Executive Director

 

Covenant House of West Virginia is dedicated to working for justice by offering direct services for people in need while creating social change through advocacy and education. Our diverse faith, cultural, and belief traditions unite us in reaching out to those in need, irrespective of race, class, gender, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or national origin. As advocates, Covenant House staff members work to ensure those with the fewest resources have a voice in the policy-making process. In addition to championing the rights of all West Virginians for food, housing, and healthcare, educating the general public and decision makers (from the local to the federal level) is also a constant priority. Covenant House works in coalition with partnering agencies across the county, state, and nation whenever possible, particularly fellow member organizations of the Kanawha Valley Collective.

Covenant House’s Chief Executive Office / Executive Director has overall responsibility for promoting and advancing the organization’s mission, values, and strategy through leadership, oversight, and guidance over the operations of Covenant House. This includes effective and energetic leadership in several organizational areas including: programming; finance, administration, and human resources; business development and communications; staff and organizational development; and board relations. While Covenant House maintains a strong financial position, the CEO/ED is responsible for ensuring that funding levels are maintained to support the organization’s work and ensure that a team of qualified staff are employed, supported, and engaged to effectively carry out the mission of Covenant House.

Essential Job Functions

 

Reports to Board of Directors

Supervises Program Director; Finance Manager; Director of Operations; and Property Manager.

Programming:

  • Demonstrate working knowledge of all grants including compliance and monitoring requirements.
  • Monitor grant spend downs.
  • Responsible for annual grant performance reviews.
  • Responsible for HUD; state; and local /city grant report submissions. 
  • Responsible for all HMIS functions, reporting,  and timely and accurate  data entry. 
  • Prepare timely and successful NOFA submissions in collaboration with the COC.
  • Evaluate programming for efficacy and for meeting community needs. 
  • Steward a growing choice food pantry that serves 17% of the community’s population.
  • Support the on-site health care clinic by nurturing and continuing the partnership with WV Health Right. 
  • Monitor data entry and program stats for trends, identify anomalies, and make recommendations. 
  • Maintain state of the art computer technology and software for effective and efficient program implementation.
  • Collaborate with partners and COC  to facilitate the prevention of homelessness and to improve food security and access to health care. 

Finance, Administration, and Human Resources:

  • Ensure best practices in the non-profit sector are ingrained in every aspect of operations. 
  • Review payroll summaries and sign off before final payroll is finalized. 
  • Schedule annual audit and set April or May as the date for presentation to the Board. 
  • Review all financial statements monthly including profit and loss, cash flow, and bank reconciliations. 
  • Develop annual operating budget for approval at the October Board meeting immediately preceding the upcoming year. 
  • Review operational costs and projections on a monthly basis and adjust, as necessary. 
  • Conduct written staff evaluations annually.
  • Stay abreast of developments in human resource law and policy. 
  • Engage staff in decision making regarding programming changes and opportunities. 
  • Prioritize staff training and professional development. 
  • Review annually HR policies and make recommendations to the Board for updates and changes, as necessary. 
  • Timely reimbursement of all grant reimbursements and receivables. 
  • Approve day to day expenditures. 
  • Evaluate annually staff benefit package, including comparing costs among service providers for competitive bids. 

Business Development and Communications:

  • Work with board and development staff to sustain long term financial success.
  • Oversee and engage in developing special events; fundraisers; and special communications that raise public awareness.
  • Work with staff to identify new grant funding streams. 
  • Work with communications team to maintain branding and public profile.
  • Use Salsa to develop donor profiles and develop targeted fundraising campaigns with donors with ability to donate larger gifts. 
  • Identify consultants to help organize planned giving campaigns. 
  • Keep the database “clean,” updated, and growing.
  • Orchestrate with staff the end of year letter campaign. 
  • Identify new strategies to engage new donors.
  • Maintain and grow signature special events including Chef’s Challenge, Here for Good, and Canstruction. 
  • Develop communication pieces, “report to the community” style to engage the public and continue the tradition of transparency in the organization’s work. 
  • Prepare and present an annual report to the community every September/October. 

Staff and Organizational Development:

  • Lead and inspire a staff to meet the goals of the organization’s mission, while also supporting the needs of the community. 
  • Engage with and cultivate deep commitment and advocacy on behalf of the staff. 
  • Ensure diversity is a key part of the organization’s framework, and that equity and inclusion are maintained and nurtured in the strategic vision relating to hiring and compensation. 
  • Plan an annual retreat for staff and or staff and Board. 
  • Ensure culture of collaboration between both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Know bylaws and advise the Board. 
  • Train and orientate Board members. 

Board Relations:  

  • The CEO will serve as the liaison to the Board of Directors and report in writing and in person to the Board every month. The report should include updates on the following:  monthly financial statements; programming; fundraising; property; Community Housing, Inc.; and any other areas of concern or importance keeping the Board always apprised regarding finance and operations. 
  • Facilitate the scheduling and agenda preparation of both monthly committee meetings and Board meetings. 
  • Engage with the Board to recruit, train, and retain an engaged and informed community Board of Directors.
  • Provide overall support to the Board President, Executive Committee, and Board as needed. 
  • Model exemplary communications and relations with Covenant House Board.

Qualifications:

  • The CEO will have the ability to lead and inspire an experienced and high-performing team of housing case managers, food security advocates, and advocates for health care. 
  • The CEO will be responsible for
  •  sustaining the programmatic and financial viability of the organization; 
  • maintaining a diverse and inclusive work culture; 
  • engaging and collaborating with the community; and 
  • providing transparent and ethical stewardship of the organization’s resources to respond to the housing, food, and health care needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
  • Commitment to Mission and Principles of Unity.
  • Minimum 10 years’ experience working in the non-profit social services sector. 
  • Bachelor, or Master’s degree desirable, but commensurate experience given equal consideration.
  • Minimum five years’ experience with HUD funded grant programming including ESG, HOPWA, and Housing First. 
  • Demonstrated history of meeting monitoring and performance requirements of funding agencies. 
  • Minimum five years’ supervisory experience. 
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken.
  • Proficiency in basic computer skills. 
  •  Commitment to transparent and ethical stewardship of resources.
  • Experience and commitment to collaborating with community partners to respond to the needs of the community’s most vulnerable. 

Salary Scale: $75,000-$90,000 with an Excellent Benefits Package

Location: The CEO/Executive Director will work onsite at Covenant House on 600 Shrewsbury Street in Charleston, West Virginia.

To apply: Please submit a CV/resume and cover letter detailing your interest in and qualifications for the position to [email protected].

Deadlines: The Search Committee established by Covenant House’s Board of Directors will begin reviewing applications on January 10, 2022 and the position will remain open until it is filled.