POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

One Roof Chicago (ORC) is an emerging initiative to build an LGBTQ+-centered intergenerational community on the Southside of Chicago for older adults and young people most in need of affirming housing, meaningful connection, and career development. One Roof Chicago is the first entity of its kind in the world, combining a trauma-based approach to intergenerational housing for vulnerable LGBTQ+ communities with focused job training for young people in culturally competent senior care.

Founded in 2019 by members of the Chicagoland LGBTQ+ community, One Roof Chicago is now seeking our first paid Executive Director. ORC’s Executive Director will work closely with the board to bring our plans to fruition: within 3-5 years, the One Roof Chicago home will be breaking ground with a sustainable operating and funding plan for long-term success, in a process characterized at every stage by stakeholder inclusion, engagement, and investment.

One Roof Chicago's development partner is Full Circle Communities (FCC), a non-profit affordable housing developer with a track record of building and managing properties for seniors and LGBTQ+ youth. Together we are securing a site, a financing plan, and identifying the full development team. Our project architect is WJW Architects, P.C., specializing in affordable housing and long-term healthcare. We are developing a transit-oriented site in Grand Boulevard.

This role is ideal for an entrepreneurial individual who is highly adept at developing strategic relationships, wants to make a transformative impact in the LGBTQ+ community, and who has a deep understanding of the needs, landscape, and key stakeholders of Chicago’s Southside. We invite you to learn more about ORC in this interview between board members Donald Bell and Jacqueline Boyd.

Job Responsibilities

Fundraising/Capital Campaign

One Roof Chicago will cost an estimated $50 million to build 80-100 units of housing, of which we anticipate up to $30 million may be covered by low income housing tax credits (LIHTC).  In their first year, the Executive Director will work with the FCC project manager to submit a successful LIHTC application and identify the optimal capital stack, with support from philanthropy and commercial financing to cover the balance of construction costs.

On a parallel track, the Executive Director will deepen and expand the organization’s capacity to secure sustainable operating support. With the board Fundraising and Communications Committee and the part-time Marketing and Development Specialist, the Executive Director will strengthen and extend existing fundraising strategies while also creating new approaches to elevate the organization's visibility and financial resources.

The Executive Director will build and maintain relationships with foundations and other financial supporters, seek out new opportunities with grants, contracts, corporate support, and other sources of funding; write grant applications, follow up to secure funding, monitor compliance with grant restrictions, and file any necessary reports with the funding entity. They will also work closely with the Fundraising Committee to develop a plan for major donor cultivation and special events including fundraisers and friendraisers, and work with the Communications and Marketing Specialist on newsletter communications and social media to expand ORC’s circle of support.

Community/Stakeholder Relations

ORC’s Executive Director will be the organization’s point of contact with our primary project partners, community leaders on the Southside and within the LGBTQ+ community, public officials, funders, peer service providers and partners, the media, and the general public. They will be a prominent spokesperson for the organization’s values, philosophies and goals, particularly in Chicagoland, but also on the national level via our partnerships with national efforts such as the SAGE LGBTQ+ Senior Housing Initiative.

Working with the Board Communications Committee and the Marketing and Development Specialist, the Executive Director will actively seek out opportunities to raise visibility for the organization and build our circle of supporters, in opportunities encompassing community-facing events, tabling, social media, and press coverage.

The Executive Director will deepen and expand our working relationships with key stakeholders, including our development and program partners, funders, and public officials to ensure a smooth and united path to project completion.

Program Development

To date, the ORC board has developed a model for the youth and senior programs, and has begun to develop the workforce training program model. The Executive Director will work with the board project leads and Full Circle Communities staff and other partners to refine and test these models and ensure that they will provide sound operating templates for the community as it begins to welcome residents.  

Strategic Planning/Budgeting

Works with the Board to develop and implement strategic plans to ensure ORC’s annual plans move the organization toward long-term growth and sustainability. With the Board Retreat Committee, develops semi-annual board retreats that build board capacity to support the organization’s mission, surface emerging issues, and identify strategic priorities and benchmarks for the planning period. Reports monthly to the board on progress toward benchmarks and recommends adjustments as needed.

Works with the Finance Committee of the board to develop a budget that meets the strategic priorities identified in planning retreats; identifies a plan to secure funds; and secures board approval for the budget. Works with the Finance Committee, Board Treasurer, and contracted bookkeeper to track income and expenses, and supports the Treasurer’s monthly report to the board; makes recommendations for budget revisions as needed. The executive director will work with the Board Treasurer to assess the feasibility and timeline for transitioning day-to-day financial management from the Treasurer to staff, including establishing internal controls and codifying accounting policies and procedures.

General

The Executive Director reports to the ORC Board of Directors. The ED attends monthly board meetings (zoom), semi-annual retreats (in-person as public health conditions allow), and monthly or quarterly/zoom meetings of the Executive Committee, Housing Committee, Fundraising Community, Communications Committee, Finance Committee, and Retreat Committee. Over time and as staff capacity advances, the Executive Director will lead the organization’s transition from a working board to a governing board model.

The Executive Director oversees the work of the Marketing Development Specialist, who is a part-time year-round contractor. As organizational capacity advances, the board’s goal is for this to become a staff position.

The Executive Director position is remote, as ORC does not have a permanent office. However, the Executive Director needs to be a resident of Chicagoland; frequent community events and in-person outreach and stakeholder meetings will be key to the initiative’s successful development.  Several evening and weekend meetings and events per month are expected. Out of town travel will be unusual and at the discretion of the Executive Director. 

Requirements

This role is ideal for an entrepreneurial individual who is highly adept at developing strategic relationships, who wants to make a transformative impact in the LGBTQ+ community, and who has a deep understanding of the needs, landscape, and key stakeholders of Chicago’s Southside.  Chicagoland residence and ability to travel to local in-person meetings and community events is required.

Familiarity with affordable housing development, capital projects, and/or capital campaigns is strongly preferred. Familiarity with the requirements of service models for seniors and housing-insecure young people is preferred.

The Executive Director will be skilled in social justice, a systems thinker, and able to build a thriving and sustainable nonprofit, with experience in non-profit management, finance, board development, and fundraising. Applicants should possess a strong capacity to lead, organize, and motivate others. The candidate should have experience with community development, networking, and communications. 

Because this is a remote/work-from-home position, the Executive Director must be a self-starter with high responsiveness to email, text, and telephone communications. The ED must have the capacity to hold a strategic vision while competently planning and prioritizing tasks and details for both themself and others (e.g. the Board).

The ED must have a commitment to trauma-informed models of service and to working with marginalized people in a multicultural, multi-racial, intergenerational environment in a non-judgmental and empowering manner.

Additional preferred attributes:

• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with community leaders and stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal and team-building skills
• History of successful grant writing and management
• Experience in program design and evaluation
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including public presentations. 
• Ability and willingness to operate at both ends of the spectrum: Executive one minute, hands-on working as a team with staff or volunteers the next minute. High level of initiative to step in and get things done when needed.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite. 

Salary & Benefits

Salary for the Executive Director position is $85,000-90,000 plus individual health benefits and a generous leave policy. 

Applications

The priority application deadline for this position is January 15, 2023, with an intended start date as soon as possible. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Please send cover letter and resume to orc@oneroofchicago.org with the Subject Line “Executive Director – [Your Name].”