Executive Director

About the Job

Blanchet House (BH) is seeking a compassionate, experienced, and strategic Executive Director (ED) to lead one of Portland’s most respected organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

For more than 70 years, BH has provided meals, shelter, recovery support, and community. As the need for these services continues to grow, the organization seeks a leader who can guide its work with clarity and steadiness, strengthen internal systems, support staff leaders, and ensure long-term financial sustainability and community impact.

This is an opportunity to lead a mission-driven organization with deep roots and a dedicated team committed to serving others with dignity. BH operates with an annual budget of approximately $6.5 million, supported by a diverse base of individual donors, foundations, and community partners. A staff of 59 employees serves two facilities in Portland and at Blanchet Farm in Yamhill County.

The ED is responsible for guiding strategy, operations, and financial sustainability. Working closely with the Board of Directors and a strong leadership team, the ED ensures BH continues to deliver high-quality services while strengthening the systems needed to sustain and grow that work over time.

This role requires a leader who understands the realities of front-line service while also building strong operational systems, healthy leadership structures, and financial stability.

This is an exciting time to join BH, and we look forward to welcoming the next ED.

About Blanchet House

Blanchet House exists to alleviate suffering and offer hope for a better life by serving essential aid with dignity. A combination of programs allows the organization to provide both immediate support and pathways to stability, including:

Meal Program

Blanchet House serves free hot meals in the Founders Café six days a week, offering nourishment and community to anyone who would like a meal. A typical 50-minute meal service between 400-600 plates of food, utilizing volunteers, program participants, and staff.

Old Town Residential Program

Blanchet House operates a transitional housing program for up to 50 men recovering from homelessness and addiction. Participants live and work together in the rooms above the café, working with case managers to address challenges in securing employment and housing.

Blanchet Farm Program

Located in Yamhill County, one hour from Portland, Blanchet Farm offers a unique rural environment for focusing on sobriety through hands-on work and peer support. The farm’s newly built dormitory has space for up to 24 men to live. The farm manager lives on site. A case manager, cook, and admin staff occupy offices during typical working hours.

Women’s Shelter

Bethanie’s Room is a low-barrier overnight shelter for women experiencing homelessness, offering safety, stability, and connection to services. The shelter is open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. with space for up to 75 women per night.

Together, these programs serve thousands of individuals each year and reflect Blanchet House’s long-standing commitment to hospitality, dignity, and community care.

Blanchet House Core Values

We believe in fostering an inclusive, welcoming community where people feel they belong. Our shared values include:

Hospitality: We welcome everyone into our home with kindness and compassion.

Dignity: We respect the inherent value of everyone inside and outside our organization.

Hope: We foster optimism and the belief that good things can happen when we work together.

Integrity: We are honest, reliable, and trustworthy.

Community: We build relationships and strive toward common goals.

Authenticity: We honor everyone’s right to be their unique self.

Key Responsibilities

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive leader of Blanchet House & Farm and is responsible for guiding the organization’s strategy, operations, and financial sustainability.

Working closely with the Board of Directors and a dedicated leadership team, the Executive Director ensures that Blanchet House continues to deliver high-quality services while strengthening the organizational systems needed to sustain and grow that work

over time.

The role requires a leader who understands the realities of frontline service while also building strong operational systems, healthy leadership structures, and financial stability. The Executive Director translates the organization’s mission into clear priorities, supports staff leaders across programs, and guides the organization through thoughtful growth and change.

Organizational Leadership

The Executive Director oversees daily operations, including staffing, financial management, risk management, and organizational policies.

A key priority for the next leader will be strengthening communication and decision-making structures across the organization. This includes establishing clear roles and expectations, supporting program leaders, and ensuring that staff have the tools and guidance they need to do their work effectively.

The Executive Director will recruit and develop strong staff leaders, address challenges directly and fairly, and remain attentive to staff workload, morale, and sustainability in demanding frontline roles.

The Executive Director fosters a culture of respect, accountability, and collaboration across the organization.

Financial Stewardship

A central responsibility of the role is to ensure that Blanchet House remains financially strong and operationally sound. This includes guiding budgeting, maintaining strong financial systems and controls, and ensuring resources align with program priorities and staffing capacity.

The ED works closely with the Board and development staff to cultivate donors, foundations, and community partners while communicating the organization’s impact with clarity and authenticity. Strong fundraising leadership, clear financial oversight, and careful stewardship of resources are essential to sustaining Blanchet House’s programs and long-term mission.

Community Leadership and Partnerships

Blanchet House plays an important role in Portland’s network of organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and hardship. The Executive Director represents the organization within the broader community and builds relationships that advance the mission. This includes working with donors, foundations, nonprofit partners, volunteers, and civic leaders to strengthen Blanchet House’s impact while ensuring that partnerships remain aligned with organizational priorities and capacity.

Board Partnership and Governance

The ED works closely with the Board of Directors as a strategic partner to advance the mission and ensure the organization's long-term sustainability. This includes providing clear and timely updates about finances, organizational health, and strategic priorities while maintaining appropriate distinctions between governance responsibilities and operational leadership.

Qualifications

Blanchet House seeks a leader who combines a commitment to mission, operational leadership, financial stewardship, and strong relationship-building skills.

The strongest candidates will bring:

• Demonstrated leadership experience in nonprofit, human services, housing, or recovery programs
• A deep commitment to dignity-centered service and mission-driven work
• Experience managing complex organizations with multiple programs and teams
• Strong financial management and fundraising capabilities
• The ability to build trust with staff, residents, donors, and community partners
• Sound judgment, humility, and the ability to lead through challenge and change
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this full-time position is $145,000-$165,000, depending on experience (DOE). Blanchet House offers a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off.

How to Apply

Blanchet House & Farm is committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and encourages candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Please submit the following by March 31, 2026:

1. A cover letter that demonstrates how your experience and skills would make you a good fit for this position, and what about this opportunity most interests you.
2. A complete chronological resume.
3. Four references.

Please send your application via email to: EDsearch@BlanchetHouse.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Blanchet House is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace that reflects and respects the diversity of the community we serve

Blanchet House offers a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off.