Build Hope, Inc., Founding Executive Director

ORGANIZATION

Build Hope, Inc. (BHI), originally established as Kids Progress Inc. (KPI) in 2002 by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), was created to ensure low-income residents living in HACLA’s properties or receiving Section 8 assistance receive the full social, health, educational and work opportunities to which they are entitled. BHI’s mission is to advance economic equity and overall well being of HACLA’s communities.

Since its inception, HACLA has provided in-kind staffing to manage BHI’s operations. Recognizing the need for greater impact and sustainable growth, HACLA has now invested in developing BHI's own organizational capacity. This strategic investment aims to provide greater independence, enabling BHI to expand its reach and deepen its impact within the communities it serves.

BHI serves individuals and families living in public housing, Section 8 and other residential housing units owned or operated by HACLA, and is dedicated to improving life outcomes and addressing intergenerational poverty. It does this by focusing on four key areas:

• Education - provide access to scholarships and high quality educational programming
• Economic Mobility - enhance the financial well-being through job placement, career coaching and financial literacy
• Resource Resiliency - safeguard residents' basic needs through access to essential resources
• Service-Enriched Communities - coordinate larger service efforts to support residents effectively

BHI’s initiatives reach some of the most underserved communities in the City of Los Angeles. More than 137,000 Angelenos live in a home developed, managed or funded by HACLA. The majority of residents are Hispanic (74%) or African American (22%) and have an average annual family income of $24,000.

For more information about Build Hope, Inc. please visit www.buildhopeinc.org.

OPPORTUNITY

Build Hope Inc. (BHI) seeks a visionary and dynamic individual to serve as its Founding Executive Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for shaping the strategic direction of BHI, building operational capacity, fostering the development of a high-performing team, driving sustainable growth and cultivating meaningful relationships with funders and community partners. This pivotal leadership role requires a seasoned professional with a blend of strategic thinking, managerial expertise, programmatic acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, fundraising prowess, and adept board management skills. The ideal candidate is passionate about building and leading organizations and possesses a strong understanding of the barriers impacting individuals experiencing poverty.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Founding Executive Director include:

Strategic Execution, Fiscal Oversight, and Cultural Stewardship 

• Drive the successful execution of the existing strategic plan aligned with BHI’s mission and long-term objectives, in consultation with the Board of Directors.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of BHI, ensuring effective implementation of programs and initiatives to advance the organization’s goals. 
• Responsible for the organization’s financial health, including funding generation, budget development and expense management.
• Oversee financial planning, forecasting, and analytical activities, ensuring alignment with the overall mission, vision, and strategy of BHI. 

External Relations & Fund Development 

• Oversee fundraising efforts to secure financial resources from diverse sources, including grants, donations, government contracts and partnerships.
• Nurture and grow relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, partners, community leaders, and elected officials, to enhance BHI’s visibility and influence.
• Ensure strong programmatic continuity between BHI, HACLA, and its service partners in order to solidify and expand BHI programming across its strategic aims. 
• Cultivate and maintain a strategic partnership with HACLA, including the management of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement, to ensure seamless coordination of services and effective relationship management.

Communications & Marketing

• Lead strategic communications and marketing strategies to establish BHI as a recognizable brand and resource within the LA community
• Serve as BHI’s spokesperson clearly articulating its mission to funders, communities, key local stakeholders, and families; work with HACLA to develop a distinguished BHI brand.

Board Development

• Empower and support the Board of Directors to fulfill its governance functions. Plan, organize, and execute Board and committee meetings with the Board Chair.
• In collaboration with the board, recruit new board members who can meaningfully contribute to the strategic priorities of BHI and represent the communities it serves.

YEAR-1 PRIORITIES

The BHI Board has identified the following Year-1 priorities for the Founding Executive Director: 

• Team and Culture: Build and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Quickly and thoughtfully establish strong systems, processes, and structures to measure and evaluate program outcomes, ensuring continuous improvement and impact.
• Program Development: Maintain existing services to ensure that BHI’s current delivery is running smoothly. Develop, test, and pilot new Year-2 programming that meets BHI’s strategic aims across its education, economic mobility, and resource resiliency program areas. 
• Partner and External Relations: Ensure that the HACLA-BHI relationship is nurtured, including its cross-departmental alliances and dependencies. Deepen and expand the externally-facing, cross sector partnerships and alliances, including with public officials, program partners, and private industry.
• Fundraising: Build, grow, and deepen diverse funder relationships that are required to ensure longer-term sustainability and impact. Further define organizational goals and the key revenue-generating plans that will be implemented to achieve BHI’s strategic priorities.

Requirements

To fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Founding Executive Director candidate will have:

• Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit management, with a proven track record of success in strategic planning, program development, and organizational growth.
• Experience working in a startup or entrepreneurial environment with a track record of creating or significantly growing an organization, including the infrastructure and team to drive organizational success.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills with a demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
• Strong fundraising experience, including a track record of securing significant grants and donations. Experience with government grants is a major plus.
• Evidence of leading and building authentic relationships across the public and/or private sector with community partners, elected officials, funders, and other supporters, and an ability to engage with various individuals and audiences.
• Strong systems thinking and analytical abilities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement as well as strong understanding of nonprofit financial management.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with a deep understanding of social justice issues and a passion for serving marginalized communities.
• Advanced degree preferred, bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience working with HACLA communities is a plus.

Benefits

This is an exempt full-time position. The Founding Executive Director is expected to be based in the Greater Los Angeles region and work in a hybrid environment. BHI is located within HACLA’s offices at 2600 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Salary range is $150,000 - $180,000 and includes a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, dental, vision, PTO, and retirement.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at: https://apply.workable.com/edgility-consulting-4/j/A9F4FF1AEF/

Build Hope, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.