Executive Director

Community Healing Network (CHN) is seeking a passionate, culturally grounded, dedicated, hands-on, financially adept, technology savvy, movement-building leader to serve as its next Executive Director. The Executive Director will join a global community-based organization supported by a passionate, committed, and resourceful board of directors, and a minimum 6-month collaboration & co-thought leadership with CHN’s Founder, President Emerita, and Elder Griot, to drive the global grassroots movement for emotional emancipation by stabilizing CHN and putting it on a path to long term sustainability and scaling.

Organization Overview

CHN is an African-centered organization with a fresh theory of change, a “start-up” feel, and a rich history. CHN has brought to the local, national, and international public conversation a laser-like focus on mobilizing Global Africa to heal from, and extinguish, the centuries-old lie of White superiority and Black inferiority: the root cause of the persistent dehumanization of Black people and underdevelopment of Black communities the world over.

Launched in 2006, CHN is the only organization focused exclusively on building the global grassroots movement for freedom from the lie—to end the longstanding association between Blackness and inferiority and to restore the rightful association between Blackness and humanity. With its groundbreaking Emotional Emancipation Circle (EEC) process, Community Healing Days, Emotional Lunch Break, Rapid Response Ubuntu Healing Circles, and other initiatives, CHN is building the global grassroots movement for emotional emancipation. CHN is equipping a growing number of leaders around the world, including in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, to help build the movement for freedom from the lie as an essential foundation for Black healing, wellness, and empowerment.

CHN is working with leading NGOs, including the International Civil Society Working Group for the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, and the Global Circle for Reparations and Healing to put the work of extinguishing the lie at the very top of the global African agenda.

CHN is now poised to develop a local village for Emotional Emancipation as a model for community-based healing. These initiatives are part of CHN’s campaign to make 2021 to 2030 the Decade to “Defy the Lie of Black Inferiority and Embrace the Truth of Black Humanity.”

Community Healing Network is based in Greater New Haven, CT. Preferred candidates will reside in Greater New Haven, CT.

The Opportunity

The next CHN Executive Director (ED) will build upon CHN’s achievements and current strengths to ensure organizational sustainability, sharpen its programmatic activities, and scale the organization to build the global movement for emotional emancipation.

The ED will be a mission-driven servant leader, a learner, community builder, a strategic thinker and doer, with a strong track record in supporting and leading initiatives and activities similar to CHN. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for CHN's staff, administration and programs, fundraising and fee-for-service revenue streams, communications, marketing, external relations, and strategic partnerships.

CHN’s next ED will lead a small, yet resourceful and nimble virtual staff to execute on its mission. Priorities for the next ED, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Assessment of CHN’s Current Situation

• Partner with the CHN Board and Elder Griot to conduct a comprehensive Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Analysis
• Partner with the CHN Board and Elder Griot to shape the organization’s vision and strategic direction with appropriate timelines and deliverables, secure and sustain strategic partnerships, and position the organization for sustainability and scaling.

Organizational Leadership & Management

• Lead daily operations, program, financial, and talent management;
• Develop an African-centered organizational culture, based in strengths orientation and growth mindset, that attracts, develops, and retains excellent staff and consultants;
• Promote a positive work environment with clear communication and focus on impact, trust and accountability;
• Actively engage and energize volunteers, staff, board members, committees, program participants and community members, partnering organizations, and funders;
• Ensure sound financial controls and a strong organizational infrastructure;
• Partner with outsourced accounting firm to co-lead annual budget and planning processes, manage and oversee budget, financial reports, 990s and audit
• Work with staff and external consultants to design, implement, and execute programmatic services;
• Lead annual organizational planning and strategy development to achieve both short-term and long-term goals;
• Align organizational goals and programs with community needs through periodic assessments;

