Job Description

Executive Director

LINK Houston’s vision is to create a city where all Houstonians have the freedom of mobility to access the opportunities their vibrant city offers. LINK Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for a robust and equitable transportation network so that all people can reach opportunity. To make that vision a reality, the organization supports transformative and inclusive policies, systems, initiatives, and infrastructure development that connect people to opportunity by transit, walking, rolling, and biking. LINK Houston moves ideas into action through community engagement, research, and shaping public policy, and holds the values of equity, inclusivity, independence, health and respect at its core.

LINK Houston works toward an integrated and holistic approach around transportation equity and access to opportunity. More specifically, racial equity and climate justice serve as anchoring elements in how the organization advances its strategy.

For more information on LINK Houston, please visit https://linkhouston.org/.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting time for LINK Houston as it represents an opportunity to leverage Houston’s moment on the national stage. With plenty of momentum and community support, as well as a healthy financial picture, LINK Houston offers its new leader a chance to shape urban futures in Houston, Texas, and the nation. LINK Houston is poised for a new leader to guide the organization to new levels of reach and impact.

LINK Houston seeks an Executive Director who embraces a clear understanding of community involvement, coalition building, and grassroots organizing.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Work with the Board and staff to plan, develop, and implement initiatives and strategies that further LINK Houston’s mission;
• Work with the Board President to leverage the expertise and enthusiasm of the Board of Directors and Board Committees;
• Manage staff to ensure effective operations and coordination of initiatives;
• Lead all operational functions of the organization, including Human Resources, Financial/Accounting, Communications, while delegating to staff and engaging contract support, as appropriate;
• Establish and maintain a well-balanced work environment including, but not limited to, ensuring collaboration between staff, human resources policies that reflect LINK Houston’s principles and values, and opportunities for staff development;
• Provide leadership and motivate others (staff, board, volunteers, etc.) in the framework of a collaborative team environment.

Advocacy and Program Management

• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of policy priorities and strategy using a variety of tools: public engagement and community organizing, social and traditional media strategies, issue framing and actual lobbying (as allowed by law);
• Oversee advocacy initiatives related to the actions of local, state, and federal agencies (for example, permit review, comment preparation, presenting hearing testimony, organizing grassroots advocacy efforts);
• Lead staff in coalition building efforts and maintain key relationships with partner organizations, including positioning the organization strategically with policymakers and other influencers;
• Develop and advance LINK Houston’s regional priorities by coordinating with staff and partners to research and write comments on local, state, and federal policy and regulatory items.

Community and Public Relations

• Serve as the leader in sustaining existing and building new relationships with community organizations (for example, civic groups, housing, transportation, civil rights, etc.) and government and business leaders;
• Build relationships and engage with community members/leaders in campaign development and identifying transportation concerns;
• In partnership with staff and community partners, maintain an active awareness of all relevant transportation issues in LINK Houston’s strategic priority areas.

Fund Development and Financial Management

• Serve as chief fundraiser for the organization; this includes serving as the “face” and key messenger of fundraising activities as appropriate; overseeing the work of the Director of Development; overseeing grant writing and/or overseeing proposals developed by staff and with staff; overseeing current and future grant identification, writing, and reporting requirements; and overseeing the solicitation of sponsorships for events and the cultivation of individual donors, including major donors;
• Work with the Board and staff to develop the annual budget and monitor finances; the Executive Director will hold ultimate accountability for the fiscal integrity of the organization, including ensuring solid accounting practices;
• Work with the Board and staff to develop an annual fundraising plan to meet budgetary needs.

Public Communication

• Work with staff and Board to identify opportunities to raise community awareness of LINK Houston through communication and outreach efforts; seek out and maximize opportunities to speak and/or table at a variety of venues, such as local events, public meetings, workshops, panel discussions, universities, etc.;
• In collaboration with staff, oversee the creation of content for the LINK Houston website, social media channels, action alerts, supporter communication, and other public-facing communication;
• Represent the strategic priorities and values of the organization in news media interviews, op-eds, and other press events.

Candidate Profile

The Executive Director will be a passionate leader with practical and substantive experience in economic, racial, and social justice community-based movements. They will have a proven track record in strategic development of policy and coalitions, advocacy, fund development, strategic relationship building, and providing financial oversight of the organization. The Executive Director will be committed to the principles of anti-racism and anti-oppression to help further the organization’s commitment to social justice.

Specifically, ideal candidates will bring most if not all of the following professional and personal
qualities, skills, and characteristics to the position of Executive Director:

Passion for the Mission: The Executive Director will be a visionary for the future of Houston, with an understanding of how transportation and mobility intersect with other issues – housing, neighborhoods, land use, recreation, climate justice – that can make cities great places to live. The Executive Director will have experience centering equity in work with various partners, funders, government officials and agencies, and community members to drive systemic change.
Leadership: The Executive Director will be a leader known for honesty, strong diplomacy, and for being an engaged and active listener. Politically astute and with the integrity and persistence to drive progress forward through collaboration and dedication, the Executive Director will be a colleague and resource to all partners and supporters while managing multiple priorities.
Policy-Making: The Executive Director will be a strong advocate who has government affairs or advocacy skills to engage with elected officials and agency staff members, and a willingness to work with governmental entities as well as courageously press for changes in policy. They will be an expert in effecting transformative policy and systems-change initiatives.
Organizational Management: A proven leader with an entrepreneurial spirit, the Executive Director will have experience in strategic planning, organizational development, budget, fiscal, and team management, and the ability to work effectively with an active Board of Directors and lead a diverse and talented staff. This leader will possess the management acumen, supervisory experience and financial skills needed to direct the operations of LINK Houston, and to act on new opportunities.
Fundraising and Communication: The Executive Director will have excellent communication skills and be able to articulate LINK Houston’s mission and work in a clear and inspirational way to a wide range of audiences to develop needed resources for the organization.
Relationship Building: A natural and deliberate consensus-builder, the Executive Director will be skilled at building and sustaining excellent relationships across staff, the Board of Directors, community partners, funders, and government officials and agencies. The Executive Director will communicate effectively and with integrity to a broad group of stakeholders.

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation for this position is between $130,000 – $160,000, plus benefits including group healthcare, negotiable flex hours, paid holidays and leave, and an IRA/simple retirement. This is a full-time, at-will, exempt position. Salary depends on qualifications and experience.

Contact

The key point of contact for the search is Amanda Timm, Board Chair of LINK Houston.
To express your interest in this role please submit your cover letter and resume via email to: jobs@linkhouston.org
All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

LINK Houston is an equal opportunity employer which values people of all experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, and strives to cultivate leadership from the ground up. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, genetic information, and marital or familial status. LINK Houston strongly encourages people with lived experiences in the communities they serve to apply.