Executive Director of USA Operations

Position: Executive Director of USA Operations

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: Remote, USA (Central or Eastern time zone strongly preferred), travel to Haiti and Chicago area required

ABOUT LAKOU

Founded in 2013, Lakou uses construction as a vehicle to provide job training, employment opportunities, economic stability, growth and dignity for the people of Haiti. Since its founding, Lakou has developed programs to support these goals and entrenched itself into the Haitian community. Lakou has grown quickly and is poised to make a significant impact in Haiti. 

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director of USA Operations is responsible for overall fundraising, the administrative and operational foundation of the organization in the USA and leading the strategy and oversight of all “back office” functions taking place in the USA. This role acts as a bridge between the work being done in Haiti and stakeholders in the USA.

Additionally, this role will lead the organization’s fundraising strategy, including all communications. This role will work closely with the Founders on messaging and requires travel to Haiti to truly become immersed in the work of Lakou. This role also oversees a full time financial manager and part time communications coordinator.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Development

Engage Board of Directors and Founders in collaborative process to develop a robust fundraising plan that expands Lakou’s supporters and drives towards growth

Create annual fundraising plan with an aim to diversify funding, including

• Strategy for engaging corporations
• Research and apply for grants
• Engage Board members in fundraising

Report progress towards fundraising goals to Board Members

Steward existing donors and cultivate new donors, collaborating with the Founders as appropriate

Ensure donors are properly acknowledged and donations are tracked

Create and execute communications strategy that engages donors and spreads awareness of Lakou’s work, including website, email and social media with support from communications coordinator and Haiti staff involved in communications

Ensure communications strategy adheres to Lakou’s values of humility, respect and dignity

Board Engagement

Work closely with Founders and the Board to understand vision and current priorities

Coordinate and drive board engagement through committees and board meetings

Involve the Board and Founders in appropriate advisory role to engage in strategic decisionmaking

Ensure Board is up to date on vision and strategic steps to reach vision

Lead execution of strategic goals as set by the Board of Directors

USA Finance and Operations

Collaborate with Founders and other appropriate stakeholders and staff to create annual budgets that reflect vision, growth and reality of work happening for the next year

Oversee and report regularly on finances, including progress towards fundraising goals

Create structures to strengthen organizational operations, including:

• Creation of policies and procedures, where needed
• Support of Board structure and decisionmaking

Act as lead on administrative issues, including finance, human resources and risk management

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

• Three or more years experience working in nonprofits, strongly preferred
• Management experience with demonstrated success in project management
• Experience with coordinating fundraising efforts, including managing deadlines, working with stakeholders and ensuring donor acknowledgements
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Passion for the international development work particularly a connection with Haiti, experience with international nonprofits preferred

COMPETENCIES

• Strategic thinker
• Self-starter, comfortable taking the lead and working as a small team with big goals
• Able to create structure within an entrepreneurial environment
• Ability to turn vision into action, to manage competing priorities and execute strategies that drive results
• Ability to engage with a variety of populations, humility in the international sector
• Understand and value stakeholders with a variety of beliefs
• Thrives on results and working as a team

To apply, please submit a cover letter describing your interest along with a resume to:

Ms. Alex Montgomery, amontgomery@reigartconsulting.com

Lakou is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.