The Women's Building, Executive Director

ORGANIZATION

 

The Women’s Building (TWB) is a women-led community space that advocates self-determination, gender equality and social justice.  Founded in 1971, the organization was the first women-owned and operated community center in the country and has always been guided by the belief that all women and girls have the right to safe, joyous and creative lives. Over the years, The Women’s Building has become a hub for immigrant women and is the first stop in the journey to getting help for the majority of the women the organization serves. From the minute they walk through the front doors, women are welcomed in and have access to experienced staff who conduct an assessment of their needs. Whether community members are utilizing in-house programs such as financial coaching and job search assistance, or gain access to essential social services including a food pantry and housing application assistance program, each and every one of them is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. 

 

 

All of the organization’s program staff, volunteers and interns are bilingual in Spanish and English and the majority have college degrees or some college experience, particularly in the area of gender studies or social work. TWB staff have developed a range of expertise gained from the many community-based programs that have been implemented over the years and its staff/volunteers are highly motivated to work for the improvement of women’s lives. For more information, please visit www.womensbuilding.org. 

 

 

OPPORTUNITY

 

With the transition of longtime leader Teresa Mejía, the board and staff of The Women’s Building are seeking an experienced nonprofit leader who can increase the organization’s impact in service to the local community. The ideal candidate for this position will be: an entrepreneurial leader who knows how to support and develop a team; a strong fundraiser who can inspire individuals, corporations and institutional donors to support organization’s unique approach; a close partner to the board who can maintain a high standard of board engagement and quality governance; a strategic thinker who can work with all stakeholders to develop and execute on a long-term vision; and someone with a familiarity with organizations that conduct advocacy and lead programming like The Women’s Building and understand the diverse challenges and opportunities they face. This is an ideal opportunity for a leader who is passionate about serving immigrant women to be able to directly help them access the advocacy and program services they need to improve their lives.  

 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

 

Key Responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

• Serving as the face of The Women’s Building, partnering closely with the Board, funders and the broader community to secure and allocate the resources necessary to maintain the health of the organization and expand its programmatic impact;
• Leading the strategy and “on the ground” execution of The Women’s Building’s vision for success including ensuring that its programs, culture, local partnerships, and community engagement are highly effective and tightly aligned to the organization’s mission and goals;
• Managing and developing staff, remaining deeply committed to developing and bringing out the strengths of all team members while holding them accountable for their goals and the organization’s desired financial, programmatic and compliance outcomes;
• Overseeing the financial and operational health of the organization including fundraising and grant writing, budgeting, HR practices, operations and facilities;
• Championing the broader vision of The Women’s Building internally and externally by valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all constituents, and maintaining a consistent focus on what is best for the organization’s clients and their communities. 

   

PRIORITIES

 

A successful first year in this role for the new Executive Director will include:

 

• Leading a strategic planning process for the organization that features engagement with and buy-in from staff, board and other community members; beginning implementation of that plan by bringing people onboard and getting them to understand, adopt, and set short- and long-range goals.
• Maintaining core program services despite pandemic challenges, including ensuring that current revenue levels ($1.8m annual budget) are maintained and staff are able to continue delivering quality support to clients and community members.
• Keeping strong relationships with partners and tenant nonprofits, including strategic oversight of facilities planning for internal (i.e. TWB) use as well as those utilized by tenant nonprofits.
• Maintaining strong team culture, empowering staff to achieve their goals and ensuring they feel supported and mentored.
• Work closely with the Board, leadership team and staff to ensure a seamless transition.

   

QUALIFICATIONS

 

The minimum requirements for this role are:

 

 

• Deeply passionate about the mission of The Women’s Building and excited to serve its clients and community;     
• An entrepreneurial leader who is able to make decisions that drive towards results, with a track record of 10+ years of successful management, including oversight of a budget of $1.5m or greater;
• Experienced in being the primary face of an organization and raising funds through building successful partnerships with institutional donors and/or major gifts fundraising;
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, hiring and supporting staff and leaders for their organizations.

 

In addition, preferred requirements include:

 

• Culturally competent and a self-reflective leader who understands the effects of race, class, ethnicity, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and other areas of diversity and is able to lead direct conversations about them;
• Dynamic, versatile, and someone who engages effectively with a variety of individuals and speaks in a clear, compelling, and authentic manner about The Women’s Building’s goals and priorities;
• Effective in their management style and willing to devote time to coach and develop their team while ensuring staff have what they need to be effective in achieving their results;
• Experienced in building, working with, and leading a Board of Directors;
• Skilled in strategic planning, project management, and organization; able to focus on key organizational priorities without losing sight of the details;
• A strong partnership builder with a diverse range of community partners and institutions;
• Bilingual in written/spoken Spanish and English.

   

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

The Women’s Building provides a competitive compensation of $130,000-$150,000 and robust benefits for this position.  More details can be provided upon request.

 

 

 

TO APPLY

 

Please submit a resume online at http://bit.ly/3s7Ovcg. For additional questions about this position or to speak with someone about your interest, please contact Serena Moy at smoy@edgilityconsulting.com or at 510.575.9635.

 

The Women’s Building is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.