The
Carl Maxey Center (CMC) is a Black-led and Black-centered 501c3 non-profit organization, based in the East Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. CMC is both a neighborhood cultural center and gathering place, as well as a community-based organization that provides programs and services focused on addressing the needs of Spokane's African American/Black community.
The Carl Maxey Center serves as an innovative hub and gathering place on 5
th Avenue in Spokane's East Central neighborhood. CMC is committed to changing lives and improving the well-being of Spokane's African American community by expanding the educational, economic, and cultural opportunities that are currently available. The Carl Maxey Center was formed to address the racial disparities that currently exist and have persisted in Spokane and will do so by focusing on Equity, Racial & Social Justice, Business & Workforce Development, Education & Advocacy, and Cultural Enrichment.
Throughout its history, CMC has been guided by a core belief: it is important to know about the African American/Black experience, and that African Americans/Blacks, as a people, are resilient, long suffering, forgiving, uplifting, spiritual, passionate, joyful, innovative, and an integral part of a vibrant community.
With a passionate professional staff, dynamic and multidisciplinary board, and a $2M+ budget, the long-term goal of the Carl Maxey Center is to celebrate the life of their late Executive Director, Sandy Williams, by furthering her mission of bringing equity, justice, and economic prosperity to the Black community of Spokane. To learn more about CMC’s programs, please visit their
Programs and Services page.
Following the tragic loss of Carl Maxey Center’s founding leader,
Sandy Williams, CMC seeks to honor Sandy’s legacy and invites nominations and applications for a new
Executive Director (ED) to lead an organization focused on increasing opportunities for African Americans in the greater Spokane area. Leveraging CMC’s existing programs and services, the ED will chart the organization’s next chapter and identify opportunities to grow the impact of the organization, including developing a vision for 5
th Avenue becoming the “Black Wall Street” of Spokane.
OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The work ahead calls for a leader that will hold responsibility for operationalizing the overall vision and mission of CMC. In particular, the Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring that CMC remains focused and thrives as a social justice, educational, and economic development organization supporting the African American community. The ED will ensure the quality and consistency of CMC’s programs and services, and that they meet or exceed their expected outcomes. The ED will manage and coordinate the activities of CMC’s staff and consultants and cultivate an engaged, strategic-oriented, and effective Board of Directors. With the Board of Directors, the ED will drive the strategic planning and direction of CMC. Additionally, they will be responsible for the overall financial and operational health of CMC – including the integrity and compliance of all high-level financial and legal decisions, HR systems, compliance and legal management, the economic model, program strategy and delivery, strategic partnerships, salary structure and benefits, technology, equipment, and space.
The ED will also establish, embrace, and promote a vision of CMC as a local leader in the field of social justice representing and voicing the needs of the African American community and all communities of color. The ED will be the public face of CMC, providing thought leadership and building strategic partnerships that accrue benefits to CMC and all communities of color.
Top among the priorities the incoming ED will encounter is the need to be a leader in the conversation about how best to promote the growth and impact of progressive social justice work. Other priorities will include defining and promoting a clear definition of success for CMC, hiring all staff, ensuring internal and external audiences understand CMC’s purpose and goals, and bolstering a movement that empowers, uplifts, and advocates for Spokane’s Black community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The next Executive Director will provide leadership in the following areas:
Fundraising: Coordinate all fundraising activities including development of annual fundraising goals/plans, grant writing, events, and management of donor relations to elevate CMC’s visibility and meet revenue goals.
Program Management: Oversee existing programs and manage development, rollout, and implementation of new initiatives.
Advocacy/External Relations: Work closely with public and private organizations to assess the needs/gaps for African Americans in Spokane, identify and prioritize opportunities, support the development of community collaborations, and monitor performance and compliance toward goals to improve life outcomes for African Americans in Spokane.
Budgeting: Generate the annual budget, obtain board approval, and manage day-to-day operations and expenses to meet all budget goals.
Leadership & Culture: Building on CMC’s organizational values, the ED will model and continue to champion a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation that informs programming and CMC success. The ED will deepen CMC’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).
Communications: Develop communications, marketing, and PR strategies and coordinate implementation of each (i.e., website, newsletters, press releases, events, etc.).
Financial: Supervise accounting and yearly audits to ensure compliance with internal control policies and GAAP.
Human Resources: Maintain HR policies and procedures and conduct all employee performance evaluations.
Strategic Planning: Work with the board to develop, and update yearly, a board-approved 3-year plan defining strategies and goals to achieve the CMC mission.
Board Relations: Work with the board chair to help lead board meetings, cultivate board prospects, approve CMC’s strategic direction and vision, and communicate information in a timely manner.
YOUR POTENTIAL IMPACT
Organizational & Operational Leadership
- Leadership experience managing complex operations or programs within an organization addressing communities of color and underserved and marginalized populations.
- Experience building sustainable and effective partnerships with government agencies, school districts, funders, and community organizations toward common goals and objectives.
- Success building and scaling organizational growth strategies across programs and/or geographies.
- Demonstrated ability to provide nonprofit finance leadership, build and sustain relationships with mission-aligned donors, and financially steward an organization, or program, that receives both public and private funding.
- Thoughtful, timely decision-maker with experience using data and evidence effectively to inform strategy and promote continuous learning and improvement.
- Effective organizational champion and partner who can elevate CMC’s visibility and secure new partnerships.
Connection to the Mission
- Sophisticated understanding of the barriers and interconnecting systems that African Americans and marginalized communities must navigate when trying to access programs and services, particularly in attaining educational and economic equity.
- Deep commitment to social justice and demonstrated ability to lead candid and brave conversations about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Ability to engage with community members and stakeholders with both professional and lived experience facing the systemic barriers to educational, economic, and professional opportunities.
Values & Management Style
- An experienced manager who has built opportunities for staff leadership and champions staff growth across a program or organization.
- Highly relational style: ability to build relationships and engage in healthy dialog that fosters mutual understanding and trust.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to reach and inspire internal and external audiences; ability to connect with community, funders, and partners in both individual and group settings.
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; master’s degree or 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit, human services, community-based organization, or educational institution preferred.
- A compelling presence; strong public speaking skills and understanding of marketing.
- The ability to think and act strategically, make thoughtful and clear decisions that support the projects and the organization, and the ability to thrive in an environment of change and support staff to do the same.
- Ability to model personal/professional balance, integrity, resilience, sense of humor, adaptability, commitment to learning, and humility.
The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $82,000 in addition to a competitive benefits package, vacation/PTO schedule, and potential for board-approved annual performance bonuses. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
TO APPLY
More information about the
Carl Maxey Center may be found at
carlmaxeycenter.org
This search is being led by
Emily Wexler and
Chaz Chapman of
NPAG. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s
website.
CMC is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants with Disabilities will be accommodated so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions.
