Executive Director

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Founded in 1998, Openhouse is a service provider for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ (2SLGBTQIA+) adults and a leader in pioneering innovative models for older adult care and services.

With the mission of empowering San Francisco 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults to overcome the unique challenges they face as they age by providing housing, direct services and vital community programs, Openhouse serves over 3,700 community members annually. We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment to encourage and support community members to share diverse perspectives and identities to foster meaningful community engagement. Openhouse’s approach is to create a safe and welcoming space for all Queer older adults to be independent while surrounded by a community of care. At Openhouse, everyone belongs and is a community member.

The Board of Directors is seeking a visionary and mission-driven Executive Director to lead Openhouse. The Executive Director will:

• Be a strategic leader with a deep passion for Openhouse’s mission and services.
• Demonstrate a commitment to addressing the unique needs of San Francisco older adults, particularly in the areas of aging services, community services, and housing.
• Bring a blend of emotional intelligence, racial equity commitment, and nonprofit leadership acumen.
• Champion innovation, increase community impact, and deepen key community and stakeholder partnerships.
• Leverage the organization’s respected history, reputation, and standing in the San Francisco community.
• Continue to advance our mission and advocate for the things that matter to the people who count on us.

At a time of rising social polarization and threats to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, Openhouse stands at a pivotal moment. The next Executive Director will lead a dynamic, evolving organization, championing the rights and well-being of community members while navigating the challenges and opportunities for the community we serve.

ABOUT OPENHOUSE

Openhouse’s mission has remained the same since our inception: to create a safe and accepting space for our community.

Openhouse has become a leader and a pioneering agency that continues to lead the Bay Area and inform the national 2SLGBTQIA+ movement and aging sector on culturally responsive aging services. We work to create an environment in which community members know they are welcome, celebrated, respected, and - above all - accepted for who they are.

We provide an innovative suite of programs and services to foster connection and dignity, and as a result, reduce isolation and empower our community to improve their overall health, well-being, and economic security. Our programs include:

• Support Services – We connect our San Francisco Bay Area community with timely information about housing and services and support in navigating them.
• Community Engagement – We organize hundreds of hours of intellectually stimulating activities each month that bring community members together to meet, socialize, and learn together.
• Training and Transformation – Using an intersectional lens to educate participants on the life experiences, health disparities, and barriers to care affecting our community, our trainings provide service providers with tools to provide adequate and comprehensive support to community members.
• Culture of Care Training Series – As a leader in working with Queer older adults, we developed a Culture of Care training series to give caregivers the tools they need to care for their clients with dignity, understanding, and compassion.

We have developed deep partnerships with leaders in the field of aging. We partner with leading organizations like Mercy Housing to increase access to affordable housing and joined forces with On Lok to co-design the nation’s first community-based adult day program for and with the community. Openhouse is also a respected advocacy voice on behalf of our community at San Francisco City Hall, in the California state capitol, and among national funders, policy makers, and aging services providers.

THE OPPORTUNITY AND ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Openhouse’s next Executive Director will join a diverse, mission-driven team at an important inflection point for the 2SLGBTQIA+ older adult community. Working closely with the Board of Directors and Openhouse’s dedicated, experienced staff, the Executive Director can expect to engage with the following opportunities:

Provide strategic vision and leadership. Openhouse is poised to build on our momentum as we evolve to meet the moment. The next Executive Director will provide strategic direction and visionary leadership to enable us to achieve our vision. They will have an established track record of leading teams with compassion, cooperation, and confidence that inspires others to move forward together. They will collaborate with the Board, staff, and other key stakeholders to create a unifying, actionable plan for sustained impact.

Be an exceptional ambassador and relationship builder. The Executive Director will serve as the primary spokesperson for Openhouse, demonstrating exceptional emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and cultural competency. They will be highly collaborative and will strategically and intentionally cultivate partnerships with Openhouse donors, local government representatives in San Francisco, state government officials, policy makers, elected officials, community leaders, and other community-based organizations. The Executive Director will develop and implement a strategic communications plan to elevate the visibility of our work and ensure that our mission, vision, and goals are effectively communicated.

As the Queer population in San Francisco ages, the Executive Director will amplify opportunities for community engagement and support to address ongoing disparities and the unmet needs of this population.

