Executive Director

Executive Director– Job Description

Organizational Background

Solace Friends, Inc. (Solace), a non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, is driven by the belief that all people, regardless of resources or past life experiences, will have access to dying in a safe environment with the support of people committed to honoring their comfort, dignity, and humanity. We do this by providing safe shelter and compassionate end-of-life caregiving in an adult family home for people with terminal illness who are experiencing housing insecurity.

We operate a licensed Adult Family Home that operates 24/7/365 which can serve up to four hospice-eligible residents at a time. We ensure that basic needs such as shelter, food, hydration, and hygiene are met, provide assistance with activities of daily living, and provide our residents and their loved ones with person-centered care that nurtures bodily comfort, emotional, social, and spiritual wholeness, and individual dignity. We also assist with tasks related to needs that follow a resident’s death. We have now been open for two years, providing services to about 30 residents during that time.

Solace is not a licensed hospice provider. Each resident chooses a hospice provider to provide clinical care services. Solace staff and volunteers supplement rather than replace these clinical care services by supporting our residents, just as family caregivers do when hospice patients receive in-home care. For more details about our mission, vision, values and goals, please visit www.solacefriends.org.

Position Summary

• Solace is seeking a creative, committed, individual, who shares our passion for Solace’s mission, vision and values, to lead our innovative organization, which is the first of its kind in the state of Wisconsin. This position offers an expansive range of opportunities to strategically envision and innovate a program of service that makes a decisive positive impact on the way our community sees and serves disenfranchised individuals who are nearing the end of their lives. This is a full-time position with benefits, reporting to the board of directors. Work hours may include some evening/weekend hours depending on need. This will be a hybrid position with the ability to work remotely offsite

several days a week.

The ED position is an outward facing position, engaging in outreach, fundraising and financial management. Solace employs a Care Coordinator who oversees day-to-day house operations, and the ED works with this staff person to ensure successful operation of the home. The ED position will focus on all that is necessary to maintain smooth ongoing operations and quality programming, community building, and fundraising. The salary range is $75,000-$95,000 annually, plus benefits that include health insurance, paid leave, and other benefits.

Executive Director Responsibilities

Organizational Management (20%)

• Work with the Executive Committee to provide strategic direction to the Board and organization
• Provide support to all Board committees
• Act as primary staff person providing support to the Development, Finance and Communications committees
• Assist in recruiting and supporting volunteers in the home
• Other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors

Fundraising and Community Engagement (55%)

• Act as the primary organizational representative in the community
• With the assistance of the Development committee, ensure the ongoing fiscal health of the organization through the implementation of a long term fundraising strategy, grant writing, community fundraising, and relationship building
• Establish and maintain mutually beneficial partnerships and networking opportunities
• Monitor and oversee public relations and communications and community engagement

Financial/Legal/ Administrative (15%)

• Oversee AFH Licensing, and compliance, legal, insurance issues
• Work with the treasurer and Finance committee to manage the annual budget of $650,000, along with billing, financial accounting, and maintaining our donor database
• Oversee the financial and organizational administration of Solace Home including but not limited to data collection and analysis, audits, and other record-keeping activities
• Oversee all computer, phone, and other office and technology needs

Human Resources (10%)

• Solace contracts for payroll and human resource support with The Employer Group. The ED is responsible for working with TEG to develop and maintain personnel structure and management plan. In addition, the ED works with the Care Coordinator to hire and train staff. The ED supervises the Care Coordinator and provides direct assistance in hiring and training staff.
• Manage relationships with paid contractors/advisors (legal, governmental agencies, etc)
• Supervise staff and coordinate staff collaborations

Position Qualifications

A passion for serving vulnerable individuals at the end of life with compassion, non-judgement and fairness resulting in the strong desire to implement the mission of Solace Home.

Demonstrated proficiency (through work experience, education or training/certification) is preferred:

• Fundraising
• Public speaking, community engagement
• Employee and volunteer management
• Budgeting and financials
• Adult family home or community based residential facility management

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent organizational, time management, and administrative skills with the ability to see the big picture and details, handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a competent and professional manner, and anticipate and meet deadlines
• Project management
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and understanding of brand management
• Strong computer skills to include MS Word, MS Excel, G-Suite applications, and Database management
• Alignment with principles of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion, harm-reduction, trauma-informed care

Personal attributes

• High emotional intelligence and ability to support others
• Able to work independently and as a member of a team
• Creative, flexible, innovative, and curious
• Skilled problem solver
• Strong abilities to multitask and prioritize
• Healthy engagement in own growth processes around issues of death, dying, and grief

PTO, Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Employer-Paid Long Term Disability Insurance, Employer-Paid Life Insurance, Voluntary Short Term Disability Insurance, Voluntary Life Insurance, FSA, HSA, Pet Insurance, and More.