Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer Position Description

The Chief Executive Officer of Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul (IFA), reports to the Board of Directors, responsible for overall leadership and management and assures that the integration of IFA’s mission in its actions and policies.

Demonstrated passion for the mission of IFA

• Able to articulate and promote the mission with multiple audiences including staff, donors, volunteers, faith congregations, broader community.
• Lead with cultural humility and accountability to the communities most impacted by IFA’s work.
• Uphold IFA’s interfaith identity while navigating complex social, political, and community environments.

Working in partnership with the Board, the CEO sets a clear, mission-aligned strategy and measurable goals that ensure both near-term stability and long-term sustainability.

• Demonstrate a commitment to racial, ethnic, and religious diversity and inclusion.
• Provide thought leadership, where appropriate.
• Track, evaluate, and report progress toward strategic goals using data-informed dashboards and outcomes.
• Lead multi-year strategic planning, including financial modeling, scenario planning, and risk assessment.
• Balance mission impact with financial viability, making recommendations to the Board as necessary.
• Guide the organization through periods of change, restructuring, or realignment to ensure long-term health.

Initiate and facilitate, with the Board and staff, effective long- and short-range program planning processes, which enable IFA to fulfill its mission through vital, effective, and needed programs.

• Oversee the operations of all IFA programs. Work with the department directors to outline the scope of each program and to set annual goals and means for evaluation.
• Lead portfolio-level decision-making, including program expansion, redesign, integration, or sun setting based on impact, cost, and strategic alignment, consistent with the mission and objectives of IFA.
• Ensure programs are responsive to community needs and grounded in trauma-informed and equity-centered practices.
• Foster cross-department collaboration to eliminate silos and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Create strategic direction and vision and lead an effective program of fundraising.

• Develop and maintain relationships in the non-profit community with heads of foundations, other non-profits, major individual donors and potential donors, congregations.
• Be seen as a thought leader in the non-profit/foundation world by being current on literature and providing briefings for various foundation and non-profit groups.
• Oversee the major gift, grants management, events, annual campaign.
• Lead and support diversified revenue strategies, including philanthropy, public funding, partnerships, and earned income where appropriate.

Oversee the work of the senior leadership team, and of all staff through direct reports.

• Recruit, train, and retain strong individuals for senior leadership positions and oversee the recruitment and training of all staff.
• Maintain clear communication with staff to ensure that everyone understands IFA’s vision, mission, and strategy.
• Maintain clear, fair, anti-racist and effective personnel policies/administration.
• Coach, mentor, and encourage continuing personal and professional growth and collaboration among staff. Ensure that succession planning is implemented for all key positions.
• Maintain a positive organization culture that is inclusive, transparent, and collaborative.

Oversee the work of staff who prepare the Annual Budget, maintain, and control all expenditures, ensure proper record keeping, and authorize timely payments of bills and fulfillment of other contractual agreements.

• Work with CFO/COO, Executive committee, and Operations Committee to ensure thorough and timely understanding of financial status and issues.
• Lead cost-containment, right-sizing, and facilities or capital planning decisions when necessary.
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