Executive Director, Philadelphia LISC

Posted by on September 26, 2010

LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION

Philadelphia LISC Executive Director Job Description

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) seeks an Executive Director for its Philadelphia program.  This is a key position within LISC and is critical to the success of the local program.  The Executive Director provides leadership and direction in developing and implementing the Philadelphia program’s vision and strategy.  The successful candidate will have strong leadership and entrepreneurial skills along with an understanding of the importance of both public and private sector engagement in community revitalization efforts, especially in distressed neighborhoods.  The position requires a strong commitment to the role of neighborhood-based community groups as agents of positive change in their environments.

LISC is a national non-profit organization that assists community development corporations (CDCs), and other community-based organizations, in their efforts to transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy communities.  LISC believes that CDCs are one of the best vehicles to achieve lasting and positive community change for the benefit of low and moderate-income people.  By marshaling private sector resources and providing financial and technical support to community partners, LISC enables residents to set their own priorities and shape the process of community renewal.

Sustainable Communities
Beyond this core work, LISC is expanding its traditional focus of working directly with CDCs to developing strategic partnerships with a wide range of nonprofit and for-profit organizations that support the larger issue of comprehensive community health and sustainability.  Five core program objectives have been identified that, taken together, define this larger goal: Investing in the Physical Environment; Increasing Family Wealth; Stimulating Economic Activity; Improving Access to Quality Education and Fostering Healthy Environments.  In this role, LISC is a facilitator, coordinator and catalyst of the Sustainable Communities development process.

The Executive Director will manage Philadelphia LISC’s operations and supervise a 5-person staff.  The director will have primary responsibility, with the participation of the Local Advisory Board (LAB) and oversight and support from the national LISC office, for developing the direction and focus of the program.

I.    Responsibilities:
A.    Build and promote the community development industry in Philadelphia:
1.    Develop and maintain a dialogue and shared agenda with the City of Philadelphia’s development agencies and departments, and with the State of Pennsylvania to foster and enhance support for neighborhood revitalization activities and community partners.
2.    Establish and maintain effective working relationships at the highest levels of local public, corporate and foundation sectors.
3.    Promote effective community development strategies to attract resources to under-served neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
4.    Identify and incorporate best practices gained from national LISC experience into local program designs and implementation.
5.    Supervise LISC’s financing, technical assistance, training and organizational development initiatives to strengthen CDC capacities and impact.
6.    Build overall support for the community development industry in Philadelphia by developing awareness and support for CDCs, LISC and neighborhood revitalization.

B.    Obtain private sector financial support for LISC activities in Philadelphia:
1.    Identify and nurture leadership from key corporations and foundations in the interest of community development.
2.    With leadership from the Local Advisory Board and support from national LISC, raise funds to support operating expenses as well as finance Philadelphia LISC’s program activities.
3.    Cultivate and maintain local donor relationships as well as coordinate development activities with the national LISC office.
4.    Act as resource for the state of community development in Philadelphia, including overall health of neighborhoods, community partners and residents.

C.   Assist CDCs and other community partners in carrying out revitalization efforts that leverage partnerships and bring together local initiatives that further enhance neighborhood quality of life:
1.    Focus LISC strategies to add value to existing revitalization strategies and create new partnerships/initiatives where needed.
2.    Engage in CDC constituency building.
3.    Build coalitions and partnerships with other community development support organizations.
4.    Oversee analysis of loan and grant requests and investment proposals.
5.    Monitor performance of approved grant and loan requests.
6.    Develop technical assistance and training programs that meet the multiple needs of CDCs and other community partners in different organizational life cycles.

D.    Maintain and support Local Advisory Board (LAB) and manage staff:
1.    Coordinate the strategic and annual planning / budgeting processes in collaboration with the LAB and LISC’s regional program vice president.
2.    Maintain working relationships with LAB members, engaging them in local community development policy, advocacy and program strategy development.
3.    Advise and inform members of investment activities of all national LISC affiliates and of other national LISC programs.
4.    Manage individual staff activities while creating an environment that embraces a team approach to problem solving and collective decision-making.

II.    Required Qualifications & Qualities:
–    Demonstrated commitment to LISC’s community development mission.
–    Bachelor’s degree in business, finance or real estate or related fields. Master’s degree preferred.
–    7 to 10 years senior level experience in community development.
–    Leadership skills and ability to develop program vision.
–    Entrepreneurial, creative and solution-oriented approach to issues.
–    Demonstrated management experience, including staff supervision and financial management.
–    Strong and varied private-sector fundraising experience that has fully utilized board and other external networks for maximum monetary results.
–    Outgoing personality and excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary to work effectively with a wide variety of people and organizations.

III.    To Apply:
LISC offers a competitive salary and benefits package.  Moderate travel is required. Qualified candidates should send a resume; (including salary history) cover letter and writing sample by October 8, 2010 to:
Greta J. Harris, Program Vice President
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
E-mail:  [email protected]
For more information on LISC visit: http://www.lisc.org

LISC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER