On behalf of our client, People First Economy, we are conducting a search for its next President. This leader will drive forward and execute the organization’s mission: creating a community of practice to build a Michigan Economy that puts People First.
About People First Economy
Our client brings together values-aligned businesses, nonprofit organizations and people who share a common goal to create a thriving, equitable, sustainable, and economically vibrant region. People First Economy accomplishes this work through the Local First West Michigan, and Good For Michigan, and People First Impact programs.
- Good For Michigan – Engaging business leaders to support social and environmental justice through emergent best practices.
- Local First – Catalyzing place-based consumer and supply chain habits.
- People First Impact – Elevating small business voices in the legislative process.
Essential Duties + Responsibilities
The President’s activities can be divided into six measurable areas:
- Organization vision-caster, servant leader, and problem-solver.
- Assure that the corporation has a long-range strategy which achieves its mission, and toward which it will make consistent and timely process.
- Review current organizational strategies and practices, initiating development of new ones to encourage growth, improve efficiency, and reduce cost.
- Provide leadership in developing programs, organizational, and financial plans with the Boards and staff.
- Culture driver, brand champion.
- Maintain a culture that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff of top-quality team members.
- Recruit and employ staff needed to achieve the organization’s mission.
- Encourage staff professional development.
- Assist program staff in relating their specialized work to the organization’s long-term goals.
- Increase LF/GFM/PFE’s public exposure and brand recognition.
- Represent the organization’s programs and point of view to agencies, organizations, the general public, and the media.
- Communicate the organization’s activities, programs, and goals to all stakeholders.
- Industry pulse.
- Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in nonprofit organizational development/administration, in communication, in local economy development, in sustainable business practices, and in the State of Michigan’s business environment.
- Managing big relationships.
- Build relationships with stakeholder groups to grow the organization’s financial capacity (ex: granting agencies, individual donors, business members, etc.)
- Establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community groups, business groups, organizations, local businesses, and granting agencies.
- Promote active and broad participation by volunteers in all areas ofPFE’s work.
- Achieving P&L results.
- Work with accountants, staff, Finance Committee, and the Boards in preparing the budget.
- Facilitate implementation of budget and see that organization operates within budget guidelines.
- Work with Boards and staff to ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work.
- Leadership, management, and accountability.
- Ensure job descriptions are developed and maintained based on the organizations needs.
- Provide leadership, management, and accountability to staff.
- Manage staff reviews.
- Ensure the Boards are kept fully informed on the condition of PFE and all important factors influencing it.
Other duties:
- Provide excellent customer service to all stakeholders.
- Make decisions with a lens of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and uphold People First Economy Core Values at all times.
- Work with other People First Economy staff to achieve broad organization goals.
- Attend People First and community events, as needed.
Qualifications + Requirements
- 5+ years of demonstrated leadership experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Economic development sector.
- Grassroots non-profit executive leadership.
- Community development or DEI work that crosses over into addressing social, economic or related injustices.
- Small business owner/entrepreneur with a background in advancing social justice initiatives in their business and community.
- Fund development experience.
- Grant-based fund procurement (local, state, federal, private, foundations) is key.
- Budget/P&L management experience, preferably in a non-profit setting.
- Deep and wide team leadership experience (3+ years). Managing teams of 5+.
- Demonstrated history of building trust-centered, employee-first, transparent environments with staff, board, funders and other stakeholders.
- Board relations and management activities (e.g. recruitment, committee involvement and engagement, meeting leadership, etc.) experience.
- Proven program development and enhancement skills.
- Public and media relations. (i.e. Being “the face and voice” of the organization)
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
Values Alignment
Top candidates will demonstrate professional and lived alignment with PFE’s mission, vision and core values, listed below:
#1 Accessibility – We create accessibility to a socially and environmentally resilient economy for all people.
#2 Accountability – We challenge economic and systemic structures that inhibit equity by holding ourselves and our partners accountable.
#3 JEDI, Anti-Racism, Transparency, and Community – We prioritize justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism through public learning, transparency, and community building.
#4 Interdependence – We collaboratively foster thriving, interdependent economic ecosystems, rooted in human-scale relationships.
#5 Innovation –We equip business leaders with place-based approaches to implementing global best practices.
If this seems like an excellent fit for you, please send a cover letter and resume to executive search consultant Corey Turner at cturner@palladianwest.com.
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