The Opportunity
This is a pivotal opportunity for an experienced and innovative leader to join a dedicated organization with a highly motivated staff, proven results, and an experienced and engaged Board.
The ideal new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will have demonstrated knowledge of and a deep intrinsic care for people experiencing homelessness. The position requires proven, significant, and successful organizational leadership experience and the ability to oversee finance, fundraising, programs, and overall operations while working effectively with both the leadership team and the Board to guide the organization. The CEO will listen and communicate effectively to build strong relationships with multiple constituencies, including the Board, staff, clients, donors, media, government officials, agency partners, and other community leaders.
The CEO of Homeward Bound will be responsible for leading the organization to achieve its Mission and deliver its strategic vision. The CEO brings visionary leadership to all areas of the agency’s operations, providing oversight of the organization’s programs, culture, values, talent, and financial performance.
Reporting to and working closely with the Board, the CEO will provide transparent leadership to enhance Homeward Bound in ways that both build on its history and expertise and positions the organization to meet the future needs of the community. This includes driving an innovative strategic plan to create future funding, new initiatives, and an even stronger infrastructure.
The CEO will have the privilege of working alongside a committed group of Homeward Bound staff and volunteers. Homeward Bound’s Senior Leadership Team includes the Finance Director, HR Director, Program Directors, and Senior Resource Development Director.
The CEO will be a deeply engaged member of the community representing the agency throughout the region and beyond. The CEO will work effectively in a highly visible role with a broad range of constituents, both within Homeward Bound and externally. About the Organization
Homeward Bound is the leading nonprofit organization in Buncombe County focused on ending homelessness using the best practice Housing First model. We work collaboratively with community partners and have a proven record of stabilizing individuals and families. Since 2006, we have moved more than 2515 men, women, and children off the streets, out of cars, camps, and shelters, and into permanent housing – 92% have not returned to homelessness after 12 months. In 2023, we completed the renovation of a motel and opened Compass Point Village, an 85-efficiency unit complex that offers permanent housing and support for people who had experienced chronic homelessness, some for decades.
Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness in our community through permanent housing and support. We base our human resource decisions on objective criteria without regard to any characteristic or condition protected by law.
We have a current annual operating budget of approximately $8.6 million, with 68 full-time and 17 temporary experienced and dedicated staff, including case managers trained in trauma-informed practices and motivational interviewing techniques. We work collaboratively with community partners and have a proven track record of helping individuals and families achieve long-term successful housing stability.
Our current programs and services include:- AHOPE Day Center - AHOPE is the ‘front door’ to accessing housing and other assistance and resources. We offer basic services like showers, storage, mail, access to phones, and coffee. AHOPE serves as the main hub in our community for Coordinated Entry.
- Outreach - Our outreach services team works with individuals who do not access the AHOPE Day Center and engages and educates community partners and businesses about issues relating to homelessness.
- Permanent Supportive Housing provides long-term rental assistance and case management support for clients who have disabling conditions and a long history of homelessness. We move people out of homelessness and into homes, including at our own Compass Point Village and Key Commons permanent supportive housing sites and scattered-site units with private landlords and property management companies. Homeward Bound provides the right level of case management services to help sustain them in housing. It works: 92% of the people we’ve housed in a 12-month survey period remain in permanent housing.
- Our newest site, Compass Point Village, is the first of its kind in Western North Carolina. In addition to their own apartments, residents in this safe and secure community have on-site support to help meet their complex needs, including case management, behavioral health services, peer support, and a medical clinic. Community support for the project is strong and we successfully raised over $16 million from our community for this project.
- Rapid Rehousing provides short-term rental assistance and case management services, to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self-sufficiency, and achieve stability in housing. We use the Housing First model, meaning services are offered without preconditions (such as employment, income, absence of a criminal record, or sobriety). The resources and services provided are tailored to the individual needs of each person. This department also includes:
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), which works closely with the VA and other nonprofits to permanently house veterans in our community; and
- Homeless Prevention assistance to households at imminent risk of homelessness to support them in sustaining their current housing or rehousing them when needed.
