Executive Director, Worcester Common Ground

Worcester Common Ground Seeks Executive Director

Worcester Common Ground (WCG) seeks a community-centered entrepreneurial and dynamic Executive Director to lead one of Central Massachusetts most respected community development organizations.

The Organization

WCG is a trusted neighborhood anchor deeply rooted in the Piedmont neighborhood and surrounding communities. Since its founding in 1988 by neighborhood residents who recognized the urgent need for community-driven revitalization and equitable development in Central Worcester resident leadership and decision-making have remained fundamental to its mission governance structure and daily practice. It has earned a reputation for authentic partnership and unwavering commitment to neighborhood stability and opportunity.

The organizations work includes affordable rental housing a community land trust model that preserves long-term affordability first-time homeownership programs neighborhood revitalization initiatives resident engagement activities community gardens youth programming and leadership development. WCG first became a Community Land Trust prior to becoming a CDC in 1988. By using the unique Community Land Trust model WCG provides stewardship of Land Trust holdings to preserve scarce affordable housing and community resources and create innovative safe and secure housing opportunities for lower-income community members.

One of WCGs greatest strengths is the trust it has built with residents tenants homeowners community partners funders and neighborhood stakeholders. The organization is widely recognized as a collaborative mission-driven and deeply community-rooted institution whose work is grounded in dignity respect and authentic engagement.

WCG is governed by a board of five local professionals and neighborhood residents and employs six staff who are hardworking and deeply committed to the communitys revitalization. Its annual operating budget is approximately $1.3M and it holds $16M in assets.

The Opportunity

The next Executive Director will assume leadership of a financially stable and highly regarded organization at an important moment in its evolution. Building upon the strong foundation of community trust and impact created by WCGs current leader of 25 years the next executive will have the opportunity to:

Preserve and Build Upon Community Trust

WCGs reputation and effectiveness are rooted in decades of relationship-building with residents and community partners. It is critical to honor and preserve this culture while helping WCG evolve to meet changing community needs.

Lead a Complex Housing and Development Portfolio

WCG currently manages a substantial portfolio of housing and community development activities. Three development projects are underway all in partnership with others for funding and resident support: WCG is rehabilitating 16 buildings across 10 sites under the WCG HOMES initiative; it is refinancing and renovating 46 LIHTC units at 9 May Street; and developing the Austin Corridor II project involving six building sites with 20 units. Over the past three years WCG has developed four homes for families earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income. Currently three condominiums are under construction. Simultaneously WCG continues to research potential redevelopment properties to expand the supply of affordable housing balancing community needs with organizational capacity.

Strengthen Organizational Staffing Capacity

WCG operates with a lean staffing structure and a couple key positions are vacant. The next leader will assess and hire staff appropriate for the needs of the organization build their capacity and integrate them into the new team.

Diversify Revenue and Enhance Financial Sustainability

The organizations future success will require continued financial discipline and strategic revenue diversification. This includes maintaining a development pipeline in a catchment area with limited large scale building options philanthropic support relationships with lenders and investors and expanded institutional and community partnerships.

Clarify and Advance Strategic Priorities

WCGs current strategic plan includes more affordable housing development homeownership initiatives resident support and leadership programs advocacy and expanded property management. The next Executive Director will work with the Board staff residents and community partners to revisit and shape a clear and compelling vision for the future while being nimble to immediate compelling opportunities.

Navigate a Changing Community Landscape

As Worcester continues to experience growth investment and redevelopment WCG is uniquely positioned to help ensure that long-term residents benefit from the citys progress. The next Executive Director will help balance neighborhood revitalization with affordability equity and community stability and play an advocacy role in educating funders and policy makers on the needs and approaches to housing resilience and economic growth.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will combine technical expertise in housing and community development with exceptional leadership relationship-building and management skills. Qualified candidates will bring many of the following experiences and attributes:

• A genuine commitment to neighborhood-based community development. This may be evidenced by executive or senior leadership experience within an organization focused on affordable housing community development real estate development property management housing finance asset management or related fields.
• Demonstrated strong financial management expertise including budgeting forecasting audits compliance and organizational oversight.
• Experience securing funding through development projects philanthropy government sources lending institutions investors and strategic partnerships.
• Entrepreneurial adaptable and opportunistic with strategic thinking acumen.
• Experience leading empowering and developing teams building organizational capacity delegating effectively and managing organizational growth.
• Success working with a diverse set of stakeholders: boards of directors community stakeholders public officials funders residents and tenants and community partners.

• Authentic approachable collaborative and relationship-oriented.
• Politically astute and comfortable navigating complexity and competing priorities. Resilient and calm under pressure.
• Highly operational and hands-on with a dynamic hard-working attitude.
• Respect for diverse communities and lived experiences with experiences with equity resident leadership and community empowerment. Candidates who have worked with immigrant communities and multilingual populations including Spanish-language proficiency and/or who are familiar with WCGs catchment area are especially encouraged to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time place-based salaried exempt position with a salary range of $120000 - $130000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

WCG offers the following benefits package:

• 10 Vacation days with more accrued for years worked
• 3 Personal Days
• 40 hours of sick time per calendar year
• 12 paid holidays & 1 floating holiday
• MA Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
• 3 bereavement days
• 100% contribution toward individual and family health dental and vision.
• Life insurance - Accidental Death & Dismemberment / Life Insurance (equal to annual salary)
• Short and long term disabilities insurance
• IRA savings plan with optional 2% employer contribution

It is the policy of WCG to grant equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race color sex age national origin religion physical or mental disability sexual orientation or membership in the uniformed services. It is the intent and desire of WCG that equal employment opportunity will be provided in employment promotion wages benefits and all other privileges terms and conditions of employment.

WCG will provide reasonable accommodation for the known physical or mental limitations of qualified applicants/employees with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position held or applied for and to enjoy equal benefits of employment unless such accommodation would impose an undue hardship on WCG.

Application Process

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter both in PDF format which describe how your qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of the WCG. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. A background check will be required for finalists. Upload required documents to: executive search is being conducted by Eos Transition Partners consultant Nancy Jackson. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential and any questions can be submitted to Nancy Jackson ().

Required Experience:

Director