The Fund for our Economic Future (“Fund”) seeks a Director of Emerging Initiatives to join its small leadership team. The Fund is primarily an in-office environment, with some remote work and schedule flexibility possible. ​The Fund seeks to attract both established and emerging leaders. ​This position reports to the President of the Fund and it ​has a starting salary of $95,000 with upward flexibility for a candidate with demonstrated capabilities and significant relevant prior experience. Proposals for alternative to full-time employment relationships—e.g., part time, contracted support or a firm—can be considered, with the stipulation that any support capacity selected is ultimately expected to be based somewhere in Northeast Ohio.

About the Fund

Founded in 2004, the Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equitable economic growth in Northeast Ohio. It is based in a unique membership model that brings together leaders from across sectors and throughout the region to collectively invest in, test, and amplify strategies for equitable growth. Ultimately, it unites understanding and actions to drive lasting change for Northeast Ohio’s economy and get to a better tomorrow, for all. For more about the Fund for Our Economic Future, please visit www.thefundneo.org.

Position Summary:

The Director of Emerging Initiatives is responsible for identifying issues that matter to equitable growth and structuring new approaches to addressing the identified issues.

The person most likely to succeed in this role has their finger on the pulse of the possible, lives to ideate, iterate, and structure solutions, has a strong grasp of the principles of equitable economic growth, can understand and interpret economic data, can effectively deploy multiple influence tactics and can connect between pilot initiatives and systemic change. They understand and account for systemic barriers beyond the influence of the Fund, but they are not paralyzed by them. They are excited to apply the Fund’s assets to big issues, enjoy facilitating, bringing structure to unstructured ideas and building partnership. They are motivated by the potential to drive more equitable economic outcomes for the people of Northeast Ohio.

Core Responsibilities:

Emerging Initiative Ideation. Director is charged with staying abreast of issues that matter to equitable economic growth and listening for and ideating around opportunities for the Fund to drive stronger outcomes. Responsibilities include:

  • Moving one or more current issues from idea to an action plan;
  • Bridging between problem observation and potential solutions;
  • Maintaining a strong cross-sector (private, public, philanthropic and community-based) partnership network, especially listening for opportunities for the Fund to support problem solving or new initiative development; and
  • Keeping up with the field of equitable economic growth.

Existing Initiative Oversight. Director will have primary accountability for one or more existing job creation, job access and racial inclusion efforts, e.g., developing a community investment fund, expansion of the ESGP tool or the next steps for The Paradox Prize.

Education and Experience Specific to the Position:

  • A wide variety of past experiences could be applied to this position. Within those, prior experience influencing leaders without positional authority, structuring ideas, building new and/or bridging existing networks, serving in a consulting capacity and leading teams will be important for this position.
  • Demonstrated capacity to recognize broad, high level issues and translate into plans of action; evaluate the relative potential and intersecting influence of various solutions to advance systems change; and design and execute on those solutions in ways that enhance collective understanding, measure impact and identify promising outcomes for scale.
  • Evidence of exceptional listening skills, critical thinking ability, oral communication and presentation skills, economic analysis and an understanding of what matters for equitable economic growth and the communities the Fund seeks to serve are all extremely important.
  • Other important qualities include a working knowledge of economic data, service orientation, ability to self-manage, ability to manage and facilitate others, and written communication skills.
  • No specific level of education is required.

Good to Know:

  • The Fund is a mission-driven organization. Candidates best suited to this work are those excited about and ready to engage on tough issues related to advancing a growing, more equitable economy for all residents of Northeast Ohio, regardless of race or place.
  • The Fund values its staff and offers (and encourages use of!) competitive paid time off. Full time staff are covered by medical, dental, and short and long-term disability policies.
  • We seek to build a caring, high-performance culture. We also strive to be an environment where achieving excellence at work doesn’t prevent team members from living full outside-of-work lives.
  • The Fund is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. We embrace and celebrate diversity and strive to create genuine belonging for all.

Applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Carolyn Cleveland (ccleveland@thefundneo.org.) Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

 

Published
February 14, 2023