NEIGHBORHOOD NONPROFIT

Executive Director

A new neighborhood-focused nonprofit seeks an enthusiastic community and organizational leader to serve as the founding Executive Director. This organization will lead community-centered neighborhood revitalization in the Fairfields, Eden Park/Greenville Extension, Easy Town and Northdale neighborhoods using the Purpose Built Communities Model. The Executive Director is accountable to the neighborhood nonprofit Board of Directors and has direct reports including all staff. This role will work closely with Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation staff as the founding philanthropic partner. HAWF will be facilitating the hiring process on behalf of the neighborhood nonprofit.

The Fairfields, Eden Park/Greenville Extension, Easy Town and Northdale neighborhoods have a rich history grounded by families who have called the area home for decades. Located north of Mid-City, these communities are home to the historic Capitol High School and the brand-new Park Elementary School, with proximity to Memorial Stadium, the Governor’s Mansion and Capitol Complex, and Baton Rouge General Mid-City. These are also areas where social and economic challenges are concentrated with respect to transit, crime, and income after decades of disinvestment. 

As a result, stakeholders have come together to shift the trajectory of this area by employing the Purpose Built model which prioritizes four pillars including: the development of mixed-income housing, a place-based cradle-to-college education strategy, community wellness and economic vitality. In this neighborhood revitalization model, NBR-PB is the nonprofit “community quarterback” organization working to ensure collaboration among partners, resident engagement, and accountability towards achieving long-term goals.

Summary

The community quarterback is a neighborhood nonprofit created to work alongside residents, nonprofit partners, and business owners to transform and revitalize the Northdale, Fairfields, Eden Park/Greenville Extension, Bogan Walk and EasyTown neighborhoods in Baton Rouge, Louisiana into a vibrant and sustainable community in which its residents have an opportunity to thrive. This organization will work as a community development catalyst to support resident vision, planning, and collaborative efforts with partners who can:

1. Create safe, quality, mixed-income housing with a high percentage designated to preserve long-term, permanent affordability in the neighborhood.
2. Provide a high-quality, neighborhood-serving continuum for student growth, learning, and achievement at every level starting at birth and through college and/or career.
3. Attract a community-specific mix of facilities, programs, and services that honor local history, reflect the priorities of residents, promote healthy lifestyles, create jobs, and reduce crime.
4. Offer opportunities for meaningful work, wealth building, and the area’s overall economic vitality. 

Priority will be given to ensure that residents are engaged and included, that their needs and concerns are heard, and their talents are applied. In addition to facilitating community meetings, planning efforts, and fundraising in support of the neighborhoods, the community quarterback organization will serve as a grantor by providing grants to grassroots organizations and small businesses that support community revitalization and rehabilitation. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to administer a nonprofit organization, including an understanding of its legal responsibilities and constraints with advanced knowledge of modern principles, methods, and techniques of administration and program planning.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with federal, state, regional, and local agencies, community leaders and the general public.
• Advanced knowledge of available public and private resources available for revitalization programs and projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as part of a team, and with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to identify and make the most of opportunities, take calculated risks, overcome and learn from setbacks, and succeed in a variety of settings.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven competency in people management, collective action, and systems change.

Education Qualifications

Minimum: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college
Preferred: Master’s Degree from an accredited college

Experience Qualifications

Minimum: 3+ years direct experience in at least one of the four focus pillars (real estate development, education, health and wellness, and/or economic development)
Preferred: Previous senior management experience, preferably within a nonprofit organization

Work Environment

The Executive Director role will work primarily in an office environment located within the area of impact. Attendance at evening and weekend meetings or events, both on and off-site, may be required to engage Board, donors, partners, and community stakeholders. Occasional travel may be necessary to attend meetings, events, conferences, and other off-site activities. 

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, the team member is regularly required to sit for extended periods, move through an office environment, use hands and arms, talk, hear, and view a computer monitor for extended periods. Lifting up to 15+lbs may occur occasionally for event setup or transportation of supplies. The role may involve periods of high stress and the ability to handle pressure with composure is important. 

How to Apply
This posting is available on LinkedIn and Indeed.