and providing our first permanently affordable homes for low-income households in our region. This is an exciting moment for our organization, and we are looking for an attentive, creative, and strategic nonprofit manager who is excited to help lead us in delivering new solutions to our region’s affordable homes crisis.
Position Overview
The Executive Director (ED) will advance Common Roots’ mission, while providing practical skills and expertise to manage the organization and research and carry out specific projects. The ED will oversee Common Roots’ operations and development, be the primary representative in the community and the primary liaison between the Board, the staff, and all individuals and entities who have a relationship with Common Roots. The ED will be responsible for overseeing business and strategic planning, membership relations, outreach, leaseholder and applicant relations, and fund raising/grant writing to support operations and projects. The ED will also be responsible for evaluating and expediting the financial and regulatory aspects of projects initiated by the Board.
Essential Responsibilities
· Regularly work with the Board of Directors and support the Board and membership in long-range planning and strategic priority setting.
· Oversee office operations.
· Hire and supervise staff and independent contractors.
· Provide financial management, including: working with the Board to prepare an annual operating budget and an annual development budget and present monthly financial statements; ensuring compliance with all funding sources; supervising or completing all necessary bookkeeping; and monitoring all financial aspects of projects.
· Conduct grant research, writing, and reporting, and cultivate, grow, and sustain relationships with grantors and donors.
· Recruit and retain members, maintain regular communication with members, and organize and host the annual members meeting with Board support.
· Serve as a spokesperson for Common Roots with housing groups, donors, elected officials, and all segments of the community. Produce press releases and oversee website development.
· Recruit future residents and ensure Common Roots maintains clear and healthy communication with current and future residents. Ensure resident stewardship of Common Roots land and homes and support residents to remain in their homes.
Essential Experiences, Skills, and Abilities You Will Bring to Common Roots
· Commitment to affordable housing, community ownership, democratic engagement, and low-income leadership.
· Ability to listen, communicate clearly, speak publicly, plan strategically, mediate, and work as part of a team.
· Financial management experience, including budgeting, reporting, and accounting for finances. Expertise with Excel is necessary and with QuickBooks is preferred.
· Nonprofit management experience, including the ability to manage multiple projects at the same time.
· Proven grant writing and management success.
· Minimum Bachelor’s degree; Master’s level of education preferred.
This position is grant-dependent. It will be full-time and require some flexibility with working hours. The ED will work remotely from our region until Common Roots has office space.
Salary
$75,000- $82,000 + retirement benefit
Start Date
April 17th
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample to [email protected]. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Our first round of review will take place on March 3rd.