ED Job Openings

Recruiting top talent and screening candidates takes more time, skill and money than most agencies have readily available. CompassPoint's Executive Transitions brings added capacity and provides these critical services at affordable and competitive prices. The following provides a listing of Executive Director job openings for which CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is currently recruiting. To apply for an available executive director position, please respond to the e-mail address listed alongside the job posting.

CURRENT OPENINGS 
 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Local Government Commission
Sacramento, California

OVERVIEW

The Board of Directors of the Local Government Commission seeks a passionate leader and successful innovator in the arena of “smart growth” for cities and regions to build upon the tremendous 34-year legacy of its founder, Judy Corbett, who will be leaving her position this year.  LGC has a stellar reputation for assisting communities in creating and executing projects focused on environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and social equity.  LGC’s next executive director will have the skills to partner with LGC’s experienced staff of community building experts in continuing to expand LGC’s impact throughout California.

ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION

Originally created by the State of California as a commission of city and county elected officials to promote energy conservation and solar power at the local level, the Local Government Commission has been a national leader for more than three decades in improving communities through innovative approaches to environmental sustainability, economic prosperity and social equity.

With a membership network of 900 influential elected officials, staff and associated professionals, the LGC operates on the cutting edge of “bottom up” change.  Whether in response to local initiatives or emerging national or state mandates, the Local Government Commission is often first at identifying promising approaches and fostering persuasive models for putting those ideas to work in local communities.  Whether undertaking research, educating catalytic leaders, providing technical assistance to local governments or promoting successful case studies, the Local Government Commission offers practical, hands on inspiration and assistance to visionary local government leaders.

Local Government Commission programs played a key role in achieving the seemingly impossible goal of diverting more than half of California’s trash from shrinking landfills.  It was well ahead of its time in promoting economic development strategies focused on local job creation instead of subsidizing auto malls and big box retailers.  It broke new ground in shifting emphasis toward water and energy conservation strategies versus expensive expansion of supply facilities.  It is perhaps best known for tackling the problem of suburban sprawl and helping to give birth to “new urbanism” and “smart growth,” leading communities across the nation to promote infill, transit-oriented development and walkable communities. Each year, the Local Government Commission produces the highly-regarded “New Partners for Smart Growth” conference, which brings together diverse leaders from across the nation.  The Local Government Commission is also widely credited with incubating significant new local policies and practices across a wide range of other disciplines including public health, community design and active transportation.  Recently LGC has been at the forefront of climate change adaptation, helping communities prepare for and respond to increased local risks.

All of this is spearheaded by a staff of 20, based in Sacramento.  The budget of just over $2 million a year is primarily focused on projects undertaken for cities, counties, foundations and regional, state and federal agencies.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The LGC Board and staff recently reviewed the current status of its programs and the near term opportunities and challenges for expanding its impact in California.  To continue building on LGC’s strong record of ongoing achievements, several priority objectives were identified.   The incoming executive director will be charged with leading the board and staff in setting specific strategies to reach these objectives.

• Impact & Marketing:  Dramatically grow LGC’s presence and impact throughout California by clarifying its highest value programs and developing marketing strategies that make more visible its successes and its reputation for excellent service and outcomes on projects undertaken.

• Fundraising: Increase revenues from private foundations, event sponsorships, and membership services.
• Membership: Grow the membership of LGC and increase member engagement, giving attention to demographic diversity and to currently underrepresented areas of the state.
• Board of Directors:  Increase board engagement in governance activities and consider broadening board membership beyond officials currently in elected office in order to engage a broader range of perspectives in the work of LGC.

• Staff:  Work for greater synergy and cross-fertilization across program specialties.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director serves as chief executive officer responsible to the Board of Directors for the effective conduct of all affairs of the organization. The Executive Director:

• Engages with board and staff in creating a strategic vision for LGC.
• Recommends to the board an annual budget and an annual work plan in line with LGC’s strategic vision.
• Serves as the public face and lead voice for the organization.
• Assures that the organization’s programs, products and services are consistently of the highest quality.
• Supports the work of the board of directors, and is involved in the planning of its meetings.
• Ensures the sound fiscal and programmatic operation of the organization. Supervises senior staff, who are, in turn, responsible for overseeing LGC’s programs and contracted projects.
• Leads and participates in active fundraising to secure project grants and to generate sponsorships and foundation funding.
• Develops and maintains strong, well-grounded relationships with LGC’s members, with funders and sponsors and with other collaborating organizations.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

      Required Qualifications

1. Demonstrated commitment to improving local communities through innovative approaches to environmental sustainability, economic prosperity and social equity.
2. Leadership skills:  the ability to create an organizational vision and execute on it by marshaling the financial and human resources necessary for successful programming.
3. Knowledge and understanding of local, regional and state governmental processes. Strong understanding of current issues facing local elected officials.
4. Established reputation for leadership on environmentally sustainable communities, on smart growth policies or in related community development arenas.
5. Strong interpersonal networking skills; demonstrated excellence in building and maintaining relations with smart, talented and influential colleagues across multiple disciplines.
6. A minimum of 5 years’ experience in upper-level organizational management--strong skills in strategic planning, fiscal oversight, inspiring and empowering staff, board relations and communications.
7. Experience in managing change within a high performing organization.
8. Demonstrated expertise in building culturally competent and culturally diverse enterprises.
9. History of raising significant funds from diverse sources for nonprofit entities.
10. Proven skills in developing and supporting high performing work teams.
11. Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including public speaking and use of electronic media.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Established connections among the primary constituents of LGC—elected officials and governmental staff leaders in California.
2. Bi-lingual in English and Spanish.
3. Early adopter of emerging technologies.

SALARY & BENEFITS

This position is Sacramento-based and the starting annual salary range is $100-125K. The benefits package includes 100% employer-paid medical, dental and long-term disability coverage and a 401K retirement plan with an employer contribution equal to 4% of salary.

APPLICATION PROCESS

CompassPoint Nonprofit Services has been retained by LGC to conduct the candidate search.  Applicants should send their resumes and cover letters describing their qualifications and interest in the position to LGC.EDsearch@compasspoint.org.    Application deadline is July 8, 2013.  Please note that the candidate screening and interview process will take place mid-July to mid-August 2013.

Download the job description as a PDF: LGC ED Job Announcement.