Description

Executive Director
 
Saving Grace Humane Society

savinggracehumanesociety.org

Saving Grace is a 501(c)3 private, non-profit organization dedicated to building a humane community in Douglas County, Oregon through animal sheltering and protection, community services and advocacy in order to strengthen the human-animal bond. We are the county’s only full-service animal shelter, providing shelter, food, and medical care to thousands of animals each year.

Beyond the basics, each animal receives compassionate care from our staff and volunteers while they wait to be reunited with their families or to find a new home. Warm blankets, toys and treats, time spent socializing with caring people; all are a part of the animals’ experience at Saving Grace. We look forward to growing along with our community and being able to offer more programs geared towards keeping pets and their people together.

Annual Impact

•        Nearly 10,000 Pets Impacted Directly by Saving Grace Humane Society Programs & Services 
•        More than 1,750 Animals Adopted into New Loving Homes
•        More than 3,000 Spay/Neuter Surgeries
•        Food Bank Provides Free Meals to More than 4,600 Pets 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Saving Grace Humane Society has partnered with Anderson Impact in its search for a mission aligned, data driven Executive Director to lead the organization’s next stage of growth. 

The ideal candidate is an empathetic, confident, and approachable leader with strong communication skills, integrity, and emotional intelligence who fosters empowerment, innovation, collaboration, and unity. 

This Executive Director should be a skilled fundraiser and ambassador who strengthens the organization’s brand and builds relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders. They work closely with the Board on governance, recruitment, and diversification, as well as the overall vision and strategy, and oversee the annual budget of approximately $1.7M. 

A proven change manager, the Executive Director advances operational excellence and animal welfare standards, provides strategic direction for all programs, ensures sustainable financial support, and manages organizational resources while upholding core values. 

The ideal candidate is an inclusive leader who listens, trusts staff expertise, builds a unified team, uses data to drive decisions, and elevates others. This role offers an opportunity for an experienced, entrepreneurial leader to expand the organization’s impact.

As the leader of Saving Grace, the Executive Director is responsible for guiding the administration, programming, and strategic planning for the organization while working in concert with an experienced executive team and Board of Directors.

The Executive Director is the face of the organization, its primary spokesperson, and cultivator of relationships with donors, community leaders, the veterinary community, animal welfare organizations and advocates, government officials, media, volunteers, and other key stakeholders to promote animal welfare and the mission of Saving Grace.

The Ideal Candidate: 

• Is an experienced, compassionate, and collaborative leader with a commitment to the mission of Saving Grace. 
• Has significant and successful experience working with a Board of Directors.
• Has demonstrated success in raising philanthropic support, particularly from major and sustaining individual donors. 
• Has demonstrated the ability to build, engage and leverage strategic partnerships.
• Has sound fiscal, business management, and human resources skills. 
• Is experienced in understanding financial statements for planning, monitoring, and evaluation of organizational efficiency and effectiveness. 
• Is committed to ensuring an organizational culture of inclusivity, collaboration, respect, and accountability.
• Has exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, strong personal integrity, and an ability to build effective relationships at all levels.

Required Experience & Education:

• Minimum 3 years’ executive-level experience in: 
  • Financial management of budgets of $1M-$2M
  • Securing gifts of five figures and above
  • Leading and developing teams
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, including grant-writing, public speaking, social media, and donor relationships.
• Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff, and volunteers.
• Proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel.
• Ability to work well with, help guide and train new staff and volunteers within the organization.
• Preferred:
  • Experience working in the non-profit sector, animal welfare experience, and advocacy a plus
  • Certification in Animal Welfare Advancement (CAWA)

THE POSITION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the strategic operation of the organization, including developing and executing its strategic plan, policies and procedures, budget development and fiscal management, revenue growth, philanthropic outreach, and all elements that support and maintain program delivery. The Executive Director will be committed to nurturing, mentoring, and motivating both paid staff and volunteers. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP & REPRESENTATION

• Consistently strives to exceed expectations; demonstrates flexibility, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.
• Maintains high ethical standards, including exhibiting behaviors and actions that embrace and align to our organization and customer service values, while treating all animals and people with dignity and respect.

 TEAM LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

• The Executive Director is the leader and a member of Saving Grace’s Leadership Team. In partnership with the Leadership Teams, the Executive Director is responsible for leading and developing 25+ staff members, and a growing volunteer base.
• Manage, support, and provide coaching feedback to team members, and create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and embrace their role and responsibilities in advancing shared goals and priorities.
• Role model inclusive leadership, creating an environment where diverse viewpoints are welcomed and actively engaged.

 LEARNING & GROWTH

• Seeks continuous learning, demonstrates an awareness of personal strengths and development needs, and remains open to feedback to narrow skill gaps.
• Utilizes data and insights to identify, understand and articulate the key inputs and metrics that tell the story of the organization/team strategy and its progress.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

 Fundraising/Social Engagement 50%:

• Represent Saving Grace to the public through donor engagement by building and strengthening relationships with all level donors and businesses. 
• Leads a thriving development/fundraising committee comprised by board members, and the Development & Communication Manager to make mutually agreed upon strategic goals for each year to ensure a healthy engagement of donors.
• Maintains personal portfolio of major donors.
• Maintain successful working relationship with County officials, including negotiations and yearly contracts.
• Perform grant writing and tracking.
• Direct creation and management of effective marketing strategies, serving to strengthen the organization’s mission and brand.

 Animal Welfare, Advocacy and Leadership 25%:

• Sets tone of organization, provides executive-level leadership, promotes professional development of staff, and serves as a role model promoting the mission for staff and volunteers.
• Support staff in maintaining relationships with outside animal welfare organizations. Work with regional shelter directors to build coalitions to promote the mission.
• Work with regional shelter directors to build coalitions to promote the mission.
• Strengthens the organization’s visibility, credibility, and role as a trusted resource for pets and the people who love them.
• Cultivates meaningful relationships with civic leaders, businesses, and community agencies to expand the organization’s impact and reach.
• Ensures that community engagement efforts reflect the organization’s values.

 Financial Management 15%:

• With board support and approval, develop and implement the annual budget a strategic plan.
• Work in conjunction with the leadership team to manage expenses. Oversees appropriate staff/volunteers to ensure proper record keeping and legal/safety compliance.

 Board Relations %10:

• Monthly meetings involve reporting on shelter needs, events, and finances. Quarterly meetings revolving around Strategic planning and implementation.
• Keep the board apprised of new humane welfare trends, ideas, and ways to continue providing the best outcomes for pets and maintain a strong financial position. Work with the board to best utilize each member’s strengths.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY

There are 28 total staff, with four (4) direct reports to the Executive Director:

• Medical Director
• Operations Director
• Development & Communications Manager
• Administrative Assistant

Salary & Benefits

• $98,000 to $112,000 annually, plus comprehensive benefits, including but not limited to:
  • Four (4) Weeks Paid Time Off 
  • Seven (7) Paid Holidays
  • Health & Dental Insurance with Generous Employer Contribution Towards Employee Coverage
  • Retirement Savings Plan with Up to a 3% Employer Match
  • Discounted Veterinary Services
• Some relocation assistance is possible for the successful candidate.

Anderson Impact has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Saving Grace Humane Society.  Consideration of candidates will continue until the position is filled.

To review the full opportunity prospectus and application instructions, visit https://www.andersonimpact.com/executive-opportunities