Executive Director - International House

PLEASE NOTE: To receive full consideration for this position, please submit the requested information through Armstrong McGuire's portal at https://jobs.armstrongmcguire.com/. Due to integration issues, applications submitted through 3rd party sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn may not be received.

The Opportunity

This is a remarkable opportunity for a collaborative and relational leader to join a much-revered Charlotte, NC organization working toward the vision of a community where immigrants and international culture thrive. The International House is steeped in generations of deeply engaged and committed community-minded volunteers and donors who work alongside a team of passionate, dedicated and highly talented staff.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) provides consistent oversight of International House operations including programs, fundraising, financial management, communication, and community relations. This leader will bring a strong understanding of and passion for immigration issues. Significant nonprofit management and fundraising experience and a deep commitment to internal and external community-building are essential for the next ED.

The organization operates with a Board of Directors of 10 to 15, a staff of 20, and an operating budget of $1.8 MM. Executive leadership includes six senior level staff. This highly committed team has a combined tenure of more than 50 years with International House. The agency currently utilizes a fractional operating officer as well as a fractional finance services provider. The new ED will have the opportunity to define and build an executive team of complementary leaders.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities and evidence of accomplishment in the following areas:

Strategic and Relational Leadership: The ED will bring a keen understanding of the changing landscape of immigration services and will have evidence of successful innovation in programming. They[SW1] will be a thoughtful and strategic leader - setting priorities collaboratively, delegating responsibilities, ensuring accountability, and effectively allocating resources to ensure strong outcomes. The ED will have demonstrated experience running a financially sound organization, including managing a budget similar to that of International House. They will have a strong understanding of the current funding environment for immigration organizations and regulatory necessities. The ED will also have proven experience navigating the financial complexities of an organization that operates with government funding as well as foundation support and private donations.

Leading by positive example and in strong collaboration with organizational leaders, the ED will encourage learning, growth, and empowerment of all team members. They will be a leader of leaders - highly approachable and skilled at listening to and learning from others with a deep belief in fostering a transparent, stable, and productive organizational culture. This leader will also have the professional maturity to be vulnerable. Deeply invested in staff voice, the ED will recognize the commitment and expertise of IH staff and will foster an atmosphere of appreciation, collaboration, consensus-building, and partnership across the organization. They will motivate staff to persevere supporting the immigrant community even during times of transition or uncertainty. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to properly balance collaboration and decisiveness, understanding where input is needed and then leading effectively toward execution.

Passion for the Values, Mission, and Vision: The ED will possess a deep drive and passion for ensuring International House remains at the forefront of community service, continually developing new opportunities to serve the mission. This leader will have a strong grasp of the immigration services landscape and be consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the organization to potential changes. The ED will embody the values and mission of International House including a strong spirit of hospitality with the staff team, volunteers, and members of the community. The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who is sincere and can be trusted without reservation.

Communication and Inclusion Skills:

The ED will lead an inclusive and engaged workforce and have experience working with diverse populations and bringing an inclusive lens to each aspect of their work. They will possess the ability to lead toward mission navigating ambiguous situations. The successful candidate will have the ability to develop rapport with people of varying experiences, backgrounds, and philosophies, and to understand the nuanced differences among each community International House serves. The leader will have a high level of emotional intelligence with a demonstrated ability to quickly build trust and credibility with staff, volunteers, and the community.

Community Connection: The ED will be an authentic ambassador and community builder working to rekindle past relationships, nurture existing connections and cultivate new partnerships with leaders in the public and private sectors. An effective storyteller, they will exude an authentic, confident, and humble spirit while sharing our mission. Similarly, they will be experienced at building effective coalitions with other organizations and a wide range of stakeholders.

Capacity Building and Philanthropic Focus: The ED will have demonstrated effectiveness working with board leadership and building a culture of philanthropy in the board and larger organization. This leader will drive a strong and sustainable growth plan aligning the board and staff team and programs. The ED will have the skills to articulate the vision of the organization to its supporting community, attracting new and diverse partnerships. This leader will have familiarity with a wide range of fundraising channels, including individual giving, governmental funding, and foundation support. The ED will cultivate and grow relationships to strategically increase the International House’s funding and donor base. They will have an inspirational approach to building collaboration and buy-in and generating support for the organization, continually innovating to help expand brand and reach. As the lead external voice of the organization, the ED will be recognized as a respected leader in the community.

About the Organization

Established in 1981, International House is a nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrants and international culture thrive in the Charlotte region. International House enriches the lives of foreign born and foreign rooted community members through cross-cultural connections that foster understanding and fuel inspiration. Their programs help immigrants settle and succeed in this region while supporting local residents and businesses to connect with people and cultures from around the world.

The programs of International House include:

• Youth Education – a partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to support approximately 300 K-5 English Language Learners at four local Title 1 schools including an afterschool literacy tutoring program and a six-week summer literacy camp.
• Adult Education – classes for English Language Learners at various ability levels, including a Citizenship Preparation Program teaching the vocabulary of the citizenship application and essential civics knowledge.
• Ginter Immigration Law Clinic supports immigrants on a pathway to citizenship through legal representation.
• Citizen Diplomacy – supports and facilitates international exchanges geared toward sharing best practices, values and culture while strengthening our international security through soft diplomacy.
• The Hub – helps newcomers from around the world find resources, community support and a sense of home in Charlotte.
• Cultural Clubs – provide opportunities for members to share their culture, connect with like-minded individuals, and find their sense of belonging.
• Cultural Sensitivity Training – offers information and skills to better support those who are from different cultures and have limited English proficiency.

The knowledgeable staff team is highly passionate about their work. They are skilled adapters who prioritize providing a safe and nurturing third space for the immigrant community. The team prioritizes hospitality, meeting people where they are and providing special touches to ensure each client who visits their bustling office feels special and valued.

International House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a budget of $1.8MM and is funded through philanthropic gifts, local, state, and federal government grants as well as an annual signature fundraising event.

Want to know more? Visit the International House website at www.ihclt.org.

Think you are the next International House Executive Director?

To apply, click on the link to the Executive Director position profile at https://jobs.armstrongmcguire.com/. 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 talent@armstrongmcguire.com. 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 with preference given to applications submitted by June 19th.

• Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and the range is $95,000 to $105,000. Benefits include medical and dental (eligible after 60 days) and 401 K availability (eligible after 90 days), Employee Assistance Program, accrued paid time off and 11 paid holidays. Staff work a hybrid schedule and the Executive Director is expected to work onsite a minimum of three to four days each week. Occasional evening and weekend work hours are required for community events.

International House seeks a diverse pool of candidates and is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age.

About Armstrong McGuire

Armstrong McGuire is a national executive search, fundraising and strategic advising firm that believes in unlocking the potential of nonprofit leaders and the communities they serve. Founded in 2004, our diverse team of advisors work with clients and leaders to align strategy, optimize operations, build capacity, and lead nationwide searches that bring supremely talented individuals to high-impact organizations. Learn more about our services in talent acquisition, fundraising counsel, and strategic planning.