Executive Director Search

Job Title: Bilingual Executive Director (English/Spanish)

Reports to: Board of Directors

Classification: Full Time (40 hours/week)
Location: Houston, TX (local candidates only)

About Living Hope Wheelchair Association

Living Hope is a community based non-profit organization formed by people with spinal cord injuries as well as with other disabilities working together to improve our quality of life and promote our rights. Our group was founded by people with spinal cord injuries. The majority of our members are not entitled to benefits, lack medical insurance, and do not have a stable source of income. We provide services to our members and engage in community advocacy to achieve our goals.

Our Mission is to affirm the dignity and improve the quality of life of immigrants and refugees with disabilities and their families; particularly of those in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury or disease. We work in the intersection of disability rights, healthcare justice and immigrant and worker rights providing medical supplies and equipment as well as spaces for leadership development and a community where everyone can feel included, respected and loved.
 

Position Summary 

The Executive Director will provide overall leadership on all aspects of Living Hope’s organizational activities. A successful candidate will have a passion for disability and immigrants’ rights and an unwavering belief and commitment to collaboration as a means of planning, implementing and evaluating community-driven goals. The Executive Director will encourage dialogue, listen to community voices, synthesize feedback, assist in achieving consensus and facilitate a drive to action. The Executive Director will be the embodiment of the organizational values. The Executive Director must be able to work through conflict to help differing viewpoints achieve consensus to advance the strategic goals and day to day programs that respond to the needs and promote the rights of immigrants with disabilities and their families. With a calm and thoughtful approach, the Executive Director will help the team and members focus on and expand access to services and transform the systems that impact immigrants with disabilities and their families.

Primary Responsibilities Leadership and Vision 

  • Work with Living Hope staff and partners to consistently review, refine and implement the strategic goals and programs defined by the Board and membership. Ensure information flows appropriately across the organization´s various programs 
  • Ensure that directly affected individuals and families play a key role in developing and implementing the strategic priorities. 
  • Continually seek out diverse individuals and organizations to support the strategic priorities of Living Hope. 
  • Be the spokesperson in conjunction with Living Hope members with multiple audiences including: the media, philanthropy, public officials, and community groups. 
  • Build, maintain, and share knowledge about community and national issues and trends that have an impact on the work of Living Hope. 
  • Ensure Living Hope’s legal structure and Board of Directors support Living Hope’s values, mission, and public policy goals. 

Fund Development and Fund Distribution 

  • Sustain current and build new funding sources by: 
    • Being an accountable grantee. 
    • Offering innovative systemic approaches to address the rights and needs of immigrants with disabilities in the greater-Houston area. 
    • Recruiting national and local funders to support the work of Living Hope. 
  • Distribute funding using an empowering and transparent participatory grant-making process. 
  • Develop leadership within the Houston funding community by advocating for immigration and disability justice issues. 
  • Prioritize projects that are innovative, collaborative, and systems-level; focus on gaps in existing funding at the intersection of disability justice and immigrant rights 

Public Policy

  • By listening to and following the collective leadership of membership, develop a public policy action framework to guide all Living Hope’s policy work on behalf of its membership. 
  • Through public and private systems, facilitate opportunities for Living Hope to meet the diverse needs and promote the rights of immigrants and refugees with disabilities living in the Houston area. 
  • Focus Living Hope advocacy efforts on local issues and support other public policy coalitions with a state and/or national focus. 
  • Continually be aware of and monitor developing and ongoing public policy issues and opportunities to influence local public policy decisions that advance racial justice, immigrant rights and disability justice

Organizational Administration

  • Develop and monitor an annual budget that is within reasonable and necessary limits, as determined by the IRS. 
  • Be accountable for the day-to-day operations of Living Hope through strong operational support and leadership. 
  • Hire, train, and supervise staff or contractors by mentoring and supporting individual leadership development. 
  • Plan and facilitate Board and General Membership meetings in collaboration with the Board President and/or other Board Directors and Living Hope staff. 
  • Monitor grants received for proper compliance, reporting and alignment with donor intent. 
  • Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. 
  • Act as the liaison between the Board, accountant, auditor, and other contracted service providers. 
  • Oversee the production and dissemination of Living Hope publications, website, Annual Report, etc.
  • Implement an Employee Handbook (for example, processes for conflict resolution)

Experience and Qualifications 

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic, creative, supportive and visionary leader with a passion for social justice, disability justice and immigrant rights. The role involves collaborating with and across a diverse and bilingual Living Hope network of individuals, organizations and other coalitions. We are looking for a leader with a commitment to racial justice and equity and leadership of directly affected communities.

Minimum Qualifications 

  • Demonstrated commitment to advancing social justice, immigrant rights and/or disability rights.
  • Personal commitment to anti-racist leadership, education, and personal growth 
  • Significant experience in a community nonprofit organization, government agency, or similar organization, preferably at a senior or executive level and/or focused on creating systems change. 
  • A proven track record in leading a diverse team in rapidly changing environments
  • Knowledge, appreciation, and commitment to staying abreast of immigration and disability rights issues on the local, state and national level. 
  • Facilitation skills with diverse groups that have common beliefs and goals. 
  • Proven track record of effective internal team leadership. 
  • Proven track record as an effective fundraiser including extensive grant writing experience. 
  • Excellent communication skills when dealing with multiple audiences which will include philanthropy, public officials, established and grassroots nonprofits. 
  • Knowledge and experience with best practices in nonprofit management. 
  • Fully bilingual in Spanish and English (written and verbal).

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Individual from under-represented community and/or lived immigration experience.
  • Public policy experience with a focus on elevating people with disabilities and/or immigrant voices.
  • Knowledge of supports and services for people with disabilities and immigrants.
  • Minimum of three years of nonprofit management experience or an undergraduate degree (B.A./B.S.).
  • Strong and effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Strong leadership skills and experience in personnel management.
  • Strong computer skills.

Work Environment & Performance Standards

In-office environment, with travel to local and some national meetings and events. Applicants must have access to reliable transportation. A flexible 40-hour work commitment, with some weekend and evening work. Ongoing performance evaluation throughout the year, plus annual performance review.

Salary and Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience in the range of $75,000 to $85,000. Benefits include medical and dental insurance and paid vacation and sick leave.

TO APPLY 

 

To apply to the position, submit a resume and cover letter as a single PDF file to jobs@lhwassociation.org.

Position will be open until filled with priority given to resumes received before November 30, 2021.