Executive Director - Ontrack Financial Education & Counseling

The Opportunity

This is an incredible opportunity for a humble, innovative leader to join an outstanding organization with a strong reputation, 50 years of community work, a highly motivated staff, and experienced board. It’s an organization that is deeply appreciated by the community, has a history of expanding programs to adapt to community needs, and is the only service provider of free financial, credit and housing counseling in the area.

The Executive Director of OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling (OnTrack WNC) will be responsible for leading the organization to achieve its Mission and deliver its strategic vision. The Executive Director brings visionary leadership to all areas of the agency’s operations, providing oversight of the organization’s programs, culture, values, talent, and financial performance.

Reporting to and working closely with the Board, the Executive Director will provide transparent leadership to enhance OnTrack WNC in ways that both build on its history and expertise and positions the organization to meet the future needs of the region. This includes driving an innovative strategic plan that creates future funding, new initiatives, and an even stronger infrastructure.

The Executive Director will have the privilege of working alongside a committed group of OnTrack WNC staff and volunteers.

• OnTrack WNC’s Executive Leadership Team is made up of five members, including the Program Director, Operations Director, Grants & Development Director, and (contract) Finance Director who all support the Executive Director.
• In addition to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, there are four other Board Committees, including Fundraising, Engagement, Investment, and DEI committees.

The Executive Director will be a deeply engaged member of the community representing the agency throughout the region and beyond. The Executive Director will work effectively in a highly visible role with a broad range of constituents, both within OnTrack WNC and externally.

The Executive Director will continue to build the reputation of the agency, clearly articulating a unique value proposition and ensuring all OnTrack WNC’s programs and work- internally and externally- reflect the organization’s deeply held values and mission. In partnership with the staff, the Executive Director will take risks, implement new ideas, support innovation, and foster creativity throughout the organization.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have a combination of these qualities, skills, and experiences. We welcome people of all backgrounds and people with lived experience.

• An authentic spokesperson and relationship builder – Being OnTrack’s representative in the community. The Executive Director will be an authentic ambassador and community builder. They will be a dynamic, engaging, and credible leader of the organization. The Executive Director will have the skills to articulate the vision of the organization to its supporting community, attracting new and diverse members. This leader will demonstrate an ability to cultivate relationships with leaders in the private and corporate sectors as well as build effective coalitions. The ideal candidate can balance collaboration and decisiveness, understanding where input is needed while getting things done. The leader will have a high level of emotional intelligence with a demonstrated ability to quickly build trust and credibility with the people in WNC.
• A visionary and collaborative leader – This is the future. The Executive Director will possess a deep drive and passion for ensuring OnTrack WNC remains at the forefront of anticipating and responding to community needs, continually developing new opportunities to serve the mission. They will bring a keen understanding of the changing landscape of economic opportunity and social services and will have evidence of successful innovation in programming alongside an eagerness to engage the next generation of leaders in the future of the agency. The Executive Director will demonstrate an authentic, confident and humble spirit that enables them to be an effective storyteller and represent OnTrack WNC with a range of partners and community members. The Executive Director will be highly strategic, setting priorities decisively but collaboratively, delegating responsibilities, ensuring accountability, and allocating resources to ensure success. They will be skilled at listening to and learning from others with a deep belief in fostering a transparent, empowered, and productive organizational culture. The Executive Director will recognize the importance of the commitment of staff and will foster an atmosphere of collaboration and partnership across the organization. They will also be able to effectively use technology including Microsoft Office applications, online grant applications, and other software.
• Passion for helping people – This is more than a job. The Executive Director will embody the values and mission of the organization by embracing inclusivity and caring, and continuing to lead the staff, Board, volunteers, and clients so that each stakeholder can belong, contribute, and succeed. Leading by example, the Executive Director will always understand that empathy is an essential quality. The Executive Director will have a collaborative spirit and will be a humble and engaging leader who treats all with respect. The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation.
• Fundraiser and Steward for OnTrack – This role includes making direct asks. The executive leader will develop and nurture meaningful relationships and promote OnTrack WNC with its many constituents and partners. As the lead external voice of the organization, the Executive Director will have the skills to share the agency’s vision to its supporting community, attracting new and diverse partnerships. The Executive Director will have a demonstrated understanding of how to run a financially sound organization, including experience managing and operating a budget comparable to that of OnTrack WNC (>$1M) along with multiple grants. The Executive Director will have familiarity with a wide range of funding streams, including individual giving, organizational funding partners, government programs, contracts for service, and foundation support.
• An equity-focused leader with deep community connection – Leading by example. The executive leader will have a deep understanding of the issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and will infuse these concepts and values across the organization. This person will be responsive to the needs of the community and will be aware and respectful of the unique cultures and regional diversity represented throughout the service area. A resourceful coach and capable facilitator, the Executive Director will have the ability to lead and guide the leadership team to continue its impactful work. The Executive Director will continue development of awareness and confidence to address and champion equity in all aspects of the organization. The successful candidate will have the character and integrity to develop rapport with people of varying experiences, backgrounds, and philosophies, and to understand the nuanced differences among each community the agency serves. The Executive Director will be accountable to the community about OnTrack WNC’s equity commitments. Experience working directly in Western North Carolina, with historically marginalized communities, and/or BIPOC led organizations is preferred.

About the Organization

OnTrack WNC is Western North Carolina’s trusted non-profit source for financial education and counseling.

Since 1973, OnTrack WNC has helped people achieve their money and housing goals through financial education, counseling and support so that they can overcome crises, afford basic needs, improve money management skills and make sound financial choices rooted in their values.

We are a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), a HUD-approved counseling agency, and have consistently achieved an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Our service area includes Western North Carolina, and office is in Asheville.

Equity in our hiring process is important to us.
OnTrack WNC strives to foster leadership opportunities and raise the voices of historically marginalized people, including, but not limited to, Black people and other people of color, Indigenous and Native peoples, LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming people, disabled people, immigrants, and low-income people. We strongly encourage candidates of these, or other, diverse backgrounds to apply.

Want to know more? Visit OnTrack WNC’s website at www.ontrackwnc.org.

Additional Preferred Attributes

• Experience in nonprofit management
• Candidates with lived experience in creating financial stability and economic sustainability and/or from diverse backgrounds welcome
• Ability to understand the financial complexities and regulatory necessities of an organization that operates with government funding (e.g. HUD) and private donations
• Compassion for and experience with those who have faced challenges with financial stability and economic mobility
• Understanding of the economic challenges, government, and philanthropic landscapes of Western North Carolina

Think you are the next OnTrack WNC Executive Director?

Apply today!

Review of candidates will begin in mid-April and continue until the position is filled. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.

Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and starts at $100K. This position includes flexibility for partial remote work. Additionally, OnTrack WNC provides significant employee benefits: On your first day, you’ll be eligible for medical, life, and disability insurance. There are 10 paid holidays in addition to personal time off. After one year, OnTrack WNC will also contribute to a 401(k)-retirement plan (currently 5% of annual salary).

OnTrack WNC is committed to equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age. We strongly encourage candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply.

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