Director, Community Development, West LA Veterans Collective

Director, Community Development, West LA Veterans Collective

 

Position Reports to:  West LA Veterans Collective

The West LA Veterans Collective (“WLAVC” or “Development Team”), a partnership of Century Housing Corporation, Thomas Safran & Associates and U.S. VETS, selected by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to serve as Principal Developer of the West LA VA Campus. Together with local Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs, elected officials, business and community leaders, we will create a thriving neighborhood with 1,600+ supportive housing units to serve Veterans and families, on the North Campus of the West LA VA.  

Working with the West LA Veterans Collective, the Director will help to establish a new 501(c)3 nonprofit backbone organization (“Backbone” or “Backbone Entity”) whose mission is to maximize the collective impact of all West LA VA stakeholders for the benefit of veterans in the WLAVA supportive community.  This includes Veteran seniors, Veterans with disabilities, Veteran families, and female Veterans – some of the fastest-growing groups of Veterans experiencing homelessness. The therapeutic community model employs a Veteran-centered, peer support, resident leadership, trauma-informed, holistic approach. 

The Director will help to build public will for the project and foster working and beneficial alliances with key stakeholders including West La VA Medical Center, WLAVA Services Council partners, UCLA, Village for Vets, the County of Los Angeles, Vets advocacy and more.

The candidate must be equipped with the leadership and skills necessary to build the backbone entity and function for the therapeutic housing community on the North Campus of the West LA VA campus.   Acting in this capacity, the candidate will institutionalize the core elements of the collective impact approach including: the establishment of a common agenda with all stakeholders; the development of shared measurements; the development of platforms for continuous and timely communication; the establishment and implementation of joint plans of action, and the mobilization of funding on behalf of WLAVC.

 

More information on the West LA Veterans Collective can be found here:  

 

Responsibilities Include

 

Planning, Governance and Communication:

• Develop and implement strategies aiming to promote WLAVC’s mission and credibility throughout the Westside.
• Communicate to the Backbone Board in a timely and efficient manner on all things relevant to each phase of the redevelopment of the campus.
• Work collaboratively with the WLAVC’s Senior Development managers and partners to create plans for the attainment of goals and objectives set by the Board.
• Ensure adherence of the organization’s daily activities and long-term plans to established policies and legal guidelines.

• Oversee publication of periodic community newsletters and an Annual Report (2021 and beyond);
• Under the auspices of the Backbone Board act as the public speaker and public relations representative of WLAVC in ways that strengthen its profile.
• Produce timely reports and manage a balanced budget for backbone entity with recommend staffing as necessary.

Development

• Work with the Development Team as a critical partner to ensure that all phases including relocation are seamless and successfully executed.
• Work collaboratively with the Development Team, in establishing best practices for asset management, relocation, housing retention and resident empowerment.
• Participate as a member of WLAVC leadership team and participate in all events relative to each of the key partners.
• Administer the master association functions of the Backbone Entity.

Community Development/Collective Impact

• Employ a collective impact model to establish the following outcomes for the Backbone Entity; establishment of a common agenda with all stakeholders; the development of shared measurements; the development of platforms for continuous and timely communication; the establishment and implementation of joint plans of action, and the mobilization of funding on behalf of WLAVC.
• Determine resource needs and establish actionable recommendations to fill those needs either through hiring or partnership.
• Work collaboratively with West LA VA Medical Center and other on-site service partners to ensure that services and communication to residents is coordinated and clear and culturally and linguistically accessible.
• Serve as an advocate with residents for timely, efficient and impactful services and workforce opportunities to further their quality of life and independence.
• In concert with property management, assist with the coordination of regular community events that promote community building, serve residents and enhance coordination between service providers.
• Convene, support and promote a collaborative of critical service partners, including the VA, employing the principles of collective impact.
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate level social work interns and build opportunities for additional disciplines to contribute interns and academic fellowships to promote scholarship and research informed practice.
• Direct and oversee investments and fundraising efforts, including grant writing, that support services as well as development opportunities.
• Forge and maintain relations of trust with residents, stakeholders and external authorities.
• Devise remedial actions for any identified issues and conduct crisis management when necessary.
• Facilitate conflict management strategies in a manner that promotes and deepens relationships between parties,

 

Requirements

• Minimum 5-7 years’ leadership experience in community development field.
• Military veteran and/or 3-5 years’ experience in veteran services or programs and familiarity with military and veteran services.
• 3-5 years’ experience in housing related work such as Section 8 Housing, permanent supportive housing coordinating services or in a community development/community engagement capacity.
• 3-5 years’ experience in acquiring government and foundation funding pertaining to housing services and/or development.
• Experience in implementing collective impact effort(s).
• Working knowledge of principles of community development and experience in facilitating community-based collaboratives desirable.
• Strong ability to network and leverage relationships with donors, the media, systems leaders, foundations and others for the benefit of WLAVC.
• Represent the WLAVC before public bodies, community and neighborhood groups.
• Ability to establish success measures and produce summary reports that are clear and accessible by a variety of audiences.
• Ability to execute and interpret community asset data and translate this information to actionable plans.
• Strong interpersonal oral and written communication skills with people from all walks including linguistically isolated communities and those with limited formal education.
• Proven experience as Director, Community Development desirable.
• Experience in developing strategies and plans.
• Ability to apply successful fundraising and networking techniques.
• Strong understanding of measures of performance.
• In depth knowledge of non-profit governance principles and managerial best practices.
• An analytical mind capable for “out-of-the-box” thinking to solve problems;
• Outstanding organization and leadership abilities.
• Working knowledge of government relations and legislative advocacy desirable.

This is a full-time, exempt position with some evening and weekend hours expected.

Education and Experience:

 

MBA or equivalent Masters in non-profit management or relevant field.  Five to eight years’ direct experience preferred.

 

Salary and Benefits:

 

Attractive compensation with fully- paid family medical, dental, vision and life/AD&D, long-term care, retirement plan with company match, paid time off, paid holidays and more. Paid college tuition assistance, professional development opportunities and college loan repayment assistance available.

 

Send resume with cover letter and salary expectations to Fern Hendrickson, Vice President, Human Resources,  phone (310) 642-2017, FAX to (310) 258-0714.  

 

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or Veteran status.