CLOSED - Executive Director - Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless
This position closed August 25, 2023.
Position: Executive Director
Reports to: Board of Directors
Position Status: Exempt, Salaried; 40 hours/week
Salary: $80,000-$90,000 with Benefits
Location: Position is based in Charlottesville, VA. Office located on the Downtown Mall with 3 days a week in the office required.
To apply: This position will remain posted until the job is filled. The preferred application deadline is August 25, 2023. Target start date is in October 2023.
ABOUT BLUE RIDGE AREA COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless is dedicated to addressing and ending homelessness through collaborating with communities to help individuals and families achieve housing stability, financial health, and improved quality of life. To achieve this, we focus on supporting and coordinating our homeless service provider partners in their work providing direct services to individuals and families experiencing or facing homelessness. We prioritize serving the hardest-to-serve and highest-risk individuals, grounded in the Housing First approach that centers quick access to housing solutions and support. Data-driven decision-making and best practice approaches guide our initiatives. We advocate for effective community support services outside the homelessness system of care and strive to increase housing options for vulnerable individuals and families. Strong leadership, especially in fundraising, grants management, and advocacy activities, is critical to our mission. We manage an annual budget of $1.26 million in our work to end homelessness, providing funding directly to core homeless service provider partners to support their work.
We set annual system performance goals that encompass reducing overall homelessness, minimizing the time individuals spend in homelessness, facilitating successful transitions to permanent housing, preventing returns to homelessness, and supporting income growth among individuals in homeless services. We actively participate in the international Built for Zero initiative, maintaining an accurate by-name list of individuals experiencing homelessness and working towards functional ends to veteran homelessness and chronic homelessness. In May 2023, we were able to reach our community’s threshold for a functional end of veteran homelessness and are now focused on maintaining this incredible achievement moving forward. During the height of the pandemic in May 2021, we were part of a collaborative project to purchase an old motel for intermediate use as a non-congregate shelter program and site of a new, 80-unit permanent supportive housing development that will break ground in May 2024. Through our dedication to effective, data-driven interventions and practices, we aim to make a tangible difference in addressing and ending homelessness and improving the lives of those facing housing insecurity.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Executive Director coordinates all activities related to the VA-504 Continuum of Care for homeless services serving the City of Charlottesville and counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. This position is responsible for implementing the strategic plan focused on supporting homeless service provider partner agencies in their work to address and end homelessness for individuals and families, increasing capacity within the Continuum of Care of homeless services, and providing strategy, direction, and leadership on reaching a functional end of homelessness. BRACH employs two staff, an Executive Director and an Administrative Coordinator. The Executive Director is responsible for supervising the Administrative Coordinator and managing the BRACH board of directors, working closely with board members for guidance, strategy, and vision for the homelessness system of care.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Executive Director is instrumental in the organization's efforts to address homelessness. The responsibilities encompass coordinating homeless services with local partners, ensuring compliance with state and federal guidelines, and developing and implementing homeless services policies. Additionally, the role involves conducting research on best practices, advocating for housing and homelessness-related issues, and providing leadership to service providers, government agencies, and community stakeholders. Furthermore, the role includes fundraising and grants management, overseeing program performance, financial management, board support, and staff supervision. These responsibilities directly contribute to the organization's mission by fostering effective coordination, securing resources, ensuring compliance, and providing leadership in addressing homelessness.
Continuum of Care (CoC) Operations, Coordination, and Management
Lead coordination of homeless services with all local homeless service provider partners
Oversee CoC homeless services policy development and implementation
Participate in local housing and homelessness related advocacy efforts, engage with/sit on advisory boards
Provide leadership and work in a cooperative manner with local homeless service providers, human service providers, local government agencies, faith communities, funders and foundations, and with people currently experiencing homelessness and/or with previous experience of homelessness
Prepare communications materials to align CoC communications on homelessness and housing issues
Fundraising and Grants Management
Plan for, coordinate, write, and submit annual applications for funding to support the CoC homeless service system of care from HUD’s CoC Program Competition and various state and local government funding opportunities
Identify and apply for new grant sources to support new programming or to grow existing programs
Monitor program performance in compliance with state and federal requirements
Board Management
Provide support for the BRACH Board of Directors, preparing agendas and materials for monthly board meetings in consultation with the Executive Committee
Ensure that board members are equipped with accurate and timely information about homelessness using local data from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Assist with onboarding of new board members and continuing education for all board members on BRACH’s responsibilities and goals and homeless service best practices
Organizational and Financial Management
Ensure all required state and federal registrations and tax filings are completed and submitted appropriately
Prepare an annual budget for approval by the board of directors and ensure adherence to the budget
Prepare financial statements and reports for the board of directors as necessary
Supervision Responsibilities
Provide supervision and support for the Administrative Coordinator
Oversee interviewing and hiring process for new staff members
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate for this role brings extensive leadership experience in human services or homeless services, demonstrating a strong commitment to ending homelessness and implementing inclusive programming. While this position leads several key areas of our work, it is not our expectation that candidates have a mastery across all areas; instead, we encourage candidates to apply who have self-awareness and humility around areas they will need to grow in and the motivation and aptitude to lead the learning required to hit the ground running.
5 years of experience in a human services/homeless services role and 3 years of experience in a leadership role, or equivalent experience including lived experience of homelessness or another related experience
Commitment to implementing equitable, diverse, and inclusive programming and policies
Strong belief in and dedication to ending homelessness
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Deep project management experience evidenced by strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to multi-task and handle multiple deadlines simultaneously, and ability to delegate responsibilities effectively
Ability to work independently and in teams
Ability to build and maintain working relationships with partner organizations and funders
Experience planning for and implementing an organizational strategic plan
Effective public speaking skills and ability to present information clearly and concisely
Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office
PREFERRED SKILLS
Knowledge of Charlottesville area community context
Demonstrated experience in grant writing
Experience managing and administering federal and state grant-funded programs
Supervisory and/or management experience
Proficiency in ServicePoint or other HMIS software experience
Experience in building and using database reports for research and presentation of data
TOTAL REWARDS PACKAGE INCLUDING BENEFITS
The Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless offers the following benefits package.
A generous PTO policy
3 weeks paid vacation
12 sick days
13 holidays
$600 monthly health insurance stipend
$30 monthly cell-phone stipend
Professional development opportunities
Blue Ridge Area Coalition is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. BRACH makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and three references by August 25th by filling out this form. We will not contact references until later in the hiring process, and not without your permission.