The Center for Urban Transformation, or CUT, is searching for an energetic and passionate visionary for its Executive Director position.

CUT is an exciting early-stage organization representing a unique collaboration of stakeholders committed to develop innovative strategies for transforming Houston’s 5th Ward neighborhood and be a model for other neighborhoods. CUT’s mission is to create opportunities for 5th Ward families to overcome the adverse effects of racism, poverty and other inequities by implementing programs that encourage growing prospects for survival and success.

Houston’s Fifth Ward is a culturally rich, historically black, and rapidly changing community. Today’s Fifth Ward is over half latinx, has one of the highest densities of churches of any Houston neighborhood, and is gentrifying due to proximity to downtown and large development projects. Fifth Ward is also home to trailblazers such as the now-deceased Congressman Mickey Leland and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, and cultural icons Cotton Club, Deluxe Theater, and Rap-a-Lot records. The Center for Urban Transformation (CUT) was launched to close gaps in services in the neighborhood to support the community thriving, given its currently high poverty and crime rates, and low rates of high school and college graduation and other indicators of economic success and health. CUT was launched by a collaboration between Legacy Community Health (an FQHC clinic), Houston Habitat for Humanity, Pleasant Hill Ministries (a 93-year-old church), the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, and the Berg & Androphy law firm.

CUT facilitates a few core programs:

• A case management initiative with youth ages 12-24 and their families; this includes a juvenile diversion program whereby the county District Attorney and Juvenile Probation Department refer some youth to work optionally one-on-one with a Youth Specialist to set goals and connect with resources, instead of filing charges in court against the youth. This initiative also includes youth referred from the Fifth Ward schools, parents, or youth themselves.
• A free afterschool program and summer camp rooted in the arts and civic engagement, to strengthen the capacity of young people to connect to their compassionate natures and support conflict transformation and change in the community.
• A community development council led by residents, to improve the intersectional conditions of the community at large (“social determinants of health” – income/job, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, built environment i.e. housing & transportation, and social & community).
• A restorative circles program woven into the above initiatives, to support non-punitive conflict transformation.
• An innovative employment pilot project in partnership with a local major developer, to assist residents in getting hired on this development in construction, operations, and other option jobs. This initiative supports the case management program.

CUT’s budget is about $1.5M.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Responsibilities

Board of Directors Relationships Management

• With board and staff, develop an updated strategic plan for the organization
• Liaise regularly with Board Chair and Board committees to move the business of the organization forward: manage communications, prepare and share reports, collaboratively set agendas, complete tasks identified by the board for governance
• Recruit and onboard additional board members to serve and represent the diverse needs and constituents of the organization

Fundraising

• Develop a fundraising plan to meet the organization’s short-term and long-term needs
• Leverage CUT’s resources – including its board members and website – to implement that fundraising plan
• Write grants, for both government and private entities
• Conduct strategic networking to build external relationships to implement this plan

Strategic Leadership & Change Facilitation

• Update and execute operations/project plans to implement the priorities in line with CUT mission and culture, with clear timelines, tasks and resources
• In partnership with the board and staff, develop and define the objectives and outcome targets for the CUT, integrating the vision for the CUT, the goals for the collaboration, and community needs.
• Develop and manage a budget for implementation and for operations
• Refine and oversee execution of existing evaluation procedures, and report metrics for short-term and long-term CUT objectives
• In collaboration with staff, ensure implementation of quality programs and services; provide coaching and staff development support as necessary
• Cultivate the culture of CUT, both in staff, board, and community life, that aligns with the Qualifications and Competencies listed below

Partnerships

• Build and manage relationships with other partners outside of the collaborative and essential to the success of the CUT, including elected officials, business partners, civic leaders, and other community organizations
• Manage and monitor partnership agreements so that partners have clarity on their roles, responsibilities and benefits
• Build relationships with community leaders in order to build trust, stay updated with local issues, understand diverse local perspectives, and develop a nuanced view of how CUT can best impact the neighborhood
• Develop and implement a communications plan that engages both community members and organizations through various methods

Qualifications

• At least seven years of relevant work experience with progressively increasing responsibilities and at least one year of experience managing staff
• Have an entrepreneurial spirit in order to build on the successes of CUT as a start-up organization, continuously strengthen its foundation, and be adaptive in a fast-paced environment
• Experience managing a budget
• Experience in strategic planning, systems analysis, program design and program management
• Enthusiasm to partner with diverse communities and work alongside people of diverse backgrounds, including diversity of race, gender, sexuality, class, dialect, body type, and justice involvement status
• Preference given to those who have experience working with marginalized populations, especially African American and Latinx communities

Competencies

• Strategic thinker and visionary, based in systems approach to social change and reform
• Empathy: able to understand the underlying needs of stakeholders both internal and external, to listen with presence, and to build agreements rooted in that understanding; has tools to engage compassionately despite intense emotions, and afford dignity to all stakeholders
• Emotional literacy and self-awareness: able to name nuanced and complex feelings, as separate from thoughts and judgements; responsibility for one’s own emotional experience
• Shared power: collaborative and choiceful mindset and decision-making for both external and internal stakeholders (including clients, colleagues, board)
• Passionate about equitable community development with a career commitment to social justice and/or intersectional systems work
• Impeccable project and financial tracking and management skills

Note: This position is due to start in mid November, with multiple rounds of interviews prior.

Salary: $95,000.00 – $102,000.00 per year