About the Organization

The mission of Grandma’s House of Hope (GHH) is to empower the invisible populations of Orange County (OC) by serving those who slip through the cracks of other programs, with a specific focus on those who are ineligible for (or who have significant difficulty accessing) other organizations’ services. We fill gaps in basic needs by providing housing, food and trauma-informed supportive services to OC’s most vulnerable, underserved and socio-economically disadvantaged adults. GHH was started in 2004 by a survivor of childhood abuse and homelessness, in order to offer a lifeline to other vulnerable, isolated and traumatized individuals and families, initially by offering beds in her home for homeless women and delivering bags of food. Since incorporation as a nonprofit in 2007, GHH has grown to provide essential housing, food, trauma-informed care, life skills training and transformational support to OC’s most vulnerable and socio-economically disadvantaged individuals. The organization relies significantly on contracts with governmental agencies, and maintains careful attention to the requirements of contracts.

GHH’s core program is its Rescued and Restored Housing Program (RRHP), comprising 10 sites with 134 beds that offer emergency, bridge, transitional/interim and healing housing with wrap-around supportive services to nearly 300 single women and men annually, to help them heal from trauma, improve safety, address mental and physical health and addiction issues, build financial and job skills, overcome obstacles to self-sufficiency and move into permanent housing. Discrete populations housed in single-family homes include emergency and bridge housing for women and for men, and transitional and healing housing for women. Participants live in community with one another, receiving case management, counseling, safety planning, skills building and other trauma-informed supportive services. Citizenship is not a requirement for eligibility. We focus on housing and supporting individuals who are survivors of crime and other trauma; have disabling conditions; struggle with substance use; are ages 50+ with disabilities/illnesses; have mental health disabilities, and/or are re-entering the community from jail/prison. Often, target populations require deeper support, longer stays, individualized attention, and a gradual building up of skills, resources, opportunities and confidence before being ready to live independently.

GHH is an essential resource in the OC region for those with the greatest needs for restoration of their lives. The organization is transitioning to its next phase of stability and growth, and seeks a visionary leader who can position the organization among the public and funders as the outstanding provider it has proven to be.

 About the Chief Executive Officer

The new Chief Executive Officer of GHH will need to be skilled in donor/community relations and contributed income generation, and provide empowering leadership to a talented staff. He/she will represent the agency in collaborations with funders, contracting agencies and media platforms.

He or she will also need expertise in strategic business planning and be savvy in fiscal management and technological advances within a volatile service environment. He/she will need to be a resourceful problem-solver, provide empathetic leadership and maintain standards of active client interaction and assure a positive environment.

The Chief Executive Officer at GHH is responsible for the financial and operational administration of an established, nonprofit, diversified adult residential program that seeks to be of continuing value to the populations it serves. By capitalizing on the strong expertise and commitment of a capable staff and an engaged Board of Directors, the new leader will maintain needed programs and identify new ways to assist existing or new populations. The new CEO will benefit from the observations and assessment of an experienced Interim CEO, who will be available for effective onboarding and support.

POSITION DUTIES

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT:

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive plan for the acquisition of philanthropic funds from individuals, foundations and corporations; develop and interact with potential and current major donors;
• Maintain and enhance relationships with governmental funders who can or do support the service population; ensure adequate systems for solicitation and fulfillment of service commitments of all governmental contracts;
• Joyfully assume the role of chief story-teller, attaining wide visibility among all stakeholders as a leader in the field.

FISCAL INTEGRITY:

• Maintain, monitor and evolve financial recording and reporting systems to ensure accuracy, efficiency, safekeeping, and understandability for decision-making;
• Develop and monitor realistic budgets for each component of GHH, that will provide adequate information for governance decision-making and resources for agency programming; establish and maintain systems to ensure that managers comply with controlling costs; provide options for dealing with unexpected fluctuations;
• Maintain up-to-date awareness of the rate structures and financial condition of other similar facilities and programs that serve our populations.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT:

• Evaluate existing programming and research new opportunities to broaden services within fundable and needed categories of service;
• Maintain and monitor quality client services that are provided in safe, enjoyable, clean, well-maintained and supportive living environments; maintain systems for quality assurance and improvement;
• Ensure the solicitation, retention, evaluation and support of sufficient and qualified personnel to provide quality services to clients and maintain high-quality business operations;
• Ensure records and reports meet agency timelines and regulatory criteria. Study and analyze recommended changes before implementation;
• Oversee operations in multiple locations and maintain systems to ensure consistency with overall operational goals and protocols;

OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS:

• Maintain and grow an appropriate referral base; stay abreast of various community programs with which the agency can collaborate and encourage reciprocal referrals;
• Actively engage in legislative advocacy to ensure that the needs and nuance of our client populations are visible to policy-makers and that realistic and sensible governmental support programs are put into place; participate in appropriate meetings and with necessary alliances for the benefit of the clients;
• Participate in community partnerships to enhance credibility and visibility of GHH and to influence enlightened policy change.

