Executive Director

Dedham Community House (New Kensington Group)

Job Description

About Dedham Community House (DCH):   The Dedham Community House (DCH), a nonprofit community organization founded in 1922, serves thousands of people each year from Dedham and many surrounding communities. DCH operates a highly regarded preschool, a popular summer camp, a variety of recreational and enrichment programs for all ages, an outdoor summer pool, and multiple seasonal community events on its 7 ½ acre campus.  DCH is committed to serving people of all ages, backgrounds, and income levels, and strives to be a welcoming and inclusive environment.
 
Our Mission:  DCH is dedicated to promoting educational, recreational, and civic interests to enhance the lives of all residents of Dedham and neighboring towns through innovative programs, community leadership and the preservation of its historic campus.
 

Our Vision:  DCH will be a vibrant focal point, leader, and facilitator of all that fosters a deep sense of community in Dedham and its surrounding towns -- offering programs that address the evolving needs of diverse residents, nurturing collaboration, preserving and enhancing the campus, ensuring access for all, and building the financial resources to prosper for generations.

 
Dedham:  Dedham is consistently touted as one of the top places to live in Massachusetts with its highly-rated public schools, strong commercial base, and its close proximity to Boston. Still, with a diverse population of 25,000, more than 1,100 individuals live in poverty. 
 
Strategic Opportunity and Challenges:  The Executive Director provides leadership and oversight of all activities related to fulfilling the DCH’s mission and its sustainability. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall strategic and operational planning, revenue generation, program management, financial management, organizational development, staff management, marketing and public relations.  The highest priority objectives for the new Executive Director will be:
 
  1. Provide dynamic visionary leadership to ensure the organization thrives as a permanent resource for preschool education and summer camping for Dedham and neighboring community families.  Inspire staff, volunteers, partners, clients and funders to champion the organization, scale its impact, and deepen its role for all who benefit from its programs.
 
  1. Expand philanthropic revenue by securing new and sustainable funding opportunities while maintaining existing family, corporate and foundation support.  Attract even greater support from individuals and families, and create a more sustainable funding base through expanded leadership and major giving programs. 
 
Responsibilities:
 
Strategic and Operational Planning
●       Facilitate the development and implementation of a strategic vision for the organization and plans that ensure achievement of its mission and vision.
●       Lead a collaborative process with the Board of Directors and staff in developing goals, objectives and operational plans for DCH.
●       In partnership with the Board of Directors, recruits, onboards, manages and inspires board member engagement to support achievement of the organization’s goals.
●       Manage all activities related to supporting effective engagement of the Board of Directors, including staffing for all Board and Committee meetings, meeting schedules, locations, development of agenda and meeting materials.  Leverage the contributions of time, financial and other resources to ensure all board members support the organization at the extent of their capacity.
●       Communicates effectively with board leadership to help inform key business decisions.
●       Spearhead the development, communication and implementation of effective growth strategies including the development and execution of new revenue-generating programs and fundraising initiatives that align with the organization’s mission.
●       Create and implement organizational and administrative policies that ensure efficient use of resources, high-quality programs, and overall operational effectiveness.
●       Prepare and manage the annual budget and other necessary financial documents.  Lead budgetary reporting, review and approval process.
●       Supervise the efficient and effective day-to-day operations at DCH.
 

Fund Development and Revenue Generation

●       Lead the implementation of a comprehensive, multi-year development plan to significantly expand earned income, government and philanthropic resources for DCH.
●       Cultivate and steward individual, corporate and foundation prospects and donor relationships.  Identify and lead the pursuit of new funding sources, review grant requests and reports, and manage all cultivation and fundraising events.  Inspire new levels of donor generosity through direct solicitation and engagement of past donors and first-time contributors.
●       Maximize board participation to identify, introduce, engage, and solicit prospects and donors in order to diversify and build extensive donor support and sustainable resources.
●       Encourage volunteer engagement and participation in third party events that benefit the organization.
 

Fiscal and Administrative Management

●       Lead, motivate, and develop staff and board so that they are passionate, well-versed ambassadors for the DCH and are committed to working effectively toward continual improvement.
●       Ensure the organization has appropriate staff with relevant skills for the needs of the position through activities including hiring, ongoing staff development, performance management, compensation and benefits.  
●       Develop and maintain annual budgets ensuring fiscal soundness and appropriate levels of cash flow.
●       Approve expenditures within the authority delegated by the Board.
●       Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
●       Assist in the preparation of audit materials and review draft financials and IRS Form 990 for Board approval. 

 

Public Relations/Advocacy

●       Establish good working relationships and collaborative arrangements with local community groups, town government officials, individual and corporate donors, and other organizations.
●       Represent DCH at fundraising/community events/meetings to enhance the organization’s community profile and support important local initiatives.
●       Represent DCH in all media relations by participating in interviews and other media type engagements.
●       As DCH’s leader, maintain an active positive, and professional presence  on social media.
 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

The ideal candidate for the Executive Director’s role is a proven community leader with a track record of successfully leading an organization to achieve new levels of scale and impact.  The ideal candidate embraces servant-leadership, leverages the unique talents of staff and volunteers,  empowers and inspires staff excellence, and have a proven track record of revenue generation.  Qualified candidates should bring: 

 
•         5+ years of senior management experience 
•         10 + years of leadership experience 
•         5 + years of fundraising experience 
•         Advanced degree from an accredited institution or comparable experience
 
Qualifications:

•         Brings a track record of effective leadership and proven results scaling a performance- and  outcomes-based organization and staff. 
•         Demonstrates strong relationship-building skills, with a proven track record of earned income and philanthropic revenue generation.
•         Serves as a strong community advocate and public relations leader; engage a wide range of stakeholders to leverage philanthropic and earned income support.
•         Excels with outstanding organizational management skills with demonstrated ability to coach staff, manage and  develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget.
•         Brings past success working with a Board of Directors or similar entity with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships.
•         Excels as a high-level strategic thinker and planner complemented, featuring excellent listening skills; has the ability to  envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers, donors and community partners.
•         Excels at planning, delegating, program development and task  facilitation. 
•         Brings a track record of strong written and verbal communication skills and is a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
•         Is action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning.
•         Brings passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, self-directed, and strong work ethic. 
•         Enjoys working with a diverse group of people in different settings.