Vital Sites seeks an Executive Director for its headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louisville’s older buildings and blocks form the foundation of our city’s unique identity and rich diversity. Neighborhoods across the city demonstrate that the mix of and new welcomes residents of all ages and incomes and provides space for a thriving local economy.
Once known strictly for horses and bourbon, Louisville now boasts one of the most vibrant culinary scenes in the country, hosts world class artists and musicians, and is home to 26 miles of beautifully preserved Frederick Law Olmstead park system. Louisville is poised to become one of the most thriving, healthy, livable cities of the 21stcentury, leveraging building reuse as a powerful economic catalyst and smart urban design that maximizes existing land.
Vital Sites seeks an Executive Director to lead this new era of asset-based development in Louisville. This is an exciting opportunity to grow a dynamic nonprofit dedicated to building a healthier, more sustainable Louisville through reuse and reinvestment in our urban core.
About Vital Sites
Vital Sites invests in underutilized or endangered properties and vacant land to support revitalization efforts in Louisville’s neighborhoods. In addition to engaging directly in real estate development, Vital Sites provides consulting services on real estate deals and historic preservation, as well as thought leadership that supports and encourages investments in the existing built environment.
With the leadership of a strong, dedicated board, Vital Sites strengthens sustainable patterns of growth and investment, diversifies opportunities for development and reuse, supports a thriving local economy through creative adaptive reuse and infill construction.
Position Summary
The Executive Director is accountable for the overall leadership, direction and management of the organization’s resources to accomplish key goals, further the mission and build relationships throughout Metro Louisville. Reporting directly to the Board, this position manages and directs real estate development projects and leads a team of consultants and existing staff who advocate for and support community revitalization in Louisville. The Executive Director forms and leverages strategic partnerships with public and private entities to reach the organization’s goals. This position works directly with the Board to shape and execute a strategic vision for Vital Sites, planning for and stewarding its portfolio of real estate investments including the historic Brennan House, and securing financial support to ensure organizational sustainability.
Experience
The Executive Director should have at least 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including experience in real estate development, community development, nonprofit management, and historic preservation. Candidates should be comfortable finding, managing, and directing real estate development projects, be skilled in financial management, and have a proven track record in establishing individual, philanthropic, and corporate support. This position will interact with public, private, and civic enterprises, developing innovative partnerships that allow Vital Sites to play a pivotal role in catalytic projects. Candidates must have excellent leadership skills, including experience building and leveraging relationships within and among a diverse group of stakeholders in a community or business/nonprofit setting and must be able to advocate and facilitate for historic preservation and community revitalization, preferably in a challenging urban context.
Additional Qualifications
This is an ideal opportunity for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit combined with experience in real estate development. Success in this position requires agility, comfort in a ‘start-up’ setting, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced setting. Creativity, problem solving, innovation, and collaboration will also be key to its success. The ideal candidate will be comfortable holding a public profile of thought leadership in the historic preservation and real estate development fields, publicly representing the organization and promoting preservation as a tool for healthy, sustainable development.
For consideration, interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Your cover letter must address your experience and qualifications being sought. Send materials to: execsearch@nonprofithr.com, “ATTN: Vital Sites Executive Director Search” in the subject line. Electronic submissions highly preferred. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. Please visit: www.vitalsites.orgfor more information about the organization.
To obtain further details about this opportunity, contact Myra T. Mathis, Executive Search Practice Leader at Nonprofit HR at (202) 785-2060.
Photos courtesy of Vital Sites.