The Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc.
Executive Director
Job Description
Background:
The Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc. (“The Center”) was founded in 2007 in response to the subprime mortgage crisis which has adversely affected New York City homeowners in record numbers and has had a profound effect on many neighborhoods. Operating with a budget of around $6 million derived from government, foundation and corporate contributions, the Center provides legal services, housing counseling and consumer education to New York City residents. These services are provided principally through a network of partner agencies. The Center also operates a call-in center linked to 311. The Center works closely with community leaders, other nonprofits, the court system, mortgage lenders and foundations to address the needs of both homeowners and neighborhood stabilization.
During the past four years, the Center’s mission and strategies in assisting homeowners have had to be responsive to evolving court mandates, government programs, bank policies, and patterns in the housing market. With the departure of its Executive Director, the Board is considering if and how the organization and the types of programs it now offers should be honed and more sharply focused. The Board is currently undergoing a strategic planning process and examining how the Center may be repositioned with the help of an entrepreneurial and dynamic leader so it can be more responsive to current conditions, challenges and opportunities. Longer term, it is expected that the new Executive Director will take a leadership role in recommending and implementing new initiatives, in helping to influence public policy, and in raising the profile of the organization – while continuing to manage the Center’s existing contract relationships with its network of partners.
The Position:
The Center for NYC Neighborhoods is seeking a quality individual to be its next Executive Director. Reporting to a board of directors, the ED will have the power and presence to advocate successfully and passionately on behalf of the Center in the public and private sectors. He or she will most likely have experience with community-based service programs, and/or other social service disciplines and must demonstrate significant accomplishments and past successes. In addition, he or she must be a hands-on manager, a strategic thinker and planner, and a problem solver, and be able to respond to crises quickly and effectively.
The Executive Director must be equally comfortable in making presentations before corporate executives, elected officials, public agency administrators and the public. The individual needs to be able to lead his/her team in synthesizing data generated by partner reports into information that will impact public policy and the practices of banks, courts and other parties to the foreclosure process. He or she must be able to work closely with staff and a very active Board, whose members are leaders in the public and private sectors, to set priorities for the use of limited Center resources and implement agreed upon changes in the Center’s agenda.
Qualities sought:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school; advanced degree in relevant field preferred
- Entrepreneurial, agile, and “out of the box” thinker
- Strong organizational and management skills
- A successful track record of working with or for government, quasi-public agencies and not-for-profit organizations.
- Excellent negotiation and communication skills
- Experience and success in fund raising
- Experience in dealing with City government is helpful, as is a legal, housing finance or banking background.
For more information about the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, please visit their website at www.CNYCN.org
The Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to a diverse workforce. Salary will be commensurate with experience.
To Apply:
The Center for New York City Neighborhoods has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Jack Lusk, Managing Partner
Anne McCarthy, Senior Director
Harris Rand Lusk
261 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
amccarthy@harrisrand.com
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