Are you driven to positively and profoundly impact the Omaha community? Do you have a passion for gardening and urban farming, equitable and sustainable food systems, and environmentalism? City Sprouts is rapidly growing, and we’re looking for an Executive Director with demonstrated leadership success and an appetite for welcoming organizational growth and change.
About City Sprouts
City Sprouts is an Omaha-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to use urban agriculture as a platform to develop equitable food systems, provide educational opportunities, and build community. We work with Omaha-area residents, volunteers, and interns to grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs using environmentally responsible and sustainable gardening techniques in our community gardens and urban farm. We have several educational programs and settings where people of diverse ages and backgrounds can learn and grow together. We work with the community to build local food systems, improve community health, empower neighborhoods, and strengthen economic viability and sustainability.
Position Overview
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for City Sprouts’ staff, programs, expansion, fundraising, and execution of its mission.
Primary Responsibilities
Leadership
- In collaboration with the Board of Directors, spearhead the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic plan.
- Liaise with the Board of Directors to ensure elevated governance and well-executed fiduciary responsibilities.
- Lead the day-to-day operations of the organization through delegation and empowerment to the appropriate staff, while aligning all with the organization’s strategic directions.
- Develop a strong culture of communication, collaboration, and order.
- Conduct personnel selection, manage staff performance and accountability, and support staff in their professional development.
- Ensure staff has appropriate resources to accomplish program goals.
- Maintain official records and documents in compliance with current laws and best practices.
Development & Finance
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of multi-year fundraising plans and strategies.
- Involve the Board and staff in the execution of fundraising strategies.
- Prospect and write grant applications that further the organization’s mission and goals.
- Ensure full compliance with awarded grant contracts -- including state and federal awards.
- Foster authentic relationships with donors and stakeholders.
- Develop strong partnerships between City Sprouts and the Omaha community.
- Achieve City Sprouts’ annual revenue goals through sales, fundraising, and grant writing.
- Manage financial performance and accountability.
- Collaborate with the staff, treasurer, accountant, and Board in preparing monthly, annual, and special budgets, ensuring that the organization operates within established budget guidelines.
Minimum Qualifications
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Read more here.
- Bachelor’s Degree (Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Business, or related field) OR equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated ability to supervise and lead a high performing team. (Minimum of three years organizational leadership role.)
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, such as volunteers, staff, community leaders, and organizational partners.
- Demonstrated success as a grant writer and fundraiser.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficient computer skills: specifically, technically savvy enough to use the Google Office Suite, donor management systems, such as Kindful or Bloomerang, and various grant application and reporting systems.
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the job (prolonged sitting at a desk, working outside in various weather conditions, bending, and lifting.)
- Ability to work a varied schedule to include days and some nights and weekends.
- Commitment to role-modeling organization’s prioritization of diversity, equity, and inclusion work.
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate Degree
- Five years or more experience in nonprofit leadership.
- Five or more years in fundraising, sales, membership management, or marketing.
- Demonstrated success soliciting major donations ($25K+) from individual and business contributors.
- Excited about the opportunity to initiate and drive a capital campaign.
- Working knowledge of the philanthropic community in the greater Omaha metropolitan area and experience writing and administering federal grants.
- Experience working with vendors, city officials, and regulatory offices.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is $80,000 – $97,000 annually based on experience. Benefits include 12 paid holidays, PTO and paid sick time, dental and vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, and a stipend for health expenses.
Candidates from outside Omaha may also be awarded a modest relocation stipend.
City Sprouts is an equal-opportunity employer. People of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and those from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. City Sprouts does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnic background, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
This role is being posted and promoted by Parlay Consulting Firm on behalf of the City Sprouts Search Committee with support from their board of directors. Parlay’s role is to provide project management support and does not determine final candidate selection.