Executive Director, Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness

The Highlights:

The Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness advocates for global policy on definition and measurement, supports a cohort of countries and communities taking concrete action to address homelessness, and operates multiple knowledge-sharing platforms. The Executive Director is primarily responsible for partnering with the IGH Advisory Committee, staff of three FTE, and university student employees to achieve identified aims across program areas that fill a unique gap in the global homeless sector. The Executive Director will be responsible for strategy, fundraising, external partnerships, and day-to-day management of the institute.

The Executive Director must be based within commuting distance of Chicago, with the ability to travel extensively according to public health guidelines, to accommodate meetings across multiple time zones and to work occasional nights and weekends. The Executive Director will work closely with all members of the IGH professional staff, IGH Advisory Committee, and external partners from across the globe.

What You'll Do:

Strategy Development, Planning, Administration

• Partner with the IGH Advisory Committee to develop the vision and strategy for deepening IGH’s global impact across all program areas
• Liaise with the Chair of the IGH Advisory Committee to lead Advisory Committee meetings, agendas, reports, and materials
• Partner with IGH Advisory Committee and staff to proactively identify areas where IGH’s products, services, and approach can be strengthened for greater impact
• Lead the creation, implementation, and monitoring of an annual organizational plan and budget
• Stay abreast of academic literature, evidence-based practices, and emerging themes and trends in global homelessness to ensure that IGH programs effectively meet the needs of the global homeless sector
• Ensure that all contacts and key conversations are accurately and consistently entered in IGH’s central database

Team Leadership and Program Oversight

• Provide day-to-day executive leadership to IGH staff and contractors, leading by example to ensure that key outcomes are achieved and that a positive team culture is maintained
• Partner with IGH staff to create, implement, and monitor individual annual plans in alignment with the overall annual organizational plan
• Lead the cadence of internal team communications and ensure connectivity across programs through activities such as weekly all-staff meetings, one-on-one check ins with direct reports, and annual performance reviews
• Foster a positive and cooperative work environment by actively leading IGH as a team player, supporting and collaborating with IGH staff on projects, and promoting shared success
• In alignment with DePaul University protocols, identify, secure, and manage any necessary vendor / contract relationships and deliverables
• Take on administrative tasks and other duties as needed to ensure smooth operations and advance organizational goals.

Partnerships, External Relations, and Fundraising

• Lead active fundraising efforts for IGH, partnering with DePaul University Advancement and DePaul International fundraising staff to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, corporate, and foundation donors
• Serve as primary liaison to key stakeholders such as peer institutions, academic networks, and cultivating IGH’s relationship
• Serve as a key spokesperson for IGH, leading and facilitating stakeholder meetings and representing the organization effectively in working groups, speaking opportunities, and forums
• Lead the project management of major IGH events including planning, logistics, and coordination
• Global Policy and Advocacy Director, Vanguard Program Director, Program Coordinator
• Plans and manages the budget for the Institute along with any grants.

What You'll Need:

• A minimum of seven years previous work experience in a professional environment
• A minimum of four years previous work experience managing advocacy, external partnerships and relationships, and/or communications
• Bachelor’s Degree or international equivalent preferred
• Second language preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft suite; Google suite, including Gmail and Google Doc; and video conferencing software
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong collaborative working relationships with partners from diverse background
• Strategic and mission-driven with ability to analyze and formulate disparate information into a clear message and path forward
• Skilled with developing partnership and leads with the spirit of humility and inclusivity to develop consensus among multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and projects in a fast paced, dynamic environment and a willingness to shift easily between various responsibilities with diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to self-manage, working independently with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgement and ownership of decisions
• Demonstrated ability to relay criticism constructively; commitment to continuous learning and improvement
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with the demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural contexts
• Willingness to champion IGH’s person-centered values, including our commitment to an Asset Based Community Dev. approach and to ending homelessness through an anti-racist lens
• This position requires extensive international travel according to public health guidelines, and occasional nights and weekends