ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council, Inc. is hiring a new Executive Director/CEO. The position will serve in-person in Worthington, Minnesota.  The application process will be open until a qualified candidate is hired, however, the screening process will begin immediately so interested candidates are encouraged to apply early. Interviews will begin in June. 

 ABOUT SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL, INC. (SMOC)

Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council, Inc. (SMOC) is a nonprofit Community Action Agency, serving the needs of low-income people in Southwestern Minnesota.  Four counties - Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock - comprise the core geographic services area of the organization, however SMOC provides specific programs in as few as one and as many as fifteen counties in the region.  SMOC's service area is largely rural. Worthingtin, where SMOC's main ofice is located, is the largest city with nearly 14,000 residents.  It has a strong agricultural presence and is home to seveeral large corporations involved in processing, shipping, bio-science research, high education, and manufacturing.  Nobles County is the most rapidly diversifying county in Minnesota. (For more, see this recent media coverage:  https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2021/10/22/welcome-to-nobles-county-minnesotas-most-rapidly-diversifying-county)

Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council's mission is to strengthen our communities by providing opportunities and services.  SMOC Board and staff believe in the following:

• Treating people with respect, fairness, and understanding
• Opportunity fosters economic independence;
• Economic independence strengthens communities; and,
• Diversity enriches communities. 

Our guiding principles describe how SMOC staff seek to operate internally and in partnership with others: open communication; joint problem solving; mutual respect; commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and an ethical code of conduct.

SMOC is at a critical juncture after the retirement of a long-term Executive Director.  The operations and policies guiding SMOC are governed by a fifteen member tri-partite Board of Directors comprised of one-third elected officials, one-third private sector representatives, and one-third low-income or community representatives.  The organizational budget is approximately $9.5 million currently with opportunities to gain additional funding.  SMOC has a staff of over 90 full and part-time employees, across multiple locations.  A priority for the organization currently is to hire and retain diverse staff reflecting the population of the service area.

The Executive Director works in partnership with the Board to accomplish SMOC's mission and is accountable for the success of the agency to its clients and funders.  The Board, Executive Director, and staff are committed to addressing income-related inequities in health insurance, homeownership; social capital, transportation, food access, education and employment for our neighbors who have barriers preventing prosperity.  The ideal candidate is passionate about empowering people with low incomes to achieve their goals.

 Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council, Inc. (SMOC) Programs and Services

• Child Care Aware 
• Community Development Services
• Early Learning Scholarships
• Energy Assistance
• Head Start
• Health Services and Family Planning
• Homemaker Services
• Senior Communinty Services Employment Program
• Transit/Transportation
• Weatherization Assistance Program

 PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership and Governance 

• Serves as chief executive officer, creating and maintaining a clear vision for the organization together with the Board and responsible for carrying out the work of the agency
• Works with the Board wot fulfill its governance functions, including acting as a professional advisor and keeping the Board informed of the agency's conditions and operations
• Plans, formulates, and recommends for approval of the Board policies and programs that will further the objectives of the agency
• Excecutes all Board decisions
• Fosters effective teamwork between the Board and the Executive Director and between the Executive Director and staff
• Ensures agency resources are available for implementation and successful completion of the strategic plan
• Develops and oversees the implementation of agency work in a way that supports and advances SMOC's values, vision, mission and goals.

 Manage Daily Operations

•  Manages the day-to-day operations and assures a smoothly functioning and efficient organization.  Executes such contracts, grants and committments as authorized by the Board or established policies.  Assures the filing of all legal and regulatory documents and monitors compliance with relevant laws and regulations
• Plans, organizes, and directs program and services; evaluates results and recommends policies, procedures, and actions to achieve program goals
• Provides management oversight of agency programs and assures program quality, cultural competence, effectiveness and organizational stability through development and implementation of standards and controls, systems and procedures, and regular evaluation
• Identifies and evaluates the risks to the agency's clients, staff, management, volunteers, property, finances, and reputation.  Implements measures to control risks, drafts policies for approval of the Board and prepares procedures to implement the organizational pollicies; reviews existing policies on an annual basis and recommend changes to the Board as appropriate
• Contributes to the overall growth and development of the agency by participating on internal and external groups that address overarching issues affecting the operations of the agency, including keeping updated on developments in Community Action agencies, non-profit management and governance, philanthropy, and fund development.

 Financial Management

• Oversees financial processes, including the authorization of payments for contracts, grants and maintenance of a chart of accounts.
• In collaboration with the Finance Director, develops the annual operating budget
• Administers the funds of the organization according to the approved budget and monitors the monthly cash flow of the organization.  Approves expenditures within the authority delegated by the Board and following agency financial policies and procedures.
• Seeks outside funding in the form of grants and contracts from plublic and private sources.

 Human Resources Management

•  Models leadership behaviors that create and maintain a productive, professionally competent workforce in an environment respectful of personal wellbeing and cultural diversity
• Oversees the implementation of the human resources policies, procedures, and systems, including compensation and benefits, performance management, and labor/management relations
• Determines staffing and financing requirements for organizational management and program delivery.  Specifies accountabilities for managment personnel and evaluates performance regularly.
• Assures a work environment that recruits, retains, trains, evaluates, and supports quality staff and volunteers
• Disciplines staff when necessary, using appropriate techniques and following procedures; terminates staff when necessary, using appropriate and legally defensible procedures.  
• Maintains a positive, healthy, and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations.

 Builds Collaborative Partnerships with Partners, Stakeholders, and the Public

• Builds and maintains cooperative and collaborative relationships with local funders, community partners, elected officials, city, and county staff important to SMOC's mission and programs.
• Builds cooperative and collaborative relationships with community partners, constituents, and stakeholders, including those who have been historically underserved.
• Serves as the public face of SMOC for the public and media.

QUALIFICATIONS

 The Executive Director/CEO of SMOC should have these qualifications:

• Excellent leadership, relationship-building, management, and communication skills.
• Ability to administer a private, nonprofit organization, including an understanding of the legal responsibilities and constraints of such an organization
• Several years' experience managing and guiding an organization or division, preferably in a grant-funding nonprofit setting with a budget of at least $1 million.
• Experience working with anti-poverty programs and administration of government grants/contracts
• A strong understanding of nonprofit finance, fund accounting, and fundraising
• Experience engaging and working with diverse and underrepresented people and communities
• Knowledge of causes and conditions of and effective solutions to addressing poverty.
• Familiarity with the communities of Southwestern Minnesota or rural communities in general
• Recent experience in senior management, both directly and indirectly managing a team
• A combination of education and progressive experience befitting the cheif office of a nonprofit

 The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree and five-years of relevant nonprofit business administration experience.  Master's degree preferred.

Credit given for education experiences outside of the United States.

Bilingual candidate preferred but not required. 

COMPENSATION 

The Executive Director/CEO compensation includes a salary of $100,000 to $135,000 depending on experience and qualifications, plus a competetive benefit package and generous paid time off. 

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, a completed application and optional statistical questionairre (i.e., the fillable forms at the end of position description or availale at the agency website under Employment), and the names & contact information of three professional references to Joelle Hoeft, jhoeft@smoc.us.  All inquiries will remain confidential.  Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.  Interviews will begin in June.

SMOC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  Reasonable accommodations for special needs will be furnished upon request.  We believe that a diverse background and perspective are strengths and seek to continue to grow a diverse, committed, skilled and collaborative staff.