Executive Director - Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI)

Founded in 2017, Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) is a nonprofit that envisions creating a

welcoming global community that values and invests in refugee and immigrant women as they

achieve healthy, stable, and fulfilling lives in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. refugeesarts.org

Refugee Artisan Initiative partners with refugee and immigrant women to foster an inclusive,

prosperous transition to the United States through artisan skills training and microbusiness

development.

Title: Executive Director

Reports To: Board President

Location: 12337 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125

Schedule: Full-time salaried; Requires some evenings and weekends

POSITION SUMMARY

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive and an ex-officio non-voting Board Member of Refugee Artisan Initiative. The ideal candidate is a seasoned nonprofit leader who combines strategic vision with strong execution, understands how to grow impact responsibly, and values shared leadership, accountability, and sound governance. This individual shares a commitment to empowering underrepresented communities, cultural competency, and experience with connecting and representing non-profits to officials and agencies. They are a dynamic leader who ensures alignment with the organization's mission, vision, and values; provides strategic direction; oversees day-to-day operations; leads fundraising efforts; manages staff and financial performance; and represents the organization to stakeholders. Reporting to the Board President, the Executive Director fosters an inclusive, positive, and collaborative culture among staff, contractors, volunteers, and artisans; represents RAI in the community; and ensures compliance with all grant obligations and the organization's Bylaws.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Mission & Artisan Impact: Champion RAI’s mission by centering artisan success and ensuring RAI remains a safe, welcoming gathering space for refugee and immigrant artisans. Serve as a compelling representative of RAI’s mission and impact.

Strategic Leadership: Develop annual and multi-year strategies that advance economic empowerment for refugee women that align with RAI’s mission, vision, and four pillars. Translate strategies into clear priorities, operational roadmaps, and measurable outcomes. Ensure organizational systems and structures support long-term impact and resilience.

Financial Stewardship: Drive revenue goals that optimize RAI’s impact and advance artisan financial independence. Oversee budgeting, grant management, cash flow management, financial reporting, and long-term forecasting to safeguard fiscal health.

Board Partnership & Governance: Partner with the Board in strategic planning and informed decision-making. Provide timely, accurate updates on organizational performance, mission-critical opportunities, risks, and mitigations. Strengthen governance through effective processes, clear communication, and committee participation.

Program & Operations Oversight: Work with staff to ensure seamless day-to-day operations, product quality, services and program excellence, aligned refugee and immigrant services, and public programming. Steward RAI-owned property and uphold health, safety, and regulatory standards.

Fundraising & Resource Development: Lead a cohesive, measurable fundraising plan to grow more opportunities for the refugee community. Secure diversified financial and in-kind support from foundations, corporations, individuals, and public sources. Cultivate and steward donors and support grant applications.

Sales, Marketing & Product Strategy: Reassert RAI’s strength and continue to build RAI’s brand through integrated marketing, merchandising, and sales plans. Set annual sales goals and expand customer targets. Oversee product development and inventory to meet stakeholder needs while sourcing and maximizing the use of upcycled products and participating in a circular economy.

Team Leadership & HR: Lead, support, and develop a small, high-performing team. Cultivate an inclusive, supportive culture that attracts and retains talent. Establish the framework for recruiting, hiring and evaluating staff, consultants, and volunteers where cultural competency is a critical requirement. Provide opportunities for staff and artisans to learn and grow. Establish a succession plan and mentoring program to secure RAI’s future.

External Relations & Communications: Serve as RAI’s primary spokesperson and ambassador while promoting staff participation and visibility in community events. Increase visibility and gain resources through media, events, and strategic partnerships. Build intentional alliances with complementary organizations and identify and foster new relationships with innovative partners, community leaders, nonprofits, and public officials.

Compliance & Risk Management: Implement and monitor controls that address emerging political and economic risks. Protect RAI assets, implement and maintain risk management best practices. Ensure adherence to grant requirements, ByLaws, and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

CORE SKILLS & QUALITIES

RAI will actively encourage applicants who bring lived experience to the role and who are eager to represent the community of refugee and immigrant women that RAI serves.

• Proven nonprofit executive leadership, demonstrated emotional intelligence, and sound judgment
• Strong leadership, a clean record of professional conduct, collaborative people management, and communication skills, with a commitment to foster a safe, healthy, inclusive work environment
• A dynamic, charismatic team player who is comfortable serving as a spokesperson of an organization, competing for grants, or presenting in large forums
• A passion for the organization's mission with a high level of cultural competence and commitment to empowering underrepresented communities
• Strategic thinker with long-term planning skills and the ability to translate vision into execution
• High adaptability and ability to manage diverse functions
• Entrepreneurial mindset that understands how to do a lot with a little; lean, creative and innovative
• Strong financial acumen with a good understanding of success metrics for non-profits
• Ability to build and motivate teams to achieve appropriate outcomes while remaining compassionate and kind; ability to maintain a professional and respectful demeanor under pressure

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Non-Profit Executive Director with combined 10 years in non-profit leadership
• Bachelor’s degree in Non-Profit Management, Social Work, Education, Business Administration, a related field, or equivalent industry experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of non-profit leadership and management principles, and a history of working effectively with a volunteer board of directors
• Track record of developing relationships with corporate and individual donors, and the ability to foster and convert toward immediate fundraising goals
• Strong data mindset with proven ability to identify and track metrics, reporting outcomes that support the mission
• Demonstrated cultural competency and experience working effectively with refugee, immigrant, and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) populations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders effectively

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience working with with state and local government officials; active engagement with state and local agencies; established networking and advocacy
• Background in workforce development, microenterprise development, or small business coaching
• Experience and values-aligned in sustainability, social enterprise, and circular economy principles and practices
• Familiarity with textiles (apparel, fashion accessories, or home accessories), vocational sewing training, or light manufacturing environments

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are those an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the performance of the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. In addition, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, lift (overhead and waist-level) from the floor, and walk up and down stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the employee to perform the essential functions. Work will occur in both office and remote settings. The RAI team is small and mighty, and the work environment's noise level varies depending on project production, meetings, and service points in the community.

SALARY: $125,000-$140,000 annually DOE. The position is year-round, averaging 40 hours per week.

BENEFITS: Medical/ Dental/ Vision with employer contribution; FSA; 401K retirement plan; paid time-off; paid holidays, and paid winter break.

HOW TO APPLY:

The position is open until filled. Please send your cover letter, resume, and questions to jobs@refugeesarts.org. RAI values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. RAI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Medical/ Dental/ Vision with employer contribution; FSA; 401K retirement plan; paid time-off; paid holidays, and paid winter break.