WORKS, Candidate Profile

CANDIDATE PROFILE (Internal DOCUMENT)

POSITION TITLE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PRIMARY LOCATION

CREATED FOR LOS ANGELES, CA

WORKS

WORKS wOMEN ORGANIZING RESOURCE,KNOWLEDGE & SERVICES

Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge and Service – WORKS – was formed in 1998 by a small group of women committed to meaningful action to help disadvantaged families and communities build lives for themselves that work The founders’ extensive experience in affordable housing, community development, health care, finance and advocacy convinced them that safe affordable housing was both a fundamental need and, potentially, a springboard for families and individuals to articulate, organize and fulfill their needs and aspirations as part of a larger community Together people can learn and achieve more than they can alone

WORKS began by leveraging the experience of key staff and founders in developing high quality affordable rental housing for families in Los Angeles County The founders were committed to including the features they knew mattered They built community centers in each development that fostered collaborative child care and education; shared computer, health and financial learning classes and access; community garden plots and edible landscaping that supported healthy food access and connection to the land; and community celebrations that fostered connection and a sense of trust

WORKS strives continuously to improve the relevance and effectiveness of its model of housing and services – to expand opportunity for its residents and for the surrounding communities In the past, WORKS has pioneered on-site pop-up organic food markets and sourcing affordable organic food delivery for residents and area schools and churches Today WORKS is fostering resident leadership in advocating for equitable public transportation, for communities that maintain access to affordable housing, goods and services in the face of gentrification, and for environments that promote health WORKS remains committed to linking housing and health through fostering environments and community resources that enable healthy living

WORKS’ focus on community building, positive and generative interaction among residents, and shared gardening (and cultural) opportunities in the Los Angeles climate – have informed housing and landscaping design WORKS has won several awards for its innovative and thoughtful designs

WHAT WE DO

Families and households that are on the economic edge experience significant stress – not only financial, but also spiritual, physical and mental Resources and strategies for managing food, shelter, safety, work, transportation and child minding are often fragile and fall apart under pressure Securing a home in an affordable housing community stabilizes one key part of life: safe, secure housing at an affordable rent And for some families and individuals, that is enough of a foundation for them to move forward toward their own goals For others, more kinds of support can be critically important Current research is showing that housing, food, and water are key social determinants of individual and community health

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

Designed to support the aspirations of families and individuals to improve their economic prospects, to maintain good health, to support their children’s education, and to find meaningful community and beauty in their environment

LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY

WORKS supports leadership and advocacy development for its residents The processes of living together, learning together & building community together naturally build awareness of the ways in which the larger community and society could better meet the needs of individuals and families under economic stress

WORKS helps to channel that awareness And, as witness to the issues residents are facing on the ground and to the deepening severity of the shortage of affordable housing, WORKS team members engage actively in advocacy at the city, county and state levels

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

As natural leaders emerge in the context of housing communities and as relevant issues are articulated by residents, WORKS supports resident leadership and advocacy skill building through policy training and issue-focused workshops

ISSUE ADVOCACY

WORKS is active in advocating for increased and sensible funding strategies for affordable housing and for sufficient funding to offer meaningful services to residents

HOUSING Programs

WORKS develops and oversees rental housing properties that offer decent stable housing affordable to families and individuals of modest means, low income seniors, persons with mental health challenges, and persons with physical and developmental disabilities To date, WORKS has developed and/or operated more than 1,600 affordable housing units, most in Los Angeles County, both on its own and in partnership with other nonprofit and for profit partners

Our projects range from multi-family new construction, to mixed-use commercial and residential projects, to historic preservation, to rehabilitation and repositioning of existing properties WORKS developments include community centers that provide a hub for programs and classes that help residents realize their goals and foster a sense of shared community Many also feature community gardens and nutrition programs to promote healthy lifestyles

WORKS has been instrumental in creating over 1600 affordable rental homes for individuals, families, and seniors in Los Angeles County since 1998

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

From 2009, WORKS has developed properties for unhoused youth and adults, offering homes in supportive communities with case management to help residents achieve their goals

ENRICHED SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS

In WORKS housing communities, WORKS offers enriched services for children, adults and families, partnering with residents under intense economic stress in supporting their efforts to thrive

who we serve

Families with or without Children (62%)

Seniors (23%)

Individuals with special needs for support, including developmentally disabled adults, persons who were formerly homeless or at risk of homelessness, and transitional-aged former foster youth (15%)

Most of the households we serve are families or seniors earning between 25%-50% of the area median income (AMI), which in Los Angeles County translates to approximately $29,550 – $59,100 in 2021 for a family of four or $20,700 – $41,400 for a single individual The majority of our households do not rely on public assistance Rather, they are low-wage workers or retired workers now reliant on social security who were spending between 50-70% of their income on rent or living in substandard and overcrowded conditions prior to moving into one of our developments

Position Overview

WORKS is seeking a dynamic, experienced Executive Director to further the mission and provide lowcost affordable housing with an emphasis on sustainable development Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for the strategic growth, board development, recruitment, and fiscal strength of the organization With a strong understanding of affordable housing developments, this candidate will be able to navigate through not only preserving their current portfolio but anticipate and strive for growth of new communities while having a passion to serve underresourced populations

