Executive Director

Chesapeake Humane Society

Job Description

Title: Executive Director
Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Locations: 312 Battlefield Blvd N., Chesapeake, VA 23320
1149 New Mill Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23322

Our Mission is to break down barriers and build connections for pets and people through supportive services, innovative programs, collaborative partnerships, and thoughtful leadership.

Our Vision is to cultivate a humane community that fosters compassion and strengthens the human-animal bond.

Summary
The Chesapeake Humane Society (CHS) serves the Hampton Roads community and beyond with three essential programs: a low-cost veterinary clinic, a shelter program, and a crisis boarding program. CHS seeks an energetic, empathetic, and experienced Executive Director to provide visionary leadership to its staff, board, community partners, and volunteers. The board desires a leader who is passionate about our mission and empowers and helps to develop our most important asset: our team members who carry out the important work in the community.

The Executive Director provides leadership to the organization and manages its ongoing affairs. The Executive Director is responsible for directing and formulating the plan for achieving the organization’s mission and annual goals; fundraising from diverse sources; budgeting and fiscal management; operations and human resource management; marketing and communications; board development; and strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership, administration, and management of the organization
- Build and maintain an effective, cohesive team with a positive workplace culture
- Be a skilled and active spokesperson for CHS – with the media, policy makers, partners, and supporters
- Nurture and expand the organization’s key community partnerships
- Lead organizational fundraising efforts in partnership with the board
- Manage budget development, financial forecasting, build investments, and provide oversight in partnership with the Board of Directors
- Provide advice, counsel, and support to the Board of Directors, and helps maintain and leverage an engaged, powerful board

Working Relationships and Direct Reports
The Executive Director leads the Leadership Team at CHS. The Leadership team consists of the Executive Director, the Development Director, the Medical Director, the Clinic Manager, the Shelter Manager, and the Crisis Boarding Manager.

It is essential that the Leadership Team works collaboratively to ensure our mission and goals are carried out effectively and efficiently.

Other Duties
- Work cooperatively with all staff and volunteers to promote the CHS mission
- Uphold and embrace CHS’s Workplace Culture Agreement in all aspects of work
- Lead leadership team meetings
- Engage visitors in non-confrontational, educational conversations regarding animal care, surrender, sheltering policies, etc.
- Perform other duties as necessary

Skills and Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree or other relevant training preferred
- A proven track record of visionary leadership with at least five years of senior nonprofit management experience - including administration, staff supervision, strategic planning, evaluation, budgeting, and organizational innovation
- Exceptional leadership presence, experience serving as a spokesperson for an organization, and a demonstrated ability to leverage organizational visibility and credibility through the media and public relations sources
- Highly effective communicator, written and verbal, with a wide variety of stakeholders
- A record of successful and innovative fundraising with proven experience with individual donors and major gifts
- Demonstrated ability to manage organizational operations effectively and efficiently
- Professional and personal style consistent with the supportive, open, collaborative team-oriented culture of CHS
- Experience creating and maintaining an effective organizational culture that attracts, motivates, and retains a diverse, talented staff
- High level of integrity, empathy, and compassion
- Strong financial skills - including budgeting, fiscal management, and analysis
- High level of emotional intelligence – i.e., accurately perceive and express yourself, personal humility, develop and maintain social relationships, cope and adapt to challenges, and use emotions in an effective way
- Experience serving on and/or leading a nonprofit board of directors
- Prior experience working with an animal welfare organization is preferred but not required
- Confidence using computer systems and learning new software
- Demonstrated passion for CHS’ mission
- Ability to express organizational standpoints when serving as a CHS representative
- Ability to discuss euthanasia, open-admission sheltering, and surrender of pets in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational, fact-based manner
- Ability to handle confidential or sensitive information with discretion
- Ability to function well independently and as a team member
- All-hands-on-deck attitude, willing to pitch in where needed

Physical and Time Demands
- CHS supports a flexible work environment and encourages a healthy work/life balance with all positions
- Flexible working hours may include evenings and weekends - regular schedule except around signature events
- Ability to work in a fast-paced setting with distractions
- Ability to work a hybrid schedule (combination of in office and remote)
- Ability to work in the presence of animals, wildlife, strong odors, and cleaning solutions
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift and carry materials up to 40 lbs
- Ability to handle stress
- Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable personal transportation

Salary and Benefits
- $90,000 - $115,000 (negotiable), commensurate with experience
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- $50k Life Insurance policy
- Employee Assistance Program
- Access to mental health resources (Insight Timer app, Compassion Fatigue training, and Trauma-Informed Care training)
- Paid Holidays (7 days)
- Personal Time-off (25 days/year with max accrual up to 50 days)
- Flexible work schedule
- Remote work opportunities (for a portion of work, in-office required ~80% of the time)
- Simple IRA Plan with 3% organization match
- Professional development and continuing education opportunities
- Bring your pet to work policy
- Discounted clinic services and adoption fees
- Discounted retail items, pet prescriptions, and prescription foods

To apply, submit cover letter, resume, and professional references to executivesearch@chesapeakehumane.org. Please put the position title in the subject line.

Application deadline: 12/30/2024

This is a full time job