Are you highly collaborative and purposeful about promoting inclusivity? Are you a courageous leader who puts people first? If so, you may be the next Executive Director of Paws and Stripes!

Job Title: Executive Director

Reports To: Board of Directors

Position Type: Full-time, Exempt

Salary Range: $85,000 – $100,000 DOE

Paws and Stripes is an Albuquerque-based non-profit, providing animal-assisted therapy and other mental health services to military veterans and their loved ones living with service-connected trauma.

Since their humble beginnings, Paws and Stripes has provided support services to veterans with PTSD, brain injuries, and other disabilities. They pair shelter dogs with clients to be trained as service dogs and have integrated mental health services to be the heart of their programming. Services have widely expanded in recent years to include a Companion Animal Program, community outreach and education for suicide prevention, and many options for individual and group therapy services.

Paws and Stripes relentlessly pursues continuous improvement and excellence in programs, processes, and services. The team is dedicated to acting with integrity and high ethical standards, fostering inclusivity and acceptance of others,

demonstrating perseverance and resilience, cooperating and communicating clearly with team members and clients, and embracing and celebrating each individual’s authentic and unique strengths.

Purpose: The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership and administration of Paws and Stripes. The role is multi-faceted with responsibilities that include overseeing programs, strategic planning, fundraising, community outreach, employee development, and more. The Executive Director works collaboratively with the internal leadership team and reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Board Governance:

• Works with the board of directors to fulfill the mission through programs, strategic planning, fundraising, community outreach, and long-term sustainability

• Supports the board of directors in fulfilling its fiduciary and oversight responsibilities; provides a proposed annual budget ($1.7 million) and monthly financial statements, supports board development, attends committee meetings, etc.

• Collaborates and seeks input on strategic decisions and governance matters; provides regular updates and communications

Financial Performance and Viability:

• Responsible for managing the organization's finances and fiscal integrity, including budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting

• Ensures the organization operates within its approved budget, complies with financial regulations and best practices, and ensures maximum resource utilization

• Responsible for fundraising and acquiring resources necessary to support the mission and ensure the financial health of the organization

Executive Leadership and Strategy:

• Leads Paws and Stripes and ensures all activities align with the Paws and Stripes mission and core values

• Provides vision, direction, and guidance to staff, volunteers, and stakeholders

• Responsible for the oversight and implementation of the strategic plan and objectives; setting goals, identifying priorities, and allocating resources effectively

• Collaborates with the staff to ensure the mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning, fundraising, and community outreach efforts

Staffing and Human Resources:

• Cultivates and ensures a positive, respectful, and inclusive environment for staff, clients, and stakeholders

• Oversees the recruitment and hiring of competent and qualified staff members

• Leads, motivates, develops, and oversees a dedicated staff of 20

• Establishes employment and administrative policies and procedures to include oversight and adherence of federal, state, and local employment and compliance regulations

Programs and Operations:

• Oversees the administration, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services to ensure the advancement of the mission, the needs of the community are met, and desired outcomes are achieved

• Oversees the utilization of resources to ensure effectiveness and efficiencies of operations

• Explores and considers new opportunities, innovations, and/or solutions to support or expand programs

• Responsible for signing all contracts, notes, agreements, etc. on behalf of the organization

Fundraising, Development & Community Outreach:

• Serves as the primary spokesperson and represents Paws and Stripes to the public, media, and other stakeholders; is an active and visible member of the community

• Builds authentic partnerships and works closely with other professional, civic, nonprofit, and private organizations, especially veteran service organizations

• Cultivates relationships with donors and community partners, supports grant writing/management, fundraising events, and helps to develop additional strategies to secure funding

Additional Job Functions:

• Embeds Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all aspects of the organization; stands against injustices and inequality

• Maintains and fosters Paws and Stripes’ distinctive culture; celebrates individual strengths, prioritizes teamwork, embraces humor and vulnerability, and recognizes that self-care is essential

• Oversees marketing and communications strategies and efforts with the support of the Development team

• Other duties as assigned

   

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A passion for and commitment to the Paws and Stripes mission and the clients served

• A bachelor’s degree (human/social services, public administration, business, or nonprofit management preferred) OR 7+ years of senior nonprofit leadership experience

• Ability to lead, collaborate with, and inspire a diverse group of employees

• Courageous, transparent, and high integrity leadership

• Solid, hands-on budget management skills; budget preparation, analysis, decision-making, and reporting

• Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation

• Ability to convey a vision of Paws and Stripes’ strategic future to staff, board, volunteers, and donors

• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor relations unique to the nonprofit sector

• Ability to collaborate with and motivate board members, staff, and volunteers

• Ability to create authentic relationships built on respect and trust

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills including strong public speaking ability

• Strong critical thinking and conflict management skills

• Resiliency and emotional maturity to navigate challenges, make hard decisions, bounce back from setbacks, and defuse difficult situations

• Appreciates the value of teamwork and a growth mindset

• Strong planning and project management skills

• Independent self-starter with positive problem-solver attitude

• Strong familiarity and proficiency utilizing Mac/Apple products (macOS, iOS apps, and hardware devices), Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, SharePoint, Teams, OneNote), donor management

  software programs, and Quickbooks

• All offers of employment with Paws and Stripes are contingent upon a successful and clear background check

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity and/or experience with the armed forces, military culture, and/or veteran services

• Background and/or experience with mental/behavioral health services, trauma informed therapies, and

  alternative treatments or solutions

• Knowledge of and experience working with databases and software systems – Gusto, CharityTracker, and 15five

  Performance Management

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical requirements and work environment described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must like dogs and people - daily exposure to dogs and people in the office environment should be expected

• Work is performed in a highly active environment with exposure to a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a diverse employee and client population

• Work is performed at a desk/computer screen for extended periods of time in a traditional office environment

• This position requires the manual dexterity to operate phones, computers, and other office equipment

• Position may require the occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds

Paws and Stripes Benefits:

Paws and Stripes provides employees with a generous benefits package which may include 100% paid employee health insurance (medical/dental/Rx/vision), partial paid family benefits (to include domestic partners), a 401(K)-retirement plan with 2% matching, and cell phone/vehicle use reimbursement (as applicable). Winter holiday paid week off, employee assistance program, paid holidays throughout the year, paid time off, and paid parental leave benefits are designed to create a healthy lifestyle balance between work and a personal life.

Equity & Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities:

Paws and Stripes is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equal employment opportunity and to compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws. They prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: race, color, religion, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, sexual orientation, age (40 and over), spousal affiliation, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, National Guard membership, veteran status, uniformed service member status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), HIV status, serious medical condition, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. Paws and Stripes is interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. Paws and Stripes will consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, you’re encouraged to think broadly about your abilities and skill set for the role. In addition, if there is anything that the organization can do to help make the recruitment process or the job more accessible, please reach out directly.

If you’re interested in leading the team and being considered for the Executive Director opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@pawsandstripes.org.