Chief Executive Officer

Interfaith Works (IW) is a trusted, mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to helping neighbors in need achieve greater stability. Founded in 1972 by local faith communities, IW is grounded in values of compassion, inclusion, respect, empowerment, and social justice. While not a religious organization, it remains guided by its founding belief in collaborative, community-based action.

Each year, IW serves more than 35,000 Montgomery County, MD residents through a comprehensive continuum of services addressing both immediate crises and long-term stability. Its four core program areas include emergency shelter and drop-in services; supportive and permanent housing; essential needs programs such as food, clothing, and resource navigation; and vocational services that promote employment readiness. With an annual operating budget of approximately $16.5 million and nearly 200 staff members, IW is one of the county’s largest and most complex human services organizations. Learn more at www.iworksmc.org.

Interfaith Works seeks a strategic, compassionate, and experienced Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization into its next chapter. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will steward IW’s mission and resources, supervise a seven-person leadership team, and ensure effective coordination across programs and sites. Serving as IW’s primary ambassador, the CEO will build strong relationships with staff, board members, government partners, funders, faith communities, volunteers, and the broader community, balancing steady, solutions-oriented leadership with innovation to keep programs responsive, equitable, and financially sound.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership

• Provide steady, solutions-oriented leadership during times of change, balancing innovation with operational discipline.
• Develop, implement, and refine a strategic plan aligned with community needs and organizational values.
• Supervise and support a senior leadership team, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture.

External Relations, Advocacy, and Fundraising

• Serve as the public face and chief ambassador of IW, cultivating trusted relationships with government partners, funders, faith communities, and community stakeholders.
• Advance policy and advocacy efforts that promote housing stability, economic equity, and social justice across Montgomery County.
• In partnership with the Development team and Board, steward and solicit major gifts while strengthening diversified, long-term revenue strategies.

Financial Stewardship and Operations

• Oversee long-range financial planning, budgeting, and analysis to ensure sustainability, adequate reserves, and strong fiscal health.
• Negotiate and steward government contracts and foundation agreements while ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.
• Strengthen internal systems, infrastructure, and operational processes to support effective service delivery and organizational growth.

Organizational Development

• Lead, coach, and support a high-performing executive leadership team, ensuring clarity of roles, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Champion a culture of inclusion, integrity, accountability, and trauma-informed practice throughout the organization.
• Enhance internal communication, cross-departmental alignment, and organizational learning to ensure strong performance at all levels.

Experience, Skills, and Qualities

The successful candidate will bring deep alignment with IW’s mission and many of the following:

• 7+ years of senior executive experience in a nonprofit, public-sector, or similarly complex organization of comparable scale.
• Strong alignment with IW’s mission and values, with demonstrated understanding of homelessness, housing, workforce development, and economic mobility.
• Experience leading multi-layered organizations with significant staff, government funding, and operational complexity.
• Proven success supervising and developing executive leaders and high-performing teams.
• A strong track record of financial stewardship, including oversight of multi-million-dollar budgets and government-funded programs.
• Track record of successful fundraising with public and private funders.
• Experience advancing equity-centered, trauma-informed organizational cultures.
• Skilled communicator with experience serving as a visible, persuasive spokesperson to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated success mobilizing coalitions and cultivating community partnerships.
• Knowledge of the homelessness, housing, and human services sector; Montgomery County experience preferred.
• Experience working effectively with and supporting a Board of Directors.

Compensation

The Board is targeting a salary range of $190,000 – $200,000, commensurate with experience. IW offers a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement plan with employer contributions, and paid time off.

Location

Interfaith Works is headquartered in Rockville, MD, with program sites throughout Montgomery County. The CEO role requires regular on-site presence and active engagement across the community.

Application Process

IW has retained the services of Good Insight, a national executive search firm that exclusively serves the nonprofit sector. Interested applicants should submit a PDF resume and a cover letter describing their interest in and qualifications for this role. Direct confidential inquiries to Kate Dykgraaf at iworksmc@good-insight.org. View the full job description and upload application materials at good-insight.org/careers.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IW provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.