THE OPPORTUNITY
The Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston (FHCGB) seeks a culturally-competent, experienced, and strategic Executive Director to help lead this regionally-focused, private nonprofit organization to its next level of growth and development. This is a wonderful opportunity for a talented professional manager with a genuine commitment and demonstrated capacity to ending housing discrimination and addressing systemic causes of segregation. FHCGB is the only private nonprofit organization in Eastern Massachusetts solely focused on ending housing discrimination and promoting open communities. Going into its 15th year, FHCGB is positioned to advance its mission, develop new services, promote equity, and advocate for effective housing laws and policies. The new Executive Director must embody the characteristics and leadership ability necessary to clarify staff roles and responsibilities in a growing organization, set strategy, build capacity, and harness the collective potential of the organization to thrive in the current economic climate and beyond.

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
Housing discrimination, in all forms, is illegal, immoral, and debilitating to thousands of Massachusetts residents. FHCGB was established in 1998 by local civil rights and housing advocates and attorneys to eliminate housing discrimination and promote open communities throughout Eastern Massachusetts. The organization serves communities in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties. With a FY'11 operating budget of over half a million dollars, FHCGB currently employs a staff of ten people. Sources of revenue include support from private foundations, corporate contributions, individual donors, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fair Housing Initiatives Program. The organization is located at 59 Temple Place, #1105, Boston, MA 02111. FHCGB is governed by an active Board of Directors, a number of whom have been with the organization since its inception. Directors bring a strong commitment to the mission and a wealth of knowledge and experience in fighting housing discrimination.

Comprehensive Service Model
FHCGB pursues its mission through a comprehensive service model including the following seven main program areas:

Testing: A program designed to provide a credible picture of how and if discrimination occurs using a controlled method of documenting variations in the treatment of home seekers by housing providers. Volunteer testers are recruited, trained, and maintained as a diversified pool representing all protected classes.

Case advocacy: A program designed to field inquiries from and provide a full case advocacy to people without the knowledge and/or means to advocate for themselves, including representing complainants through state and federal processes and securing pro bono legal counsel if litigation is required.

Training: A program including fee-for-service opportunities designed to train tenant associations, public agencies, realtors, and housing search professionals on fair housing rights and responsibilities.

Community Outreach: Promotes tools and education that prevent and respond to discrimination and guides local advocates in activities designed to make communities welcoming places to live.

Housing Counseling: The housing counseling program provides troubled borrowers with loan reinstatement assistance, including negotiating with lenders and the filing of fair lending complaints if discrimination is alleged. The program also offers classes in fair lending, predatory lending, and first time home buying.

Public Policy Advocacy: Collaboration efforts designed to work with legal, civil rights, and community-based organizations to add fair housing expertise and promote equity in policy debates and advocate for strong and effectively implementable local, state, and federal housing laws and policies.

Research: A program designed to research and document the nature and extent of housing discrimination — including the fair housing impacts of public policies — both internally and externally with area universities.

Strategic Opportunities and Challenges
FHCGB continues to build both a rewarding workplace and a thriving sustainable organization. The new Executive Director will embody the skills and characteristics to support the organization in the following priorities:

Review and enhance FHCGB's strategic direction and shared vision in order to strengthen its capacity, capitalize on the organization's strengths, and align the core organizational components.
Establish a team learning environment that maintains high levels of staff morale, fosters cross-staff communication and interdependence, strengthens decisionmaking, and ensures accountability for results on all levels of the organization.
Represent FHCGB and promote fair housing in coalitions, partnerships, and external stakeholder relationships. Today, FHCGB is an active member of multiple coalitions, including the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance, the Massachusetts Community and Banking Council, and the Commonwealth Compact.
Build on FHCGB's history and reputation to enhance visibility throughout the state and to grow diversified funding for the organization.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will have the following professional background and personal/leadership characteristics:

Professional Background

Demonstrated understanding of housing discrimination, civil rights, and state and federal fair housing policies
Passionate commitment to ending discrimination, skill and experience in dealing with race (in all forms) and power issues, ability to engage in constructive approaches to persistent problems of discrimination and segregation
At least seven years of demonstrated management and supervisory experience, preferably in the nonprofit sector
Financial management skills and experience; proven ability to manage and develop budgets in the five hundred thousand to one million dollar range
Demonstrated experience and ability to actively develop and cultivate relationships with key constituent communities and other external stakeholders
Ability to effectively work in coalition and develop strategic partnerships with other organizations
Demonstrated effectiveness in raising funds from a variety of sources including foundations, government, individual donors, and corporate contributors
Demonstrated experience in building teams and sustaining effective relationships with staff, Board, clients, funders, and other relevant stakeholders
Successful experience in developing and providing shared leadership with a nonprofit Board of Directors
Demonstrated commitment to staff development and willingness to recognize and nurture staff potential
Ability to deal with and manage change (internal, external, organizational)
College degree required, with Juris Doctor or Masters level in related field preferred; demonstrated experience will be considered in lieu of advanced degree(s)

Personal/Leadership Characteristics and Attributes

Personality and presence to inspire, motivate, and capture the creativity of staff, Board, and external stakeholders while maintaining high morale and a positive environment
Flexible when necessary to adapt to changing circumstances with an ability to make difficult decisions
Ability to articulate the vision and shared values of the organization and persuade others to embrace them
Well organized with an ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and issues without compromising quality
Excellent communication, listening, and interpersonal skills, including openness to suggestions, opinions, and ideas from others
Ability to encourage innovation, best practices, and innovation toward new grant and program opportunities

Compensation
Competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and comparable nonprofits in Massachusetts

The Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston is an equal opportunity employer, committed to modeling our mission through promoting diversity in the workplace. Candidates of color and Massachusetts residents are encouraged to apply.

CONTACT INFORMATION
In order to apply for this position, please submit cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to apply@bostonfairhousing.org by February 3, 2012.

Job Description

Job Title: Executive Director

Function:

To implement the strategic goals and objectives of the organization
With chair of the Board, enable the Board of Directors to fulfill their governance function
To give direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization's vision, values, purpose, strategy, and its annual goals and objectives
Implement and direct fund and resource development, including identification of prospects, grant shaping, and collaboration with foundations and public funding sources
Serve as head of staff, providing direction, supervision, and support to both program and administrative staff

Reports to: Board of Directors

Major Functions/Responsibilities:

Programs and Service Delivery — Manages design, marketing, promotion, delivery, and quality of programs and service according to strategic vision and design
Fund-raising — Manages fund-raising planning and implementation, including identifying resource requirements, researching funding sources, establishing strategies to approach funders, submitting proposals, and administrating fund-raising records and documentation
Board Administration and Support — Supports operations and administration of Board by advising and informing Board members, interfacing between Board and staff, and supporting Board's evaluation of Executive Director and overall organization
Human Resource Management — Effectively manages the human resources of the organization according to authorized personnel policies and procedures that fully conform to current laws and regulations. Takes an active role and willingness to recognize and nurture staff potential
Financial, Nonprofit, Compliance, Risk, and Facilities Management — Recommends yearly budget for Board approval and prudently manages organization's resources within those budget guidelines according to current laws and regulations
Community and Public Relations — Assures the organization and its mission, programs, and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive image to relevant stakeholders

Qualifications:

Understanding of housing discrimination, civil rights, and state and federal fair housing policies
Passionate commitment to ending discrimination, skill and experience in dealing with race (in all forms) and power issues, ability to engage in constructive approaches to persistent problems of discrimination and segregation
Strong nonprofit management and supervisory skills and experience
Financial management skills and demonstrated experience with budget range between $500K — $1 million
Ability to represent FHCGB in coalitions, partnerships, and external stakeholder relationships
Demonstrated effectiveness and experience in fund development
Excellent written and oral communication skills
College degree required; Juris Doctor or Masters level preferred; demonstrated experience will be considered in lieu of advanced degree(s)

Salary:Commensurate with experience

CONTACT INFORMATION

In order to apply for this position, please submit cover letter, resume, and salary requirements electronically to apply@bostonfairhousing.org by February 3, 2012.