Position Title: Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Position: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Salary: $65,000 with a health stipend and generous PTO

About The Neighborhood Center of the United Methodist Church

The Neighborhood Center of the United Methodist Church has been a beacon of support and empowerment in the Harrisburg community since 1910. Their mission is to provide vital resources, programs, and services that enhance the well-being and development of individuals and families.

The Neighborhood Center has offered diverse services, including child care, educational programs, health and wellness initiatives, and community engagement activities. Their innovative approaches to addressing community needs include the establishment of the first kindergarten for African-American children in Harrisburg and the creating of pioneering programs for children with physical and learning disabilities, which have been models for the Harrisburg School District.

At The Neighborhood Center, there is a dedicated commitment to building lives, fostering a better community, and creating a stronger Harrisburg. Joining their mission means making a lasting impact on many lives.

The Role

The Executive Director (ED) serves in a full-time capacity for The Neighborhood Center of the United Methodist Church, Inc. The ED is entrusted with ensuring that the Center operates in a manner consistent with Christian faith, aligns with the Center's mission statement, and adheres to all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. The ED is accountable to the Board of Directors, works collaboratively with them, and reports directly to the President of the Board of Directors.

This pivotal role encompasses a broad range of responsibilities, including:

• Strategic Vision and Leadership: Guiding the Center’s vision and strategy to fulfill its mission effectively.
• Fundraising and Financial Management: Ensuring the financial health of the Center, which operates on a $400K budget, through meticulous planning and oversight, including driving initiatives to secure funding and resources essential for the Center’s sustainability and growth.
• Program Management: Participate in the delivery of and oversee the creation, execution, and evaluation of programs that address community needs. 
• Community Building: Fostering strong relationships within the community and with key stakeholders.
• Operations: Managing a team and day-to-day operations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

Join The Neighborhood Center in this leadership role and be a part of a legacy that continues to make a lasting impact on the Harrisburg community.

Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Leadership (20%):

• Set a compelling vision for The Neighborhood Center, inspiring and motivating staff, volunteers, and the community towards shared goals.
• Lead the creation and execution of strategic plans that align with the Center’s mission, utilizing data-driven decision-making to identify growth opportunities.
• Cultivate an environment that values diversity, promotes teamwork, and encourages innovation and excellence.

Fundraising and Financial Management(25%):

• Collaborate with the Treasurer to manage the Center’s financial health, ensuring accurate reporting, budgeting, and regulatory compliance.
• Create and implement strategies to secure diverse funding sources. Identify potential grants, donations, and sponsorships. Craft compelling proposals and maintain detailed records. Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and service organizations.
• Prepare accurate and timely analyses that capture and communicate fundraising results, variances, and performance trends.

Program Management (25%):

• Design and implement programmatic initiatives responsive to community needs.
• Oversee and/or administer meal planning and preparation, transportation, and overall program planning. 
• Ensure the delivery and oversight of day-to-day operations, ensuring effective and efficient management of programs and services, including administering the facility’s program objectives and activities.
• Ensure licensed childcare programs operate in compliance with all applicable laws, including ensuring all staff have required clearances and safe sanctuary training.
• Designate a staff person responsible for compliance with PA Code Title 55, Chapter 3270 in the Director’s absence.
• Coordinate and plan daily activities with group supervisors or assistant group supervisors in school-age programs.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement (15%):

• Serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the Neighborhood Center.
• Cultivate strong relationships with community members, donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Foster and sustain strong relationships with the United Methodist Church (UMC) and its conference, ensuring alignment with the UMC's mission and representing the Neighborhood Center UMC at church, community, GBGM, UWF, and Susquehanna Conference functions.

Facility Operations and Human Resource Management (15%):

• Assess the building and grounds with the Board and implement a maintenance plan.
• Oversees and reports on the organization's results for the board of directors on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. 
• Develop and implement a talent and staff development plan to meet ongoing organizational needs, and review personnel policies as necessary.
• Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing team of staff and volunteers.
• Ensure regular performance evaluations and compliance with personnel policies.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in human service, social service, education, business, communications, theology, or humanities, or 
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in
• Human service, social service, education, business, communications, theology, or humanities, plus three years of experience in program, personnel, or administration, or 
• Early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or the human services field, plus one year of experience with children, or 
• with 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or the human services field, plus two years of experience with children, or 
• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or the human services field, plus three years of experience with children.

Skills and Expertise

• Demonstrated experience delivering and overseeing high-quality child care and/or early child care education programs
• Demonstrated experience working in a diverse multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and ability to lead and implement diverse fundraising efforts, including grant writing, corporate partnerships, and donor engagement.
• Experience conducting community-based needs assessments,  strategic planning, and successful execution.
• Experience in the successful design, implementation, and oversight of community-responsive programming.
• Adept at running daily operations, building teams, and managing finances, including facility upkeep.
• Proven lifelong learner who thrives in dynamic environments, and has experience bringing innovative solutions to rebuild, revitalize, and renew organizations.

Additional Requirements

• Must fulfill Pennsylvania Child Care Center Director qualifications and responsibilities as specified in PA Code Title 55, Chapter 3270.
• A health assessment as defined in 55 PA Code 3270.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Clear FBI fingerprint clearance, Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, and National Sex Offender Registry Verification.

The Neighborhood Center has engaged Charity Search Group to manage the recruitment process for this position. To apply, kindly submit your application through the provided link. For inquiries or accommodation needs during the application process, please reach out to Angela-Jo Touza Medina at [email protected] or visit www.charitysearchgroup.com.

The Neighborhood Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.