Executive Director

What We Do

With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families.

Strategies We Pursue

• Equip talent in underinvested communities with the skills and credentials to compete successfully for quality income and wealth opportunities.
• Invest in businesses, housing and other community infrastructure to catalyze economic, health, safety and educational mobility for individuals and communities.
• Strengthen existing alliances while building new collaborations to increase our impact on the progress of people and places.
• Develop leadership and the capacity of partners to advance our work together.
• Drive local, regional, and national policy and system changes that foster broadly shared prosperity and well-being.

Since 1979, LISC and its affiliates have invested approximately $29.7 billion in businesses, affordable housing, health, educational mobility, community and recreational facilities, public safety, employment, and other projects that help to revitalize and stabilize underinvested communities. Headquartered in New York City, LISC’s reach spans the country from East coast to West coast in 38 markets with offices extending from Buffalo to San Francisco and in 2,400 rural counties across 49 states and Puerto Rico. Visit us at www.lisc.org

Position Description

The Executive Director will provide strategic direction and guidance for all aspects of LISC’s programs and investments in Kalamazoo. The Executive Director is responsible for raising capital and resources locally that are leveraged by National LISC’s support, and stewarding relationships with government, philanthropy, community and civic partners. The position requires a strong commitment to the role of community‐based non‐profit organizations as agents of positive community change as well as an understanding of and appreciation for other key public and private partners who can offer additional resources to the work of community development in Kalamazoo.

Responsibilities

Fundraising

• Strategically cultivate and steward a portfolio of existing, including philanthropy, financial institutions, corporations, and government with a particular emphasis on growing investments to accelerate efforts to close the racial wealth, health and opportunity gap.
• Identify and cultivate new and existing relationships and provide innovative strategic opportunities with foundations, and private and public partners committed to Kalamazoo and the community development ecosystem.
• Spearhead and achieve a million-dollar fundraising goal to ensure operational sustainability and meet the outcomes for programmatic work, including hosting an annual event and developing a communication strategy that elevates annual milestones.
• Manage the leadership of the Local Advisory Board and its committees to support the strategic direction of Kalamazoo’s program activities and projects and connect LISC to strategic opportunities.
• Implement the three-year strategic plan with oversight from the Market Excellence team.

Community Development Investment and Program Activity

• Oversee the growth of the Kalamazoo investment pipeline to support LISC’s comprehensive approach to equitable development by managing LISC lending activity, deploying existing resources, developing new loan products, and creatively leveraging available resources to expand impact with capital partners.
• Manage large, complex public-private partnerships and programs, including a Home Repair program and a housing fund. Work with government entities to provide technical assistance, innovative programs and problem-solving.
• Provide the overall leadership, strategic direction, and guidance for all aspects of LISC’s programs, including growing LISC’s presence in Kalamazoo externally and through strategic, targeted programs and investments.
• Manage engagement of a wide variety of community partners to help bring holistic and integrated services to targeted neighborhoods with stakeholders, such as local government, state agencies, other private and quasi‐public financial institutions and intermediaries, advocacy groups, and community‐based organizations.

• Implement a strategy for expanding workforce and economic stability.
• Develop key partnerships with public and private partners, including local and national CDFIs, other LISC teams and LISC affiliates.

Public Policy and Advocacy

• Provide leadership on housing and other community development policy issues in Kalamazoo.
• Advocate on behalf of LISC and the policy networks at the local, state and federal levels to secure the tools necessary to advance a comprehensive community development strategy.

Leadership and Management

• Lead a professional staff of three to carry out LISC’s strategy and operate its programs in a hybrid work environment. Provide professional development and training to the team.
• Manage the annual operating and program budgets, including reporting.
• Build and maintain positive work culture and relationships within national LISC.
• Participate and contribute in national LISC leadership structure and meetings.
• Bring visibility to local innovations and programs within the national LISC structure.
• Maximize the use of national LISC resources and expertise in Kalamazoo.

 Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (or the equivalent) from an accredited college or university, Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 12 years’ senior management level experience in community development, real estate, capital development and community revitalization.
• Experience in shaping affordable housing through development or lending.
• Demonstrated ability to attract and sustain philanthropic funding.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience speaking publicly in diverse forums.
• Demonstrated management experience, including staff development, financial management and program implementation.
• Demonstrated track record in providing leadership for the development and implementation of strategic vision.
• Ability to establish priorities that align with a strategic plan and manage agendas and programs effectively.
• Knowledge, understanding of, and experience in community development strategies, including working knowledge of real estate related resource and capital development strategies utilized in real estate and community revitalization efforts.
• Experience building relationships, networking and collaborating effectively with ethnically/culturally/socio‐economically diverse populations and community organizations.
• Knowledge of policy in housing; community development funding including grants, bond financing and debt, tax credit, equity, and tax increment incentives; economic development, including small business and workforce; and wealth‐building.
• Fluency using and understanding data to inform decision‐making.

Compensation

LISC offers a competitive salary ($122,400 - $153,000) and excellent fringe benefits.

*Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education, work location and other qualifications.

Our benefits include: 

Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage: Comprehensive health plans for you and your family's well-being; Disability Insurance: Long-term and short-term coverage for peace of mind; Retirement Savings: Secure your future with our 401(k) and 403(b) plans; Generous Holidays: Enjoy ample time off to recharge and celebrate; Vacation, PTO, and Sick Days: Take advantage of flexible time-off policies to maintain work-life balance; Tuition Assistance: Pursue your educational goals with support from our tuition assistance program; Referral Program: Earn rewards for referring qualified candidates to join our team; Professional Development Opportunities: Grow and advance in your career with access to ongoing training and development programs tailored to your goals.

LISC is an equal opportunity employer. LISC does not discriminate in employment on account of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military status or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

LISC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE