Executive Director

Chico Housing Action Team, a California based non-profit organization, is seeking a full time Executive Director to oversee all programs and help our organization continue to grow, thrive, and fulfill its mission.

General Description                                                                          

Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT)  is a dynamic non-profit with a big mission - to ensure that everyone in our community has access to housing they can truly afford.  CHAT was formed in 2013 by a group of community members who came together to explore possible solutions to homelessness.  Within just a few weeks, CHAT responded to a severe cold spell by launching a temporary, rotating shelter program, working in collaboration with churches and other organizations.  It was run completely by volunteers.  After a year, CHAT began renting large houses, and renting out individual bedrooms to people who had lost their housing.  Since then, CHAT has continued to rapidly expand our programs.  We now have specialized housing programs for Camp Fire survivors, families with children, college students, veterans, and people with mental illness.  We currently are housing about 175 people in 55 homes.  CHAT continues to rely heavily on volunteers in many roles, including many of our core operational positions, working closely with our eleven paid staff members.  

Besides providing low cost shared rental housing, CHAT also supports residents with case management, supplemental food, furnishings, and personal and logistical assistance to help them stabilize their lives and stay successfully housed.  

The Executive Director is a new position for CHAT.  The E.D. will be the chief executive officer of our organization and, working closely with the Board, will oversee all programs of CHAT and help guide CHAT into the next stages of our growth and development.

Accountability

The Executive Director is a salaried FLSA-exempt position and reports to the Chico Housing Action Team Board of Directors.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Program Oversight & Administration

• Supervise program delivery for CHAT housing programs and other initiatives undertaken by CHAT including support functions such as office services, warehouse operations, food distribution, and volunteer coordination.
• Supervise paid staff, including program and administrative employees, assuring that the individuals in each of these positions have clear direction, appropriate training, and resources needed to accomplish their jobs.  Conduct regular performance evaluations.  Coordinate employee hiring, in conjunction with the hiring committee.  Ensure appropriate employee policies and procedures are in place and understood by employees and volunteers.  Make determinations regarding promotions, discipline, and, if necessary, termination of staff. 
• Attend and prepare reports for meetings of the CHAT Board of Directors.

• Oversee organizational assets and revenues, making sure that financial reports, audits, and tax filings are timely and properly filed.

• Oversee security and confidentiality of records and documents.

• Work closely with the leadership of CHAT, including Board members, staff and core volunteers, with due appreciation for the CHAT culture of collaborative development of ideas and projects, and respect for the views of everyone involved.    

• Coordinate with committees, which may include Board members, other volunteers, and staff, ensuring that there is a good flow of communication throughout the organization.  

• Manage staff and office environment to optimize job satisfaction and retention, keeping staff, volunteers, donors, and our community excited about CHAT and our ongoing accomplishments.  

• Oversee case management to ensure that residents live in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment in accordance with all applicable legislation and regulations, with due regard for best practices in social services and property management.    

• Ensure that all employees and volunteers work in a safe environment free from hostility, harassment, and discrimination, where all employees, interns, and volunteers feel valued and appreciated, and diversity is valued.                                                                                                                

• Oversee finance team to ensure that budget shortages or overages are identified and reported promptly to the Board of Directors.

• Conduct ongoing evaluation of the services delivered and implement improvements as necessary. 

Program Planning & Development

• Identify staffing needs (paid, intern, and volunteer)  to implement all existing programs.
• Work with finance committee and other committees to develop an annual operating budget for the organization.
• Identify needs and propose policies and plans to improve program delivery.
• Work with the Board to assure that CHAT continues developing and refining its long term strategic plan for reducing homelessness in our community.   
• Seek out opportunities to expand programs and launch new initiatives in line with CHAT’s mission, and present such opportunities to the Board. 
• Help CHAT maintain boundaries and focus, while developing new ideas and directions for addressing the problem of homelessness in creative, collaborative, and proactive ways.
• Work to ensure that activities undertaken conform to CHAT’s core values.
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•               Public Relations, Fundraising & Communications
• Serve, in collaboration with others on the communications team, as a spokesperson for CHAT within the community.
• Participate in and provide direction for the fundraising, communications, and grant writing committees as needed.
• Oversee grant implementation and administration, ensuring that all grant filings and reports are generated and submitted in an accurate and timely fashion.  
• Support and guide the communications team in developing and disseminating CHAT’s message to the community.
• Maintain relationships and, where appropriate, partnerships with other non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, elected officials, church groups, and the media, to further the mission of CHAT and support others sharing CHAT’S values and goals.  

Qualifications                                                                                                        

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with people from a variety of backgrounds.      Ability to plan and direct program implementation.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and engage in collaborative group decision- making.
• Knowledge of human resources law and good personnel practices.
• Knowledge of financial practices, standard reports and grant administration.
• Ability to guide and support a complex  and changing budget development process.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor relations unique to the nonprofit sector.
• Ability to engage effectively with and inspire volunteers, staff, community supporters and donors.
• Knowledge of social work standards, including ethics and confidentiality requirements.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Experience with strategic planning.
• Commitment to CHAT’s mission and programs.
• Bilingual abilities preferred.

Core competencies                                                                                                                                                

• Behave ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices, and ensure one’s own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Build relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Create and innovate: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and create new opportunities with a solutions focused approach.
• Make decisions: Assess situations to determine their importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Foster teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness with an appreciation of CHAT’s unique participatory culture.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement action plans, and evaluate processes and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or seek any necessary guidance to resolve problems effectively.                    

Experience and Education

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in social services, public administration, business, or a related field is required.
• Executive or managerial experience of at least 3 years sufficient to demonstrate the core competencies listed above is required.
• Experience working in non-profit organizations is preferred.
• Experience in the housing field is preferred.

Compensation

Salary: $65,000 to $75,000 per year to start, depending on experience and education.

Benefits: 15 days paid time off (vacation and/or sick leave) per calendar year, to start, in addition to 10 paid holidays.  CHAT does not, at present, offer a retirement plan or a health plan.

Chico Housing Action Team is an Equal Opportunity Employer.