Job Description

Position: Executive Director of the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency

Reports To: AEOA Board of Directors

Position Details

The Executive Director is the chief executive of the organization. With overall responsibility for oversight and execution of AEOA’s mission and strategic goals, the Executive Director ensures that communities are effectively served with the resources entrusted to the organization. This position exists to ensure the vision and mission of AEOA is carried out by executing the organization’s strategic plan, engaging stakeholders, and managing the enterprise.

During the first six months, it is expected that the new Executive Director will spend considerable time building relationships with their direct reports, learn the organization’s programs, needs, and opportunities, develop relationships with the Board of Directors, and establish (or enhance) relationships with political leaders and other funders. Within the first year, it would be assumed for the Executive Director to have developed a plan with each department head on how the department will accomplish or contribute to the organization’s strategic initiatives.

The Executive Director reports directly to the AEOA Board of Directors and has supervisory duties over all of AEOA’s various department directors. Indirectly, this position supervises more than 380 staff members located in a 12-county region.

Essential Job Duties

Governance and Policy Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, ensuring transparent communication and timely reporting on AEOA’s organizational performance, strategic initiatives, and emerging risks.
• Guide Board governance best practices, including committee structuring, director onboarding, and policy development to enhance fiduciary oversight.
• Translate Board directives into actionable policies while proactively proposing strategic recommendations to advance AEOA’s mission.

Organizational Leadership & Compliance

• Uphold the highest standards of ethical and legal compliance, ensuring all operations align with regulatory requirements and AEOA’s bylaws.
• Drive administrative excellence by implementing robust systems for accountability, risk management, and operational efficiency.

Executive Team Development & Culture

• Recruit, mentor, and retain a high-performing senior leadership team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Conduct rigorous performance evaluations and succession planning to ensure leadership continuity.
• Resolve cross-functional challenges with diplomacy, promoting a cohesive and mission-driven workplace.
• Cultivate an inclusive, empowering culture where staff at all levels feel valued and aligned with AEOA’s mission.

Strategic Communications & Advocacy

• Act as the chief ambassador, articulating AEOA’s mission to community stakeholders, policymakers, and funders.
• Engage in high-level advocacy, representing AEOA before legislative bodies, coalition partners, and funders to influence policy and secure resources.
• Leverage subject-matter expertise to position AEOA as a thought leader in its field.

Financial Stewardship & Operational Strategy

• Develop and execute multi-year financial plans, ensuring sustainability through diversified revenue streams, cost optimization, and long-term risk mitigation.
• Oversee financial integrity, including audits, internal controls, and compliance with grant/contract obligations.
• Align budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation with strategic priorities to maximize impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years of full-time paid experience in administering social service and/or economic assistance programs. Equivalent education and professional experience will be considered.
• Experience in relevant fields of knowledge needed to perform the job including social services/economic assistance programming, fiscal management, personnel management, business law, and management information systems applications.
• Managerial and/or supervisory experience as well as a background in community relations and state and local government functions are desired qualifications.

Ideal Attributes

The ideal candidate will be an experienced organizational leader that has demonstrated a commitment to serving the underprivileged. They will have a reputation of empathy, professionalism, and competence. These characteristics will be demonstrated by a history of collaborative decision- making, building partnerships inside and outside of their organization, and creating trust and engagement with diverse populations.

Benefits

• Health insurance (medical and dental)
• Life insurance
• Holidays + 2 personal leave days
• Bereavement leave
• Tax-sheltered annuity
• Flexible benefit plan including HSA and VEBA
• PTO

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