Position & Key Priorities
The new Executive Director will inherit a strong and stable organization, highly respected in the community, following an Executive Director who is retiring in late August after 11 years at the helm. ReWA is a well-known, responsive, and impactful organization and has the potential to continue to grow and serve even more people. The opportunity to lead the organization comes at a critical time for immigrants and refugees, and the organization is seeking a skilled, knowledgeable, relatable, and experienced leader with passion for its mission. While ReWA is in a strong financial position today (with an operating budget of $15M- $18M and healthy reserves), changing external circumstances, including projected federal cuts and policy changes, and state and local budget deficits, create some concern about renewals of key contracts and grants; therefore, diversification of funding and contingency planning are overarching priorities to best position ReWA for the future.
Specific Priorities for the First 18 - 24 Months of the Executive Director Tenure
• Maintain ReWA’s Strong Historical Multi-Culture Positive Environment
• Rapidly Engage with Key Policymakers, Funders, & Thought-Leaders
• Revenue Diversification
• Plan for Sustainability
• Governance & Board Engagement
• Assess & Modernize ReWA’s Internal Infrastructure to Support Future Growth
Essential Skills & Attributes
ReWA’s unique and culturally and linguistically competent approach to service delivery is reflected by its broadly diverse staff, with multiple cultures, languages, communities of origin and different life stories, who support immigrants and refugees of all types. The ideal new Executive Director will have a lived experience relevant to ReWA’s mission, understand the challenges of war, displacement, emigration and trauma, and bring not only a strong emotional intelligence to the role, but also a personal philosophy and approach that celebrates multi-culturalism (over 50 languages or dialects are spoken by staff) and be able to effectively navigate and engage staff and community at all levels.
The ideal new Executive will have:
Mission-driven Leadership & Emotional Intelligence
• Inspirational leadership qualities and emotional intelligence
• Passion for immigrants and refugees and their experiences
Executive Leadership & Strategic Vision
• Executive leadership experience in nonprofit organizations
• Proven ability to set and execute a vision
Communication & Advocacy Talents
• Exceptional public speaking, advocacy, and external/internal relations skills
• Community relations poise and expertise
Financial & Fundraising Expertise
• Financial acumen
• Track record of creative and adaptable fundraising success
Organizational Growth & Sustainability Strengths
• Change management expertise
• Operational efficiency expertise
• Demonstrated success growing and strengthening Board of Directors’
Additional Skills & Experience
• English fluency. Second language skills a plus.
• Experience in a refugee and/or immigrant-serving organization is a plus.
