Believet Canine Service Partners | Northfield, MN
Salary Range: $75,000 - $100,000
Believet specializes in freedom for veterans, dogs with a mission by providing highly skilled assistance dogs, free of charge, to disabled military veterans.
- Believet, founded in 2015 and incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization, is located near Northfield, Minnesota. We are one of very few organizations to provide service dogs to veterans in the five-state region.
- The organizational budget is approximately $750,000. Our organization consists of a nonprofit and a for-profit subsidiary that earns revenue from public boarding and training services.
- To date, sixty veterans and their service companions have graduated from our training program and are living together. We anticipate ten teams to participate in graduation this year, and we assume annual growth in the years to come.
- Believet is seeking certification from Assistance Dogs International (ADI), and we expect this to add national credibility and visibility to Believet.
- The Board of Directors is composed of committed volunteer leaders dedicated to attracting key executive leaders that will build connections to key stakeholders.
- Believet is served by a small staff with deep experience in both service dog training and service integration with veteran graduates.
The Executive Director (ED) role provides organizational leadership to the non-profit and works closely with its for-profit subsidiary. The Executive Director will report to and work alongside a committed volunteer Board of Directors. The successful candidate should have experience working with a board of directors, key program volunteers and a supportive community of philanthropic donors.
The ED will share responsibility of overall strategic direction with the Board and founder, but have exclusive operational responsibility for Believet staff, programs with veterans and volunteers, and successful execution of the strategic framework.
Key Competencies
- Passion for a mission focused on pairing service dogs with veterans with disabilities.
- Experience working with and leading a volunteer board of directors.
- Ability to lead, coach, develop and retain a staff team dedicated to training dogs and interacting with veterans.
- Knowledge of and experience in the practice of resource development and fundraising.
- Demonstrated nonprofit management experience that includes building a growth-oriented organization in sustainable ways, budgeting, financial accountability, and resource development.
- Working knowledge of the veteran community and resources available through veteran’s programs and service organizations.
Key Responsibilities
- Successfully execute the strategic framework developed by the board to sustain and grow the existing program, build service outcomes, and prepare for capital expansion.
- Track and evaluate program components to communicate progress to the board, funders, and key stakeholders.
- Hire, lead, coach and develop/manage a high functioning team of staff.
- Evaluate existing organizational structure to maximize alignment of resources and program outcomes.
- Build a sustainable volunteer program that successfully recruits, trains, evaluates and rewards volunteers for their service.
- Develop an operating budget that includes expenditure controls with realistic revenue targets that include opportunities for earned income.
- Provide quarterly progress reports to the board of directors on revenue and expenditures against budget.
- Prepare a capital needs budget that allows for program improvements or expansion.
- Maintain an itemized needs list to provide to potential donors.
- Maintain evaluation of staff and organization efficacy.
- Build a comprehensive fundraising program to foster and expand revenue generation.
- Build an external relations plan that promotes the Believet brand to current and future stakeholders and funders.
Candidates for this role must be thoroughly committed to the Believet mission, and demonstrate proven leadership, coaching and relationship management experience. Demonstrated experience and qualifications as a proven executive leader should include:
- A track record of effective leadership of an outcomes-based organization.
- Examples of having successfully developed and executed strategies that took an organization to the next stage of service and growth.
- Excellence in organizational management with ability to coach, manage and develop high-performance teams; set, and achieve strategic objectives; and successfully meet a financial plan.
- A high impact communicator demonstrating excellence in marketing, public relations, and fundraising- and the ability to be a persuasive and engaging spokesperson with a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders.
- A strong collaborator that can work alongside the organizational founder, board of directors and volunteer community.
- An entrepreneurial mindset oriented toward action, innovation, and adaptation in business planning approach.
- A leader that understands veterans and the challenges they face.
- Candidate must be able to spend a majority of their time at the Believet office in Northfield, MN initially.
Compensation and Benefits
- Total compensation $75,000-$100,000 per year.
- Employees accrue PTO at a rate of 80 hours upon hire, 120 hours for 1 year, 160 hours for over 2 years.
- Paid holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
- Hybrid work option.
To Be Considered:
Please submit a single PDF document consisting of a cover letter articulating your interest in this role and a resume outlining your professional background, including outcomes that might be consistent with this role. Materials can be emailed to the Chair of the Search Committee: kelsey.duffy@believet.org.