THE OPPORTUNITY
CEDAC is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven, hands-on and visionary Executive Director (ED) to lead the organization through its next phase of growth and development. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide strategic leadership, oversee daily operations, and build partnerships and relationships to ensure the sustainability and success of the organization. This individual will be responsible for cultivating partnerships, managing staff, and serving as the public face of the organization. The Executive Director plays a critical role in organizational leadership, in maintaining external relationships and in public policy activity; and is also directly and deeply involved in oversight of the transactions executed and services delivered by the CEDAC team.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
Visionary Leadership
The Executive Director will have deep experience building, leading and motivating diverse teams in a mission-driven environment with a focus on collaboration, productivity, professional development and outstanding communication. The Executive Director is a strategic and forward-thinking leader able to guide the organization through transition, innovation and emerging opportunities while building on decades of achievement by the organization and its partners. The ideal candidate is a genuine partner to critical stakeholders, communicating effectively and inspiring confidence and collaboration with and among relevant public sector leaders in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the CEDAC board of directors, the organization’s many important partners and the staff.
Commitment to the Mission
CEDAC’s next Executive Director is committed to increasing the availability of affordable housing through support for both preservation and new development and is committed to delivering project financing and technical expertise for community-based and other nonprofit organizations engaged in effective community development in Massachusetts. The ideal candidate is excited and inspired to meet the moment where powerful institutional and political forces are aligning to make a long-term change in the availability and quality of affordable housing and the breadth and depth of community economic development in the state. The Director will embrace and strengthen CEDAC’s collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven culture, and be a builder of opportunity for everyone involved in the work of the organization and the people it serves.
Affordable Housing Expertise
The Director will have deep knowledge and experience in the realm of community economic development and will bring an expertise, skillset and ability to sustain and enhance CEDAC’s position as a critical player in affordable housing development in the Commonwealth, particularly in early-stage predevelopment funding, technical assistance to nonprofit developers, and the wider context of community economic development including investment in the integration of early education facilities with housing.
Policy and Advocacy Skills
The role requires a sophisticated understanding of the kinds of public policy and political dynamics that are central to the housing and community economic development sector, and strong competency in building and maintaining trust relationships with leaders in the public sector, the private sector and the nonprofit organizations that are critical to CEDAC’s success. The ideal candidate is comfortable and will thrive in an environment where CEDAC plays a range of different roles in the policy arena including a strategic partner, a trusted advisor, an implementation partner, an advocate for favorable policies and approaches, and a subject matter expert.
Operational Excellence
The ideal candidate will have a track record of excellence in building and operating strong workplace communities that honor and empower diverse voices to participate in a high-performance organization. Leading CEDAC requires advanced experience with managing complex organizations in housing and/or a related field in community economic development, with emphasis on the stewardship of capital, the development of complex relationships, and the leadership of organizational operations. Supervisory and team-building skills must be at a high level to develop and empower a diverse staff that values efficiency, equity, growth opportunity and a strong connection to the mission. This leader will have a high degree of cultural competency with a range of diverse backgrounds represented on the CEDAC team, among the organization’s partners and in the communities it serves across the Commonwealth.
In addition, strong candidates will offer:
- Proven experience in affordable housing, finance, and development, with a strategic and political acumen.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and team-building skills.
- A commitment to DEI and the ability to represent CEDAC externally while fostering internal collaboration.
- Ability to foster trust, engage diverse constituents, and promote inclusivity within the organization.
- Skilled communicator who can translate complex issues for diverse audiences and build consensus.
- Curiosity and creativity in finding solutions to evolving challenges in the affordable housing sector.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $210,000 – $245,000 with a generous benefits package.
CONTACT
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Kim Dukes, Andy Tarsy, and Erin Reedy. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at cedac_ed@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential. Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
CEDAC is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm’s website.