Executive Director of Rochester Market Driven Community Corporation

Position Title: Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Rochester, NY

Compensation Range: $120,000 to $130,000

Organization Overview

The Rochester Market Driven Community Corporation (RMDCC) is a nonprofit organization in Rochester, New York focused on building the wealth and sustainability of city residents through job training, cooperative services, and entrepreneurial support systems. Founded in 2016, RMDCC successfully launched OWN Rochester as a cooperative incubator program. Following the recovery efforts from the devastating COVID-19 impacts on small businesses, RMDCC has prepared to relaunch as City Sustainability Institute (CSI), a workforce development and co-operative initiative rooted in inclusive economic development including, but not limited to, urban entrepreneurship, urban agriculture, healthcare entrepreneurship, and other entrepreneurship programs focused on individuals re-entering the community from incarceration.

CSI will provide vocational training programs including skilled trades that can support transitioning individuals into the workforce for agriculture-focused industries and other entrepreneurship programs. It will provide a roster of entrepreneurial training programs for City residents focused on building inclusive wealth in Rochester communities. The Institute will include wrap-around support services, peer navigators, and wealth building skills including financial literacy. The program anticipates serving up to 1,500 residents each year.

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director (ED) is the leader of the organization, establishing a vision for CSI achieved through the efforts of a diverse team of high-performing leaders, staff, and volunteers alike. The ED is the Lead Mobilize, who leverages the power of relationships and networks, and works across private, public, and corporate sectors to improve conditions in the community. The ED possesses a high level of broad business, fund development, and management skills and is effective at generating resources and financial support for the organization. The ED is dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good—creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies for broad investment and impact for the wealth building of city residents. The ED is the steward of the brand and understands the role of growing and protecting the reputation of CSI. The ED is responsible for building trust in CSI and its relevance in the community. The ED values building a broad and diverse network, and strives to leverage CSI’s breadth of community presence, relationships, and strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The major responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Programs and Services

The ED is responsible for the overall impact of this CSI on the community, with particular emphasis on increasing its capacity to drive the mission and vision. The ED will be an active member of the community and establish and build relationships with leaders in the community, including those representing the highest levels in business, philanthropy, government, and non-profit sectors. The ED will work closely with the Board to design and adapt the strategy to achieve this increased impact, including raising the funds to support it.

Resource Development

The ED will drive key results in fundraising; to identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors and key leaders of prospective new corporate partners; to leverage personal and professional contacts and relationships into fundraising opportunities; and to promote a culture of fundraising in the organization, at both the staff and board levels.

Strategic Management

The ED serves as the principal resource to the Board of Directors and its key committees and gives strong direction in policy formulation and interpretation. The ED will partner with the Board of Directors and the staff to create organizational goals and develop strategies to achieve them. The ED will ensure coordination and alignment of all CSI activities to strategic direction in the areas of community impact, resource development, and staff alignment.

Organization Management

The ED is accountable for building and leading high-performing teams, ensuring that all teams are aligned and collaborating to achieve organizational results. The ED maintains accountability for the operational and fiscal integrity of the organization within policies set by the Board of Directors. The ED will assess CSI’s capacity to implement strategies and identify gaps in systems and staffing; directly supervise all other staff for the organization and establish individual goals; work with the accounting consultant and Board Treasurer to manage organizational spending, monitor budget compliance, and mitigate financial risks; and meet the goals of inclusiveness and diversity among staff and volunteers.

EXPERIENCE/POSITION REQUIREMENTS

  •  Substantial experience working in a leadership position interacting with diverse stakeholders.

  • Expertise on issues relevant to the organization, such as urban entrepreneurship, urban agriculture, healthcare entrepreneurship, prison entrepreneurship, and/or workforce development.

  • Experience with hiring, training, motivating, and managing a highly capable team of staff to meet project goals

  • Demonstrated ability to command the confidence and respect of stakeholders.

  • A demonstrated record of accomplishment of promoting diversity and an ability to

    build collaboration with the community at large.

  • Experience in or across multiple sectors, including nonprofit, public, and corporate

environments.

Kiarah Whitehead