EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION Title: Executive Director Location: Portland, Oregon Reports to: Board of Directors Expected tenure: Permanent, Full Time BACKGROUND Founded in 1997, Our United Villages, DBA the ReBuilding Center (RBC), is a Portland-based community organization on a mission to ensure that people and building materials—specifically those perceived as liabilities and cast off by society—are respected and valued as community assets. Part reuse thrift store and part community and education center, RBC aims to provide a place and space where everyone feels safe, welcome and accepted—from houseless villagers building tiny homes in our lumberyard, to young makers in our woodshop, to bilingual contractors shopping for salvaged lumber in our Store. When we see and activate the full potential in people and existing resources, there’s no limit to what we can do together to strengthen the social, environmental and economic equity and vitality of our communities. With a three-year strategic roadmap now in place, and the 20th anniversary of our North Mississippi Avenue store coming up in 2020, RBC seeks an experienced, passionate, and dedicated Executive Director to help us continue to make a material difference in Portland and beyond. The Executive Director will be responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization and will be responsible for executing the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors. RBC values and aims to foster a culture of peer-to-peer accountability, teamwork and mutual respect, which the ED needs to embody and model. OUR OPERATIONS The ReBuilding Center operates one of the largest thrift stores of reused building materials in the country; provides pick-up service of reusable materials from homes; offers deconstruction services of whole and partial buildings, salvaging reusable materials, and diverting tons of materials from the waste stream; offers classes in basic carpentry, electrical, and home-repair skills; and builds job skills to create a pathway to stability for marginalized workers. Of the 40 full- and part-time team members RBC currently employs, 40% are non-male and 40% self-identify as people of color. KEY GOALS OF THE POSITION PLAN AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGICALLY Oversee the execution and evolution of the three-year strategic roadmap and annual budget; engage the entire organization in this process. KEEP THE ORGANIZATION ON TRACK Provide oversight and foster collaborative accountability on critical organizational needs and deadlines, track all essential moving pieces, and work in concert with the Board of Directors and staff to predict and plan for future challenges. IMPLEMENT AND REALIGN BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS Bring new ideas to help the ReBuilding Center make fundamental improvements in areas such as internal operations, organizational and business model structure, HR best practices, fundraising strategies, resource needs and allocations, and internal and external communications. PRIORITIZE EQUITY AND INCLUSION Center equity in all aspects of the work, modeling a deep commitment to and analysis of equity as a crucial component of the organization’s—and our community’s—success.
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES LEADERSHIP ● Serve as an effective liaison between the Board of Directors and the staff, and foster effective teamwork across the organization ● Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization and externally ● Be a highly visible, engaged and approachable leader, staff mentor, and team player ● Oversee the development of the strategic plan and its implementation, progress reporting, and course-correction ● Be successful in building strong relationships and partnerships with other nonprofits, government entities, community groups, neighbors, donors, and volunteers, among many other stakeholder groups ● Serve as a spokesperson for the organization and positively represent the organization to the community ● Delegate responsibilities, foster teamwork, and build leadership skills throughout the organization ● Be a positive, constructive, and calm presence during times of organizational transition and change
GENERAL OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION ● Oversee the safe and effective day-to-day operation of the organization, including the running of our nonprofit retail store (open seven days a week), in accordance with the organization’s employee handbook, policies and procedures, and external safety best practices ● Ensure timely, useful, and engaging monthly and quarterly reports are produced and shared ● Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of special projects ● Assist with infrequent emergency situations during and after working hours; be available to work after hours and weekends, as needed
FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT ● In collaboration with staff and Board, oversee all financial activities including budget preparation and administration, the preparation of financial statements, the use of sound accounting procedures, and the responsible and transparent stewardship of organizational funds ● Work with the Board of Directors to secure adequate funding for the operation of the organization; oversee the development and execution of sales revenue and fundraising plans ● Approve expenditures within the authority delegated by the Board
HUMAN RESOURCES ● Establish a positive, healthy, and safe work environment, in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations ● Work with leadership across the organization to determine staffing levels needed to meet organizational requirements and objectives ● Oversee the implementation of HR policies, procedures, and practices, including job description development, compensation equity, benefit offerings, and the annual performance review cycle ● Participate in hiring, firing, and disciplinary activities; ensure organizational consistency and legal compliance ● Meet the ReBuilding Center’s commitment to providing employment opportunities to marginalized communities with clear strategies and resources to help people from all backgrounds and life circumstances succeed ● Work with HR staff to develop recruitment strategies that attract underrepresented candidates ● Assist with compliance and development of policies and procedures that ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion are top organizational priorities
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ● Support and commit to the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives ● Support and implement training initiatives on cultural competency, gender differences, disability, sexual harassment, and other topics designed to increase awareness of and support the organization’s equity and inclusion values
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ● Champion the ReBuilding Center guest experience and foster an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected ● Establish good working relationships and foster strategic, mutually beneficial collaborations with community groups, funders, government stakeholders, and other organizations, in alignment with the strategic plan ● Activate community touchpoints throughout the organization and bring strategic focus to how the ReBuilding Center engages with and serves the community, in alignment with our core strengths and capacities
CANDIDATE’S PROFILE The ReBuilding Center’s Executive Director must be a collaborative leader with a record of achievements obtained through supporting the work of diverse teams in the private, government, and/or nonprofit sectors. We are looking for someone with several, if not all, of the following skills and attributes: ● Demonstrated commitment to and deep understanding of racial, economic, and gender justice issues, and ability to deftly navigate racial, economic, and cultural differences, paying special attention to issues and concerns of communities of color, people with disabilities, and other diverse groups ● Facilitation, negotiation, and consensus-building skills to support administrative decisions and programs ● Experience in community-based work, e.g. community development, human services, etc. ● Demonstrated passion for our mission, vision, and values ● Demonstrated ability to build partnerships with other nonprofits, government entities, and other stakeholders ● Deep commitment to a collaborative, rather than hierarchical, management approach and to helping the team do what it loves and knows how to do, and do it better ● Willingness to learn from and with everyone and appreciation for the deep knowledge and resources that already exist among our diverse staff ● Ability to connect and communicate with a broad spectrum of people, including those with a diversity of economic, cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, and educational backgrounds, age and abilities, and life experiences ● A commitment to collaboratively and actively pursue transparency at all levels and maintain honest, respectful, and open communication ● Demonstrated ability to anticipate, prevent, or defuse problems before they arise or escalate ● Demonstrated ability to provide leadership in a customer-facing environment, preferably a retail sales environment ● Demonstrated experience stewarding environmental projects, issues, or programs ● Demonstrated finance and budget management experience ● Ability to use computers and other technology and be fully self-sufficient administratively ● Familiarity with public policy processes and government contracting ● Ability to speak Spanish with a high degree of fluency
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Salary range: $80,000 - $100,000 DOE Benefits: Eligible for holiday, vacation, and sick leave benefits, which accrue upon hire. The ReBuilding Center also offers medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance coverage, covering the premiums for employees and covering 50% of the premiums for spouse/domestic partner and dependents, as well as the ability to contribute towards an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Employee discounts offered for purchases at the ReBuilding Center as well DIY classes through our Education program.
TO APPLY Please email your cover letter and resume no later than November 15, 2018 to employment@rebuildingcenter.org using “Executive Director” in the subject line. For more information, please visit rebuildingcenter.org/careers. No phone calls, please. The ReBuilding Center affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, or any other identities or characteristics protected by law. RBC places a high value on diversity with a strong commitment to achieving a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. Thank you for your interest in joining the team!