Resource Development & Fundraising

• Explore and identify opportunities for growth in individual donations, grants, program/service fees, and sponsorships to secure long-termfinancial sustainability;
• In partnership with CHN’s Development Committee and Development Associate, build funder and donor relationships to forge collaborative partnerships that connect and grow the donor base;
• Identify, engage, and cultivate new high net worth individual donors and sustain and strengthen existing relationships to increase revenue and support organizational stability
• Successfully involve board members, volunteers, and other community members and constituents of CHN in fundraising and in earned income generation
• Maintain and utilize a working knowledge (i.e. thought leadership) of significant developments and trends at the micro, macro, and sector levels

Program Management, Development & Evaluation

• Oversee program impact (e.g. EEC 101 Experience, EEC Facilitator Training, JOD) across factors such as: program schedule, quality, delivery, cost, and return-on-investment analyses;
• Work with staff to collect and examine data needed to develop new programs that address the needs of CHN’s constituents and the communities it serves;
• Create a system and/or framework to evaluate programs using logic models and applied research methods (both quantitative and qualitative) to design as well as assess processes and program outcomes;
• In partnership with CHN staff and leadership, make necessary adjustments to programs as a result of outcome measurement

Community Outreach & Partnerships/Collaboration

• Ensure stakeholders have a clear sense of CHN’s mission, vision, values, and theory of change;
• In partnership with CHN’s Elder Griot, increase CHN’s visibility as the thought leader of the emotional emancipation movement at the local, national, and global levels through attending conferences, panel discussions, publishing white papers/articles, and executing a comprehensive media strategy;
• Build, cultivate, and leverage committed and long-lasting relationships across all existing stakeholders and ensure compelling and consistent branding and marketing of CHN to raise CHN’s profile, reach new audiences, and further engage participants
• Leverage CHN’s programmatic initiatives and resources, collaborations, and media partnerships to make 2021 to 2030 the Decade to Defy the Lie of Black Inferiority and Embrace the Truth of Black Humanity—dramatically raising the profile of the global grassroots movement for freedom from the lie.

Personal Attributes & Qualifications

The successful candidate will:

• Be African-centered, culturally grounded, passionate and mission driven about and committed to embodying the spirit of Ubuntu and Sawubona which inform CHN’s cause, core values, vision, mission, and theory of change as well as being a steward of and perpetuating these values;
• Be required to work closely for a minimum of 6 months with CHN’s Founder, President Emerita, and Elder Griot to catch and embody and be able to convey to future generations in a compelling manner, the CHN vision, mission and values, the CHN way, and be a CHN thought leader;
• Bring a strong movement-building sensibility and approach to the work of CHN; Have significant experience in leading nonprofit organizations in the community, social service, and/or civic engagement sectors;
• Be strengths-oriented, embody a growth mindset, and lead with curiosity, empathy, diplomacy, judgment, flexibility, humility and good humor;
• Be entrepreneurial and energized by the opportunities and challenges of leading a growing organization with a broad and diverse constituency;
• Be a self-starter with strong project management skills and highly organized with impeccable attention to detail;
• Be a proactive, strategic decision maker with the capacity and desire to play a hands-on role in daily operations while maintaining a visionary perspective regarding overall purpose;
• Have demonstrated success in fundraising (includes grants, sponsorships, giving campaigns, and related development activities), strategic planning, and organizational management.
• Have exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Have the interest, presence, skills, and integrity to develop and nurture meaningful relationships and to lead diverse stakeholders;
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred; 5-10 years of progressive administrative, organizational, and leadership experience;
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Workspace for Nonprofits required;
• Familiarity with technology related to development and operational management and efficiency is a plus;
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally, valid driver’s license, and passport required
• Preference will be given to candidates who are based in the Greater New Haven area.
• The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities for the position.
• Candidates will be required to perform any other related duties, as assigned by CHN’s Board of Directors.
• Background check required.

The compensation range for this position is $100,000 -$113,000 annually, depending on skills and experience. CHN offers a benefits reimbursement package. To be considered for this position, interested applicants must submit a cover letter and resume by email to dianeyturner@comcast.net with “Executive Director” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries or recruiters please.

Community Healing Network is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.