Executive Director

THE VISION

Watershed’s vision is to cultivate long-term community wealth through thoughtful community development, engagement and ownership, affordable and sustainable housing, spaces for community based small businesses and nonprofit groups, and supporting artists, artisans and the creative community of Georgetown.

OUR VALUES

• We acknowledge that Watershed Community Development is on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Coast Salish People, past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and their stewardship.
• We strive to amplify diverse voices and experiences, prioritize equitable practices and processes, and create an inclusive culture of care and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage anyone from historically marginalized backgrounds to apply.
• We center folks who live and work in the Duwamish Valley, BIPOC individuals, artists, and those who come from communities that have been, or are at risk of, being displaced from this region.
• We value transparency, patience, imagination, humor, collaboration, and intentionality.
• We work hard and take our work seriously, but not necessarily always ourselves.

WATERSHED: ORIGIN STORY

It started with Equinox Studios in 2006. First, it was a single building with the vision of providing affordable work studios for artists. In the beginning, it was 10 artists in work studios which quickly grew to 30 and then 53. Additional buildings were purchased, and more creative folks joined the Creative Industrial Complex until our community boasted over 125 artists—painters, dancers, architects, sculptors, welders, chocolatiers, woodworkers—working across five buildings in the southwest corner of Georgetown. Things were scaling up and in 2014 Equinox created a unique SPC (Special Purpose Corporation) tenant-ownership community collective structure—changing artist renters into owners—to steward it all.

In 2021, Equinox tenant owners voted to pay their equity forward into the community-owned collective model to leverage the equity gained across the five original buildings. Along with public and private financing, fifteen properties lining 4th Ave South in Georgetown were purchased. These building acquisitions spawned the creation of Watershed Community Development (Watershed), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Today, Watershed Community Development is: Equinox Studios, Community Partnership Support (a strategic nonprofit fiscal sponsorships and partnerships entity); and—over the next 5 years—the development of The Bend: a five-building live/work creative district of 600 new affordable housing units, over 35,000sf of commercial spaces providing daily life amenities (e.g., grocery, childcare, healthcare, and financial services), pedestrian pathways, greenspace, and an infusion of art everywhere it fits.

OUR MISSION

To build a resilient community through affordable placemaking and placekeeping in the Duwamish Valley at the intersection of affordability, arts, equity, and collective well-being.

THE POSITION: CORE FOCUS AREAS

A successful Executive Director candidate will deeply understand the diverse communities and populations of Georgetown and the Duwamish Valley in Seattle, Washington. While Equinox has been a thriving community for 18 years, The Bend component of Watershed is in the early stages of development. We are searching for an Executive Director with affordable housing experience, passion for the arts, and commitment to building community equity and social justice.

Culture, Values and Leadership 

• Values collaborative, open and honest communication.
• Inspires and supports quality staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Fosters shared leadership with board, staff, and tenants.
• Passionate about the arts and supporting artists.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice.
• Understands and is passionate about the advancement of the Watershed/Equinox/The Bend mission.
• Thrives in a rich community of unique people, has a healthy sense of humor and appreciates a cold beverage while huddling up to a good bonfire.

Strategic Development and Execution 

• Partner with the board, staff and tenants to translate the Watershed vision into a strategic plan.
• Implement the strategic plan through the creation of programs, timelines, and goals.
• Grow a cohesive and collaborative board, equipping them with the tools and knowledge necessary to represent Watershed to the community and potential partners.
• Share the vision of Watershed with the community and potential funders in a manner that creates engagement and community activation.

Operational Leadership

• Regularly assess all organizational systems for compliance and alignment with the mission and goals of Watershed.
• Oversee progress on goals and objectives, regularly evaluate program components and their metrics, and make changes as required.
• Ensure efficient organizational communications with the board, funders, tenants and other stakeholders.
• Supervise financial management, including bond compliance, human resources, fund development, property management of existing and new facilities, technology resources, and ensure efficiency and efficacy.
• Ensure fiscal health through budget analysis and financial planning.
• Work collaboratively with the board and staff to maintain organizational bylaws, policies, and procedures.

Fundraising and Mission Awareness 

• Build and sustain relationships with funders and community partners.
• Develop and implement fund development strategy with staff, board, and partners to support the organizational strategic plan.
• With the board, staff, and partners, implement a $50M capital campaign to support the Watershed Bend project over the next 5-8 years.
• Collaborate with the board, staff, tenants and consultants to share the vision and mission of Watershed.
• Serve as the primary Watershed spokesperson.

 Team Development and Management 

• Lead and support staff, provide performance evaluation, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
• Work with the board and staff to define the changing team roles and organizational structure, including workflow and responsibilities.
• Oversee the tenant, consultant, and vendor contracts.

Stakeholder Relationship Management 

• Build and maintain healthy relationships with current and prospective stakeholders including Equinox artists, tenants and supporters, The Bend commercial and residential tenants, the Georgetown and Duwamish communities, government entities, and funders.
• Maintain a strong physical presence on-site at Watershed, in the community, and at events.

WHAT YOU BRING

While it is unlikely that any single candidate will possess all of the qualifications listed below, we are hoping to meet candidates with as many of the following as possible:

• A strong commitment to social justice, a deep appreciation for the arts, and an understanding of affordable housing development.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in a leadership role ideally including fundraising (including capital campaigns), affordable housing, or the arts.
• Experience working across sectors: with community, philanthropic partners, and corporate leaders.
• Demonstrated organizational development and staff management skills.
• A personal connection to the Duwamish Valley area and Georgetown community.
• Demonstrated complex project management skills (e.g., planning, implementation, and evaluation).
• Available for occasional travel for education or advocacy, community meetings, and evening and weekend events.

Watershed Community Development believes teams are stronger with different perspectives and experiences. We value a diverse workplace and encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, older members of society, and others from minority groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.

Watershed Community Development provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all applicants and employees adhering to federal, state, and local laws and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with this commitment, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, please let us know in advance. Please contact us at HRC@watershedcommunity.org.