This visionary leader will work collaboratively to develop systems and practices that address the interplay between systematic racism and human services The Executive Director will be looking for ways to improve staff morale and culture, foster job security and create a space where staff want to work and feel valued

Since 2009, WORKS has been developing and managing housing that serves individuals with special needs for intensive supportive services, including transitional-aged unhoused youth, formerly homeless persons with special needs including unhoused veterans, persons experiencing substance use and/or mental illness, and persons with developmental disabilities Our partner Housing Works provides intensive case management and connection to needed resources for each household in these developments

OUR MISSION

WORKS delivers quality affordable housing and enriched services that respond to the aspirations of the people we house

Through our support and stewardship, we build equitable, heart-based sustainable communities and encourage resident self-determination

We envision community in a way that honors our collective cultures We are passionate in our commitment to serve

Roles & Responsibilities

Works in partnership with the Board to develop the strategic plan, aligning WORKS programs with its values, mission, vision, and long-term goals

Solidifies current operations while planning for new opportunities

Develops and measures key performance metrics

Informs the Board on industry developments and updates governance and programs

Informs the Board of Directors of internal and external issues that might affect the organization, including agency relevance to the community, industry developments, and program effectiveness

Fosters effective teamwork with the Board of Directors and between the Board and staff, ensuring accountability of committees and individual Board members

Innovates and improves current practices, optimizing all aspects organizational management and service delivery

Manages financial planning, forecasting, and tracking to meet the agency’s short and long-term goals

Ensures financial stability by maintaining healthy cash flow and reserves

Oversees the preparation of and analyzes financial projections for all affordable housing developments

Assures the financial health and sustainability of the existing portfolio

Manages all phases of affordable housing development and finances, including new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects, from concept through lease-up and operations

Oversees all day-to-day operations of WORKS, including administration, human resources, finances, and fund development

Oversees and monitors compliance with contracts, relevant laws, and regulations

Oversees and assures the quality of services by key third parties including property management and supportive service providers

Creates a work environment that recruits, retains, and supports quality staff, while maintaining a solid level of quality

Strives to create a cohesive, collaborative, and supportive workplace environment, developing the leadership team

Ensures policies and procedures are in place to promote culture and vision

Organizational Leadership & Board Relations

Financial Management

Operational Excellence & Staff Leadership

Roles & Responsibilities

Community Relations

Initiates, leads, and implements business development and fundraising efforts in collaboration with the WORKS leadership team

Creates and cultivates relationships with local housing finance agencies, and federal, state, local, and private sources

Serves as chief spokesperson for WORKS

Initiates and maintains effective working relationships with community organizations, elected officials, foundations, investors, lenders, and other housing development professionals

Acts as an advocate, within both public and private sectors, for services and constituencies relevant to WORKS

QUALIFICATIONS

Undergraduate degree in a business-related, real estate, urban planning, or other relevant degree or experience Graduate degree is preferred

Prior experience as an Executive Director of a nonprofit or for-profit housing developing organization, highly desirable

A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in progressively responsible roles within senior management positions

Strong knowledge of principles and practices of real estate development and transactions, planning, and land use approval processes, marketing of rental housing, and federal, state, and local affordable housing legislation, regulations, and funding sources

Strong negotiating skills in all aspects of affordable housing development and operations, including project financing, property acquisition, supervision of project development teams, property management, and hiring and supervision of corporate staff

Working knowledge of architectural design, discretionary approval, and construction management processes is preferred

Bi-lingual Spanish speaking is a plus, though not required

Ability to manage continuity, change, and transition and experience to influence and empower stakeholders

Ability to work with diverse groups of people and a wide range of faiths, beliefs, and experiences

Demonstrated commitment to continued professional growth and the development of employees and the Board of Directors

S E A R C H T E A M

Envision Consulting has been retained by WORKS to conduct the search for their incoming Executive Director We follow a comprehensive and structured approach that begins with a needs assessment to understand organization's position and culture Candidate sourcing is conducted using various strategies, such as leveraging networks, industry-specific databases, and targeted research Our indepth evaluations are thoughtfully designed to assess qualifications, experience, cultural fit, and leadership potential After two stages with Envision, we work with the organization's search committee to select the individuals they wish to meet and the curate that interview experience as well as the follow up

We also support the final selection process, including negotiation and offer formulation and offer onboarding support to ensure a smooth transition for the selected candidate Regular communication with the client is maintained throughout the process, providing updates, feedback, and guidance to ensure a successful executive search outcome We also offer clients a 1-year guarantee and executive coaching throughout the first year of employment

WORKS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law with respect to employment opportunities

Envision Consulting is a minority-owned firm specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration, and executive leadership transitions With offices in Denver, New York and Los Angeles, our partners and consultants are former executive leaders within nonprofit organizations who are truly inspired by our collective power to lift up the communities we serve Our broad spectrum of services helps increase revenues, expand awareness and strengthen service delivery to the clients who need us the most

Learn more at www.envisionnonprofit.com.

MELISSA MONTOYA DIRECTOR OF SEARCH SERVICES

ALLISON FULLER MANAGING PARTNER

MATT KAMIN MANAGING PARTNER

AMANDA MITCHELL LEAD RECRUITER

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