Executive Director, Oakland Planning And Development Corporation (Opdc)

The Opportunity

The new Executive Director will be a savvy and visionary leader who can help OPDC continue on a trajectory of growth and prosperity. Reporting to a Board of Directors, the Executive Director will provide overall leadership and administration for OPDC while being proactive in cultivating current and future funding streams. As the public face of OPDC, this new leader must have the ability to prioritize fostering and maintaining working relationships with a wide range of disparate stakeholders and view them as essential partners in OPDC’s work. Above all, the new Executive Director will be a self-starter with demonstrated commitment to the sustainability and growth of OPDC’s efforts in Oakland, representing the organization with integrity and exemplary interpersonal skills at all times.

The Executive Director will be primarily responsible for the following:

Leadership & Management

• Takes a comprehensive approach to investment and interest in Oakland and serves as a key voice in identifying and addressing shared concerns and opportunities.
• In conjunction with Board and Staff, establishes policies and develops plans and programs in order to meet organizational objectives and advance OPDC’s mission.
• Oversees all programmatic areas: community Planning and Development, community organizing, cleaning/greening initiatives, property management, and real estate development, with an emphasis on affordable housing.
• Promotes an effective and responsible organizational culture that is in line with the Board’s strategic goals and organizational values.
• Defines and directs organizational procedures and staff responsibilities and ensures that work is appropriately coordinated across departments.  Assigns and delegates responsibilities to staff members as needed.
• Manages the Staff with transparency and respect, creating a workplace that is professional and positive. Engages employees in strategic discussions and empowers them to work autonomously.
• Analyzes operations to evaluate organizational and staff performance and to identify areas for improvement and increased efficiency. Conducts periodic and annual performance reviews of staff members, including regularly updated plans for staff development.
• Reviews the organization’s financial statements and activities and reports up-to-date financials to the Board and funders to ensure that OPDC’s goals are being met and that the organization is utilizing resources appropriately and in keeping with the public trust.

Community Relations & Development

• Serves as the primary liaison with funders, relevant government entities, residents, businesses, community organizations, and institutional stakeholders as well as chief spokesperson and advocate for OPDC in the community.
• Consults regularly with Oakland residents, businesses, community organizations, and institutional and government stakeholders to assess needs and to address them in accordance with OPDC’s mission.
• Actively and creatively builds partnerships with other organizations and institutions to advance OPDC’s mission.
• Maintains OPDC’s excellent relationships with existing philanthropic and government funders and works to identify and develop new sources of support.  Supervises staff members in writing funding proposals and reports on the use of grant funds received. 
• Develops an impact narrative of OPDC and finds venues to tell that story. Ensures messaging is cohesive and impactful.

Board Relations

• Develops, maintains, and supports a high-performing and passionate Board of Directors.
• Provides on-going education to the Board of Directors on emerging issues and unmet needs.
• Generates and tracks metrics that monitor the performance of the organization with respect to the mission and key objectives of the organization.
• Provides leadership in developing organizational, program, and financial plans with the Board of Directors and carries out plans and policies authorized by the Board.
• Prepares and presents mission and programmatic information at each meeting to ensure Board understanding of the work and people associated with the organization.

The new Executive Director must be a master collaborator and a strategic thinker with a vision for Oakland’s future in delivering extraordinary services to its residents. Passionate about forging connections and knowledgeable about community development, this individual must take personal responsibility for driving the organization’s success, demonstrating a high level of ownership for results. Strong fundraising acumen is required to raise the capital needed to continue OPDC’s robust program portfolio, but also needed is a deep understanding of how to finance and develop affordable housing—how to use debt, subsidy, potential tax credits, and other types of financing to make projects cash flow and break even. 

All candidates should have exceptional and proven nonprofit management, leadership, relationship management, and resource development experience, as well as possess a combination of the following skills and attributes:

• Passion for and commitment to OPDC’s mission and vision as well as the residents served.
• Experience leading mission-driven real estate development.
• Educational background that supports the required skills and competencies. 
• Superior negotiation skills and an ability to promote OPDC’s mission among competing interests, including structuring effective Community Benefits Agreements with for-profit developers and large institutions.
• Ability to understand the complexities of affordable housing development at a variety of scales and densities, including its financing, associated funding sources, and potential avenues of collaboration with other organizations.
• Past success working collaboratively with partners, including but not limited to corporate and business leaders, philanthropic leaders, like-minded organizational partners, and a Board of Directors.
• A successful track record with fundraising from diverse sources.
• Successful record of accomplishment with creating and maintaining relationships with funders and community institutions.
• Demonstrated success in creating and promoting a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace environment. Working style that is transparent, encouraging, and collaborative.
• Experience and confidence with public speaking before a wide range of professionals and community audiences.
• Exemplary interpersonal skills including strong verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Advanced strategy and planning skills; demonstrated success with program development.
• Strong cultural competency with deep experience working with diverse populations.

In the near term, the new Executive Director will continue to deliver outstanding outcomes while successfully addressing the following in the first 6-12 months:

• Become immersed in the programs and people of OPDC to fully understand the breadth and depth of programming the organization as it currently stands.
• Review and analyze fundraising and Development plans in order to explore and maximize opportunities with additional and diverse sources of revenue.
• Evaluate the organization’s current strategic plan and use it to inform collaborative goal and vision setting with Staff.  

This position offers a competitive salary range of $100,000 and a progressive benefits package. 

OPDC seeks to recruit candidates for employment that represent our diverse community in race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and ability. Inclusive and equitable in our recruitment and retention practices, we are dedicated to uplifting diverse opinions and backgrounds in order to grow and evolve as a welcoming workplace for all.

OPDC is an anti-racism organization. We strive to create an environment where all our employees and community members are valued, regardless of their race, skin color, immigration status, or faith. We recognize that as a community development organization, we must be willing to identify and have uncomfortable dialogue about the systems of oppression that challenge us in all areas of our work.

OPDC has retained Nonprofit Talent to assist with this important organizational change process. Specific questions related to the position may be emailed to Michelle Pagano Heck, President, at Michelle@NonprofitTalent.com. Please direct all inquiries related to this position to Nonprofit Talent, and do not contact OPDC.

Resume, position-specific cover letter, and salary expectations can be uploaded via this portal. 

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 5PM ON February 12th, 2024

About Nonprofit Talent

Nonprofit Talent is a boutique executive search firm with a deep understanding of the nuanced cultural and financial landscape of the nonprofit and philanthropic community. We know the organizations and the people that commit to the sector. Our candidates, through regional and targeted national recruitment, frequently come from the same communities as our clients. We firmly believe in uplifting the extraordinary talent of our region in addition to seeking out new and vibrant talent through national networks.

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