Executive Director

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General Job Description

The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for ensuring that the Board oversees the long-range strategic, annual, and financial plans of the organization. They promote effective external relations and continuing relationships with the BSC's alumni. They oversee staff, and assist them in their efforts to educate members to be effective participants in the BSC's governance. They are responsible for ensuring that the BSC fulfills its mission of providing quality, low-cost cooperative housing to students. They provide leadership to the membership, the staff, and the Board of Directors, in order to ensure that all departments and programs of the BSC operate in a cost effective manner consistent with cooperative principles of democratic, participatory decision-making.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Ensures the development of key strategies and vision related to strategic and long-range planning, and provides active leadership to the BSC's student—run Board of Directors, working collaboratively with the Board's executive officers, in order to implement these policies and plans.
a. Regularly attends Board and Cabinet meetings in order to perform this role, which are held in the evenings and may be lengthy
b. Occasionally available to attend the Board committee meetings as appropriate in light of the issues being addressed
c. Serves on other time—limited or special purpose committees at the request of the Board
d. Facilitates collaborative and clear communication between Board and staff
2. Supervises the BSC Management Team and other direct reports
3. Ensures the organization’s compliance with employment and labor laws and best practices in the workplace.
a. Provides overall leadership to BSC employees.
b. Advises the Board of Directors in collective bargaining negotiations.
c. Works with the HR department to ensure that all BSC employees are hired, supervised, disciplined, and terminated in accordance with the Employee Association Contract and the Employee Handbook
4. Oversees long range fiscal planning in order to ensure the continuity and solvency of the organization.
a. Oversees regular financial analysis and the preparation of the annual budget and audit.
b. Reports regularly to the Board on the financial health of the organization.
c. Reports to the Board on short-term and long-term risks to the BSC and promotes effective risk management.
5. Oversees long range physical and capital asset planning.
a. Reports regularly to the Board on the condition of the organization‘s real property and recommends plans for investing in the replacement and repair of building systems.
b. Collaborates with the Board and appropriate staff to develop and implement long term seismic, disabled access, and energy efficiency improvement plans.
c. Recommends short-term and long—range plans for increasing the BSC's housing capacity to meet community needs.
d. Oversees the compliance with lease terms, regular review, and re-negotiation of leases for properties not owned by the BSC.
6. Oversees Development and external Communications:
a. Consults with the BSCAA and participates with its activities as requested.
b. Pursues other fundraising on behalf of the BSC..
c. Oversees external and internal communications to promote the goals of the BSC.
7. Acts as the primary public and community relations contact for the BSC and works with outside agencies including banks, universities, lawyers, insurance companies, and government officials to fulfill this role.
8. Reports regularly to The Board and its committees, provides continuity and institutional memory, and makes recommendations on policies and procedures.
9. Provides support to the Board of Directors and executive officers in their efforts to inform and engage the membership in the democratic processes of decision-making in the BSC
10. In conjunction with the Board of Directors, actively supports leadership development opportunities for co-op members, both in the organization’s operations and Within the larger co-operative movement.
11. Carries an emergency telephone and arranges for 24/7 emergency response.
12. Other duties as required by the Board of Directors or BSC policies.

Personal Attributes

1. Excellent management/Supervisory skills
2. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
3. Ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment and focus in times of crisis
4. Acquired fluency with BSC policy and practices
5. Ability to delegate to and motivate direct reports
6. Desire and ability to work in a student-run, democratic, cooperative process
7. Willingness to attend regular and lengthy evening meetings
8. Good sense of humor

Required Qualifications and Experience

1. Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible management and executive experience or a combination of an undergraduate degree in related field and 4 years of progressively responsible management experience
2. Minimum of 5 years of experience in affordable housing and/or property management roles
3. Extended experience working with a non-profit Board of Directors
4. Extended experience managing mid to senior level professional staff.
5. Working knowledge of:
a. Business, finance, and budgeting
b. Personnel and labor law
c. Project management and contracting processes
d. Asset management

Additional Requirements:

1. Carry an emergency phone and arrange emergency response
2. Ability to attend regular and lengthy evening meetings

Preferred Experience

1. Non-profit Executive Director experience (strongly recommended)
2. Undergraduate degree, graduate degree (MBA, MPA, JD, etc…), and/or related certifications
3. Previous experience living or working in a democratic, member controlled, and/or cooperative environment
4. Previous experience working with students in higher education
5. Extensive Human Resources and/or Organizational Development background
6. Previous experience working with a labor union
7. Previous experience in public relations
8. Experience with emergency response and/or setting up emergency response plans
9. Previous experience responding to after hour calls
10. Proficiency in some or all of the following computer systems:
  • RMS Mercury
  • AccuFund
  • AssetCalc
  • GoogleSuite
11. Experience working with the BSC’s target demographic groups, including but not limited to:
  • Low income students
  • Students of color
  • Disabled students
  • Queer and trans students
  • Previously incarcerated individuals



Compensation: Full-Time, Exempt, Competitive Salary

Immediate Supervisor: Board of Directors

Working Conditions by: Employee Handbook


[Board approved 5/8/14.] [Board approved updated 5/6/21.]