Executive Director

Scion Executive Search (SES) has been retained to conduct a search for an Executive Director on behalf of our fantastic client, Good Work Austin, a socially responsible nonprofit that fosters healthy careers in the local Austin food and beverage industry through professional development and advocacy to produce more equitable systems and practices.

The incoming Executive Director will support the organization’s mission of amplifying the voices of like-minded local businesses in feeding the community, training workers, fostering healthy workplaces, and creating Good Work for Austin and beyond!

ABOUT GOOD WORK AUSTIN:
Good Work Austin (GWA) is a 501(c)3 that envisions a healthier Austin connected and uplifted by the local food and beverage community. The organization began as a group of distinct businesses that united to work with the Austin City Council to write Austin’s Paid Sick Leave ordinance. Their alliance continued thereafter, creating a supportive environment for employers who want to do the right thing for their employees, communities, the economy, and the environment. To achieve that vision, GWA partners with local bar & restaurant owners and their teams to create a stronger community by advocating for more equitable hospitality industry practices, ongoing training, and workforce education. GWA is the only hospitality-centric association in Central Texas that focuses on supporting owners and employees of locally owned businesses, with 180 participating restaurant members in Austin.

Good Work Austin creates connections between small businesses, local non-profit organizations, and City agencies to strengthen its foundation; coach and support small businesses to pay better wages and provide greater benefits to improve the lives of Austin’s hospitality workforce; and offers culinary training programs to expand industry opportunities for people with obstacles to employment. Since May 2020, GWA’s Community Kitchen has distributed more than 2 million meals across 28 different locations and 29 locally owned participating restaurants. These efforts have fed and met the daily nutritional needs of Austin communities facing food insecurity, served as a critical resource when disaster strikes, and retained $10M in the local economy. GWA offers anti-harassment training, de-escalation training, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) workshops, and also provides resource guides to promote healthy employees, healthy workplaces, and healthy communities. GWA is a model that can be replicated in cities across Texas where small businesses want to collaborate, grow their business, and advocate for a sustainable future. You can learn more at https://www.goodworkaustin.org/.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
Good Work Austin’s Executive Director will be responsible for carrying out the organization’s mission and vision in accordance with the strategic plan, oversee the launch of new pilot training programs, represent GWA at public functions and/or meetings with other food system non-profits, and provide stability and momentum for the organization's daily operations.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is also responsible for maintaining the organization's financial viability, creating systems for staff supervision, and Board and leadership development. The perfect candidate will strongly value cooperation, inclusion, shared opportunity, equality, and fairness in the operation of their business.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Achieving the Mission

• Guide the overall direction of GWA and create an equitable and collaborative environment for staff that recognizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) alongside food justice. Enhance and embody the mission of GWA both internally and externally.
• Drive decision-making and further efforts to formulate a sustainable business model by creating guardrails and defining roles and responsibilities throughout the organization.
• Provide ongoing and regular mentorship and supervision to the Program Director. Ally with the Program Director to enhance GWA’s internal systems, processes, and controls that support a positive organizational culture and program success.
• Implement new initiatives in accordance with the newly developed Strategic Plan.
• Attend essential meetings and engagements with staff, Board, and partners to advance objectives.
• Remain up to date with food, beverage, and hospitality industry standards and advancements to provide the best-in-class offerings.
• Foster a sacred third space that supports locally owned and home-grown businesses to support our community and small businesses.

Community Outreach, Public Relations, and Marketing

• Model and promote collaborative and respectful relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, clients, volunteers, neighbors, and other colleagues in the community.
• Maintain the highest level of business integrity in dealing with vendors, delivery persons, case workers, city council members, volunteers, visitors & anyone interacting with the program.
• Engender growth, drive brand awareness, and convey GWA’s value proposition to the community at large. Assertively champion the organization whenever possible.
• Make meaningful community relationships within the hospitality and service industry. Expand reach and engagement with aligned restaurants to increase membership.
• Effectively market GWA’s services and distribute regular communication (via email, newsletter, social media, community channels, etc.) about programming and community events.

Financial Management and Fundraising

• Develop the FY2025 budget alongside the Board of Directors and make amendments to the FY2024 budget with the Program Director.
• Monitor the financial well-being of the organization, manage organizational resources within the constraints of the approved budget, and provide regular financial statements to the Board of Directors.
• Set a clear financial direction for the organization to engender long-term financial security. Pursue opportunities to diversify funding streams to support sustainability.
• Oversee grant writing processes, including researching opportunities, managing deadlines, and supervising the crafting of compelling proposals to secure funding.
• Promote GWA fundraising efforts including those initiated by GWA and its members.

Board Management and Support

• Support the Board of Directors in meeting their fiduciary and governance responsibilities.
• Present appropriate and timely reports to the Board of Directors to keep them informed about the status of the organization and its progress toward established goals.
• Collaborate with the Board Chair to plan and implement the executive committee meetings and full board meetings. Create policies and procedures for Board communication and decision-making.
• Support the board in recruitment, succession, and transition planning for long-term sustainability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3 years of leadership/management experience.
• 3 years of experience within a nonprofit setting.
• Experience within the hospitality and service industries preferred.
• Possess a love for food, restaurants, and your local community.
• Inhabit a ‘yes, and’ mentality for new ideas and opportunities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to convey messages clearly.
• Experience with Board management, governance, and recruitment.
• Small business experience a plus.
• Demonstrate a level of political savviness. Advocacy or lobbying experience a plus.
• Working knowledge of platforms like Microsoft Office Suite, ClickUp, and Slack a plus.
• Proficiency in English, with additional language capabilities, specifically Spanish, is a benefit.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
In addition to a competitive base salary of $90,000 - $105,000, GWA offers a monthly health care stipend, generous PTO package, professional development opportunities, connections within the hospitality industry, and paid time off for the following federal holidays: MLK day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People’s Day, and Thanksgiving with 5 days off between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and your birthday! The position is full-time, exempt, and at-will, with employees working remotely in Austin, Texas.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Good Work Austin encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this position. Good Work Austin is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

TO APPLY:
Good Work Austin has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter formatted in Microsoft Word, via
https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/11366/.

Please address applications to:
Ex Hopson, Executive Search Principle
Scion Executive Search
(888) 487-8850 Extension 142

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

ABOUT OUR FIRM:
Scion Executive Search is a national award-winning executive search firm! Since 2006, we have had the pleasure of successfully placing hundreds of exceptional leaders to organizations with incredible missions and programs. Through our innovative team building and recruitment solutions, we seamlessly bridge the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process has made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.

We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Executive Search Firms and the Best Recruitment Firms in America. Additionally, we have been recognized as a recruitment leader by ClearlyRated, as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times for over ten years running. More information about Scion Executive Search can be found at www.scionexecutivesearch.com

Scion Executive Search, a division of Scion Staffing, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and for the candidates we represent. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and for the candidates we represent. For opportunities located in a region that have enacted fair chance, arrest or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We believe in following best practices and considering all qualified applicants that apply with us.