NOW HIRING

Associate Director

Position Summary
The Associate Director reports to the Executive Director and assists the Executive Director in management functions including: human resources, financial systems, budgeting, fundraising, board communications, program management and organizational leadership, and may act in the Executive Director’s absence. We offer a competitive salary including benefits, depending on experience.

Why is this position important?
The Associate Director is a senior leader who champions our mission both within Urban Roots and with our partners and community. The Associate Director also helps lead and build an effective team while setting strategy and direction for the organization.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for someone who demonstrates a habit of servant leadership, is engaged in community citizenship, and models the values that are core to our organization:

  • Stewardship: we work for the benefit of others and those who come after us
  • Sustainability: a healthy future begins with today’s attitudes and practices
  • Inclusion: we cultivate a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and included
  • Collaboration: together we can achieve more than we can alone
  • Continuous Improvement: we never stop learning from our past to improve our future

Urban Roots is a fast-paced dynamic environment that demands passion for our work, courageous leadership, inquisitiveness, and flexibility. Our people are what make us successful which means the ability of our leaders to build and maintain strong relationships is critical.

The Associate Director position involves substantial amounts of writing (including grant writing and reporting, business communications, and letters to partners and donors), so strong writing skills are required.

Collaboration is central to executing our mission. Candidates must have a demonstrated ability to work effectively with staff, partner organizations, funders, volunteers, and members of the community at large. We work with diverse groups of different cultures, languages, religions, economic status, ages, professions, and levels of education. Cultural competence is a must.

Familiarity with budgeting and financial reporting is critical.  Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of relevant experience. Non-profit and supervisory experience is preferred.

Position Details
The Associate Director will assist the Executive Director in the following areas:

  • Community Relations: Establish and maintain productive working relationships and cooperative arrangements with related community groups and partner organizations. Serve as an effective spokesperson for Urban Roots to other organizations, the media, and the public.
  • Staff Management: Ensure that an effective team is in place and that they function to their fullest potential. Ensure compliance with personnel policies and government regulations. Responsible for hiring, terminating, training, supervision and annual evaluation of staff. Setting benchmarks for staff, and continuously evaluating performance. Oversee staff development
  • Financial Management: Use sound financial practices to plan, forecast, and prepare an annual budget and oversee adequate control and accounting of all funds including disbursements in accordance with contract and donor requirements. Maintain official records and documents and ensure compliance with regulations and reporting requirements.
  • Fundraising: Assist with fundraising planning and implementation to meet revenue goals and ensure that productive relationships are maintained with all funding sources including individual donors, while identifying new funding opportunities.
  • Strategic Planning: Maintain a working knowledge of developments and trends in the organization’s areas of work; work with program staff to incorporate into program development. Ensure that Urban Roots makes consistent progress toward its strategic plan milestones and goals by setting objectives and producing timely plans with action steps.
  • Program Development: Provide leadership in developing program and organizational plans with the Board of Directors, staff and Executive Director. Evaluate programs on an on-going basis to ensure goals and objectives are met. Report program outcomes as required by funders.

Apply
Submit resume, cover letter, salary/benefit requirements, and contact information for at least 3 references (name, organization, e-mail, phone number) to urbanrootsboard@gmail.com. Direct any questions to the e-mail address above. No phone calls, please. The position will be open until filled.

Our Story
For 50 years, Urban Roots has provided a range of community development services in Minnesota with a common thread of empowerment, engagement, and innovation. We have operated our food and environmental youth programs on the East Side of Saint Paul for over 20 years, engaging thousands of youth in education, training, and work projects that provide services to the community, develop young leaders, and improve their health and the environment. We have three programs at Urban Roots: Market Garden, Cook Fresh, and Conservation.

Urban Roots has a unique niche on the East Side of St. Paul. We are proud to mentor 60 youth each year from underserved families in paid job experience, while engaging them in leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities, providing the tools to strengthen self-confidence and self-esteem, and an introduction to career pathways in conservation, food, and agriculture.

Urban Roots has 4 FT Program Managers and Directors, 5 seasonal program staff, a FT Executive Director, 1 PT Marketing and Events Director, as well as an Accounting contractor. The offices are in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of Saint Paul with program work sites located in surrounding neighborhoods.