Pacific House

Mission:
Pacific House is a leading “housing first” organization that provides emergency shelter services as well as permenant supportive housing to men and families in Fairfield County, CT. In addition to meeting housing needs, Pacific House administers support services to help clients achieve self-sufficiency to lead fulfilling lives.

Background:
In 1982, an emergency shelter opened its doors in the basement of the First Congregational Church in Stamford. Under the sponsorship of The Council of Churches and Synagogues, the shelter was able to serve up to 60 people a night. In July of 1985, the “Shelter for the Homeless” was formed as an independent nonprofit service agency operating under the guidance of a Board of Directors. In 1988, the agency raised over two-million dollars to purchase and renovate the building at 597 Pacific Street, ultimately leading to a change in name to “Pacific House.”

Since that time, the agency has evolved to provide health related and functional services to the men and young adults who stay at the shelter. It then expanded its services by purchasing or building 13 residential buildings in Stamford and Norwalk, CT to provide safe, affordable and supportive housing for people struggling with homelessness. Currently, Pacific House has annual revenues of $7.5M, $24M in assets, and a staff of 45 people. It works with numerous other agencies in Fairfield County to provide a “Continum of Care” to its residents. It serves up to 90 men and young adults in the shelter and provides housing for an additional 130 people in its residential buildings.

Position:
Pacific House seeks a motivated and entrepreneurial leader to work with the Board and staff as they embark on a significant expansion plan to double the permenant housing capacity of the organization. This expansion will require expertise in permanent supportive housing, fund development, strategic planning, and organizational expertise, as well as confidence in decision making in relation to capital projects and capacity building.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for the leadership of and direction of all aspects of day-to-day operations, including the supervision of staff and volunteers, development of management systems and procedures, fiscal responsibility, and the evaluation and improvement of resources. This seasoned leader will be able to capitalize on the past successes of Pacific House by developing and implementing a successful fundraising plan to help expand services and resources. They will be highly visible in the community and adept at establishing and maintaining relationships and partnerships, especially with other human services organizations.

The ideal candidate will be a resourceful leader  with experience building, supporting, and developing teams. The candidate must be able to manage people effectively and be an agent for positive cultural change. They will have a deep commitment to serving the mission of ending homelessness through housing development and supportive services—ideally possessing experience in the housing sector to implement plans to expand the number of supportive housing units.

Excellent communication skills and decisiveness are critical to this role, as is the ability to work closely with the Board and staff in a transparent, honest fashion with frequent and robust reporting. The Executive Director must be enthusiastic about serving as the face and voice of the organization to successfully engage and motivate stakeholders. In addition, the Executive Director will be diplomatic, analytical, compassionate, of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of Pacific House; maintain high-quality services; ensure compliance; and provide a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for both staff and clients.
• Together with the Board, communicate and sustain a clear vision, mission and strategy for the organization that covers overall programmatic, financial and operational systems, processes and practices.
• Evaluate and address issues that affect the organization with agility, open-mindedness, and a commitment to meeting the needs of the community and staff.
• Identify and implement staffing changes and requirements to create an efficient, positive, and supportive work environment; attract and retain quality staff members; meet regularly with staff to champion a culture of collaboration and open communication.
• Create and implement a strong fundraising plan, including support and planning of events; build and maintain relationships with donors – individual, foundation and corporate – and create new avenues of fundraising in collaboration with the development team; work closely with external consultants and partners to secure funding for current programs, as well as funding to continue to expand housing resources.
• Cultivate a strong working relationship with the Board and staff based on trust, confidence, and transparency.
• Develop and update internal policies, procedures, and protocols, including those related to human resources, data management and reporting, and direct services.
• Oversee the management of annual budgets and quarterly financial reports; set long- and short-term financial objectives that will facilitate growth.
• Oversee all marketing and public relations activities, including social media, effectively communicating the policy positions, mission, and work of the organization.
• Comply with local, state, and national regulations, as well as those of major non-governmental funders.
• Establish relationships with the appropriate state officials and financial institutions.
• Participate in external events to increase visibility, credibility, and market brand; develop strategic partnerships to further increase community awareness and expand programs.
• Keep up to date on programmatic trends and community needs in order to propose and implement innovative changes in services.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of ten years senior level experience in the nonprofit and/or equivalent business experience, preferably with at least several years of nonprofit experience.
• High emotional intelligence and an open leadership style; strong interpersonal skills with an ability to inspire trust, clearly communicate objectives, and motivate staff.
• Experienced fundraiser, including managing grants, overseeing events, managing restricted project funds, and ensuring overall accountability to donors.
• Solid experience working with and supporting a Board of directors, including Board development and management.
• Relationship builder with the know-how to cultivate and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders in the community, including current/prospective funders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task effectively, as well as address and solve problems or issues as they arise.
• Exceptional oral and written communications abilities.
• Experience working with and respect for culturally diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with housing development and proven success securing funding for significant development projects.
• Experience in public relations and marketing.
• An entrepreneurial spirit and strategic growth mindset, comfortable with and capable of driving meaningful change; experience with change management preferred; innovative approach to business planning.
• Deep, personal commitment to the mission and vision of Pacific House.
• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in business, human resources, or finance required, with additional social services education preferred.

Compensation:
The salary for this position will be commensurate with the experience required for the role. This position would be on-site in Stamford, CT with remote working as an exception.

For more information on Pacific House, please visit their website at: https://www.pacifichouse.org

All positions at Pacific House  are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All are encouraged to apply.