Foster a cohesive, engaged, and impactful team. The team at Openhouse is deeply committed to the community of people we serve. The Executive Director will lead a team of forty-six and manage four direct reports: the Deputy Director, the Director of Finance & Operations, the Director of Development, and the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. The Executive Director will report to the Openhouse Board of Directors, currently comprised of a diverse group of San Francisco Bay Area community leaders.

The Executive Director will be an effective leader and cultivator of talent, leading our high-performing team to achieve our goals. They will foster a positive and inclusive internal culture that values collaboration, transparency, and equity. They will inspire trust and confidence in the team by actively listening to and understanding their needs, aspirations, and challenges, and work with leadership to strengthen policies and processes in alignment with Openhouse’s values. They will be a deft mentor and coach, skilled at developing leaders, fostering growth opportunities, and ensuring that staff members are empowered to fulfill our mission.

Champion strong financial stewardship and sustainable growth. The Executive Director will possess strong financial acumen and experience to ensure the long term fiscal health of the organization. They will have a deep understanding of nonprofit financial operations and will work closely with the Directors and the Board to oversee the organization’s financial health, budgeting, and investments.

Strengthen fund development capacity. The Executive Director will cultivate a culture of philanthropy and fundraising, listening deeply and speaking persuasively to a wide range of stakeholders. They will lead resource development efforts and will be an experienced fundraiser with a track record of new donor cultivation, successful retention of supporters, and capital campaigns. The Executive Director will focus on diversifying Openhouse’s revenue streams and will ensure that we have robust fund development capacity and systems in place to support the organization.

Partner effectively with the Board of Directors to advance Openhouse’s mission. The Executive Director will develop and maintain a strong relationship with the Board, characterized by respect, trust, transparency, and clear communication. They will collaborate with the Board on fundraising, board recruitment, and the implementation of a strategic plan to ensure strategic oversight and sound governance practices.

Be a strong advocate for justice, equity, diversity & inclusion. The Executive Director will be a passionate champion for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) both within Openhouse and in our engagement with the community. They will actively work to create an inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members feel respected and supported. They will work with staff to develop and implement policies and practices that promote belonging and ensure that equity impact assessments and other tools are used to continuously advance Openhouse’s JEDI principles.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Openhouse’s next Executive Director will be an experienced and innovative leader with deep knowledge and a passion for the aging San Francisco Queer community. They will possess leadership skills that align with the organization’s values.

Openhouse strives for 2SLGBTQIA+ diversity in its staff, and we invite applications from people from a variety of backgrounds. We encourage candidates to apply if you feel you possess any strong combination of qualities, skills, and professional and lived experience that would be relevant to the role. While no candidate will embody all the qualifications set forth below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal competencies, attributes, and experience:

• An inspiring and dedicated leader – A visionary leader with at least eight to ten years of senior leadership experience and a record of executive leadership in a non-profit organization, a California-based or national philanthropic organization, or a convening organization focused on aging adults, community, or housing.
• Demonstrated commitment to Openhouse’s mission – Unwavering focus on the well-being of Openhouse’s community members, with the ability to build partnerships, secure resources, and advocate for policies that address the needs of the community.
• A compassionate, effective leader of teams – Demonstrated commitment to fostering a healthy organizational culture while holding decision-making authority. Experience uniting staff in pursuit of a shared vision and goals and providing feedback and opportunities for professional development for all staff members.
• An exceptional communicator and effective ambassador – Demonstrated success, internally and externally, as a collaborator who can employ exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills to earn trust with a range of audiences. A dynamic and persuasive public speaker.
• A skilled and innovative fundraiser with a strong fund development track record – Demonstrated ability to build long term fund development plans and cultivate strong, sustained donor relationships.
• A strategic and disciplined financial leader – Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit finances, building sustainable revenue models, and leveraging business strategy and philanthropic best practices to drive impact.
• A track record of successfully navigating complex organizational challenges in a growth environment and managing change with grace, using an equity lens.
• Deeply committed to the values of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and overall values alignment with Openhouse – Demonstrated commitment to addressing racial inequities in aging, housing, and healthcare, and an understanding of how systemic barriers impact Queer people of color, especially older adults.
• A savvy navigator of the San Francisco political and policy landscape – Demonstrated ability to engage strategically and effectively with elected officials, policymakers and key influencers to advance our interests in the public sector.
• An effective partner to the Board – Experience partnering with a Board of Directors to ensure transparency and accountability in organizational governance, fiscal oversight, compliance, and planning for current and future leadership needs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Full COVID vaccination required.