Want to know more? Visit Homeward Bound’s website at https://homewardboundwnc.org/
The Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will have a combination of these qualities, skills, and experiences. We welcome people of all backgrounds and people with lived experience.
Personal commitment to ending homelessness– This is more than a job.
The CEO will have a demonstrated understanding of the issues related to homelessness, including professional experience, lived experience, and/or personal intrinsic commitment to ending homelessness. The CEO will have a deep drive and passion for ensuring Homeward Bound remains at the forefront of anticipating and responding to community needs, continually developing new opportunities to execute the mission.
They will embody the values and mission of Homeward Bound, leading the staff, Board, volunteers, and neighbors so that everyone can belong, contribute, and succeed. Leading by example, the CEO will always understand that empathy is an essential quality. The CEO will have a collaborative spirit and will be a humble and engaging leader who treats all with respect.
A visionary and mission-focused leader – Building collaborative solutions that work.
This leader will have a history of visionary, mission-focused leadership based on strong strategic and collaborative thinking, as well as demonstrated ability to align and build trust among multiple constituencies around the big picture. The CEO will demonstrate an authentic, confident, and humble spirit that enables them to be an effective storyteller and represent Homeward Bound with a range of partners and community members.
The CEO will be highly strategic, setting priorities decisively but collaboratively, delegating responsibilities, ensuring accountability, and allocating resources to ensure success. They will be skilled at listening to and learning from others with a deep belief in fostering a transparent, empowered, and productive organizational culture. The CEO will be committed to fostering a culture of staff trust, empowerment, and individualized staff development.
An experienced leader with a record of success– Leading by example.
The executive leader will have a successful record of senior leadership and management experience and a proven track record of significant accomplishments and professional experience in the nonprofit and/or public sector. This leader will have a high degree of financial literacy and financial management experience. The ideal leader will have a depth of understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and will infuse these concepts and values across the organization. The successful candidate will have the character and integrity to develop rapport with people of varying experiences, backgrounds, and philosophies, and to understand the nuanced differences among each community the agency serves. The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation. Additional Preferred Attributes
The ideal candidate will have a combination of these qualities, skills, and experiences. We welcome people of all backgrounds and people with lived experience. - Demonstrated experience with organizational change and change management.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal and public speaking skills, and experience with diverse populations and multiple constituencies.
- Strong experience with public and media relations.
- Demonstrated experience with fundraising practices and relationship cultivation within the areas of foundations, government (federal and municipal) grants, corporate and individual giving, and capital campaigns.
- Political awareness and astuteness with experience in legislative advocacy and public policy.
- Ability and willingness to work with and develop strong Board leadership.
- A dynamic presence balanced with grace, humility, and approachability.
- A creative, entrepreneurial spirit with an innovative mindset.
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent education, training, certifications, or experience.
- Proficient in standard business technology including Microsoft Office applications, online grant applications, and other software.
Think you are the next Homeward Bound Chief Executive Officer?
https://bit.ly/HomewardBoundWNCCEO
You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and professional references. Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact [email protected]. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.
Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and starts at $140K. This position will be located at our Compass Point Village facility in Asheville. Homeward Bound provides a competitive employee benefits package, with a strong focus on work/life balance: we offer 12 paid holidays in addition to a generous allocation of paid personal time off and sick leave. After your first 30 days, you’ll be eligible for medical, life, and disability insurance. After one year, Homeward Bound will also contribute to a retirement plan (currently a 2% match).
Homeward Bound bases its human resource decisions on objective criteria without regard to any characteristic or condition protected by law. We are committed to a workplace that offers equal opportunity without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, disability, genetic information/medical history, military/veteran status, marital status, familial status, LGBTQIA+ status, or any characteristic or condition protected by law, but not specifically mentioned here.
About Asheville
The position is based in Asheville, North Carolina. Western North Carolina is a culturally rich region that is both economically and geographically diverse. Asheville is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which is home to a remarkably large nonprofit sector, and rich in political and cultural diversity.