SUPPORT FOR GOVERNANCE AND PLANNING:

• Maintain a keen eye on the changes in the field and present options to the board for their strategic decision making; maintain interactive engagement with organizational strategic planning processes
• Provide primary staffing for the board to ensure its efficient and effective discharge of its duties; assist the board in its development, training. diversity and orientation as requested

Qualities Sought

The ideal candidate for this position will be knowledgeable and passionate about GHH’s mission and will actively work to understand and honor its rich traditions. He/she will oversee and direct the programming, organizational leadership, fiscal, marketing and management activities needed to achieve the mission. The ideal candidate will have proven business and nonprofit management skills and be an inspirational and collaborative team builder and leader. The CEO      must exhibit a facilitative leadership style, active listening with a diverse group of people, a transparent work ethic, and openness in considering and valuing the contributions of many in a collective impact effort. Essential qualifications include:

• A history of successful resource generation among private and public funders;
• Demonstrable knowledge, understanding and passion for the diverse population served by GHH, along with knowledge of changes in the field;
• Demonstrated leadership skills in inspiring, empowering, and developing current and future staff to achieve strategic organizational goals, and experience implementing performance management and accountability systems;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in representing organizational vision, mission, goals, and outcomes to a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders in a variety of venues;
• The ability to work effectively and proactively within a complex organization with diverse programs in multiple sites; demonstrated skills in management of multiple service lines;
• Excellent verbal, written and computer skills in order to effectively communicate and work with individuals at varied levels and backgrounds, and ability to utilize multiple media to communicate;
• Advanced knowledge of nonprofit management and human resources best practices, laws and regulations; collaborative leadership style; keen attention to staff equity, diversity and professional development, and the latest changes in staff motivation/support;
• Strong change management skills to build effective community- and organization-wide systems and structures.

Priorities for the position

While building on GHH’s unmatched experience in creating environments where individuals with varying health and social challenges may thrive and rebuild their lives, the CEO will need to be creative in developing programs that are built on best practice in the field and are also in alignment with available governmental and private funding streams.

A number of priorities have been identified that will be paramount within the work scope of the new Chief Executive Officer in the first 12 to 18 months:

1. Significantly expand fundraising activities, donor base, grant sources, event sponsorships and attendance, and overall fundraising revenue;
2. Maintain current contract revenues and maximize organizational efficiencies to ensure that Housing Program services can be sustained primarily through contract revenues;
3. Seek opportunities to qualify for continuing or increased funding for services for the unhoused;
4. Explore additional wrap-around services that would be reimbursable.
5. Expand, diversify and strengthen the Board, involve all Board members on active committees, and meaningfully engage all Board members in fundraising;
6. Maintain appropriate staffing levels to meet programmatic and operational needs, ensure staff are appropriately rewarded and incentivized to stay, and achieve high staff retention;
7. Broaden community awareness of GHH’s services, increasing referrals, cultivating new partnerships and volunteers, and ensuring the “safety net” approach is sustained;
8. Maintain physical assets, operational policies and electronic systems to adequately and efficiently support program and administrative needs;

The board will expect the new CEO to prepare an initial assessment of needs and priorities approximately 90 days after hiring.

Requirements of Applicants

• A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to GHH mission and services [educational qualifications may be waived depending on work history]
  • Five years of experience in a senior level of nonprofit administration (with knowledge and experience in the Human Services and/or housing fields) including fundraising, outreach, planning, budgeting, and fiscal management, with a minimum of three years of experience at an executive level
  • Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, current vehicle insurance, and ability to use personal vehicle for GHH business
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Suite and Google Suite is required; knowledge of Salesforce and Bloomerang is preferred
  • High level of integrity, honesty, dependability, accountability, creativity and confidentiality in performance of duties
  • Willingness to travel within GHH’s service area, and beyond for conferences, etc.
  • Must be able to pass criminal background check

Working Conditions

Work is performed typically in an office environment and a variety of settings among diverse stakeholders and audiences. A considerable amount of time will be spent in meetings, at events and visiting dispersed program sites. Limited remote work will be considered as appropriate. Frequent use of electronic media will be required to communicate with stakeholders. The CEO will frequently work outside normal working hours and will drive for work with donors, collaborators and other stakeholders in the community. Occasional travel out of town and out of state will be required. While performing the duties of this job, the CEO is regularly required to sit, speak, hear, stand, and walk. The CEO is frequently required to use hands to keyboard. The CEO must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Comprehensive performance evaluations will be conducted. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Compensation

Salary: $125,000-$140,000 DOE plus partially paid medical and fully paid dental coverage, and other standard employee benefits (as outlined in the employment handbook), such as PTO and holidays.

To apply, click here and follow the prompts

Grandma’s House of Hope is an Equal Opportunity Employer

GHH actively works to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for our staff, volunteers, and participants. GHH recognizes the importance of employing people who reflect the diverse backgrounds and life experiences of our participants in order to create a welcoming program. GHH’s staff reflects that commitment, allowing us to relate to our participants, linguistically and culturally. We believe that these lived experiences among our staff allow us to relate at a deeper, more authentic level with our participants.

We celebrate our inclusive work environment and encourage individuals of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply. We are committed to having an inclusive and transparent environment where every voice is heard and acknowledged. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.  GHH is committed to a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment.