Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Background

Learning. Lending. Building

Trellis in Phoenix, AZ seeks a dynamic and strategic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is committed to advancing Trellis’ mission to making stable homes and communities possible through education and building.

THE ORGANIZATION 

Since establishing roots in 1975 with help from the City of Phoenix and NeighborWorks America, Trellis has made stable homes possible.  Trellis provides home ownership counseling, financial access, and neighborhood development – a community resource in Arizona for learning, lending, and building.  Regardless of income, education, or background, Trellis helps individuals and families set goals, become informed, and move forward.

As a NeighborWorks America member and a Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center, Trellis is connected to a strong network spanning all 50 states.  Together, they cultivate communities in which people thrive through four pillars:

Trellis Programs

• Education: Trellis provides homebuyer education, an essential step toward sustainable homeownership. Certified instructors provide support as individuals navigate the mortgage process and prepare homebuyers for the responsibilities that come with being a homeowner. Trellis has supported 3,905 first-time homebuyers since its inception.
• Lending: Buying a home is often the largest investment people make. Trellis lending team opens doors and makes the most appropriate sources of capital available to homebuyers.  Trellis has originated over 2,300 loans.
• Real Estate: Trellis creates sustainable homeownership opportunities to help realize dreams. Trellis Real Estate Development builds affordable new housing throughout the Valley, and its licensed real estate agents help families connect with affordable existing homes throughout Maricopa County.  Over the past decade, 380 homes at a value of $65M have been sold.
• Community Building: Trellis resident engagement work is based on the Community Building and Engagement Program created by Neighborworks America. Trellis provides direct Economic Development support to local owned microbusinesses, anti-displacement efforts, and leadership training programs for residents. Eighty local businesses have received economic development support.

Trellis advances its work with a value for Inclusion, Equity, Diversity, and Accessibility. Trellis staff and clients are diverse, and Trellis services strive to make homeownership and financial literacy accessible and equitable to all.  They understand that equity does not mean making access equal to all; it means that some people may need extra support to be able to become homeowners or build financial capacity and knowledge to become financially stable.  The Trellis team understands that community is at the core, and together they can grow impact.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Trellis has an estimated annual budget of approximately $3.3 million and net assets of approximately $10 million. Governed by a fourteen-person diverse Board of Directors from all over Arizona, Trellis employs 17 staff members.   For more information, please visit the Trellis website at trellisaz.org.

Summary

THE POSITION

Key Priorities

The CEO will focus on the following priorities:

• Community Impact
  • Build on Trellis’ nearly 50-year history of service and impact
  • Align Trellis’ visibility with strategic/long-term planning
• Relationship Building
  • Sustain the passion for and dedication to mission impact by building a culture of trust, transparency, and engagement with staff and board
  • Develop, maintain, and steward relationships with political leaders, financial institutions, and partner organizations in the community
• Business Planning/Management
  • Strengthen and stabilize the organization’s financial health
  • Develop and lead long-range planning process to set strategic goals
  • Assess and develop near-term and long-term strategies to sustain core lines of business

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors and working collaboratively with the senior leadership team, the CEO takes a leadership role in the following activities:

• Working with the Board of Directors and staff to develop a vision for the future of the organization and determine the path for achieving that vision.
• Identifying opportunities for projects and partnerships that will advance the goals and impact of the organization.
• Maintaining a working knowledge of the market, the community, and the political environment in which the organization operates to identify challenges, threats, and innovative strategies for the success of the organization.

• Maintaining, strengthening, and growing relationships critical to the organization’s success, including with elected officials, program administrators, foundation officers, non-profit leaders, policy advocates, and the media.

• Fostering and inspiring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that builds on and advances leadership development.
• Developing and managing technology, systems, programs, and policies to move the organization forward.
• Effectively managing the human and financial resources of the corporation and administering day-to-day operations to deliver services to target area residents at a level which achieves positive impact in accordance with corporate objectives.
• Act as the face and voice of Trellis and provide effective internal and external communication.

Requirements

Experience and Attributes

Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate an ability to quickly integrate into the organization and community. Trellis is seeking candidates with a variety of experience and attributes with emphasis on the following:

Background

• Proven leadership and management experience in an organization with a similar mission and space
• At least 10 years of executive level experience in affordable housing and community development
• Experience working with or for community partners in the nonprofit space (including agencies, businesses, nonprofits)
• Experience or understanding of Arizona and its surrounding community preferred

Skills & Attributes

• Strong staff management experience including an inclusive, visionary, inspirational, mission-oriented, and transparent leader who can balance strategy and action
• Strong understanding of fiscal management, budgeting, and operations, including responsibility for strengthening, developing, and managing a budget
• Experience overseeing staff leadership development and empowerment
• Deep understanding and commitment to racial equity and justice, and experience incorporating it into all aspects of an organization
• Proven relationship building ability, exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills, coalition building
• Ability to cultivate, maintain, and advance trust and transparency with staff, board, and community
• Experience working with or serving on a nonprofit board
• Proven experience with overseeing and managing fast-paced organizational growth, including an expertise of strategic planning and oversight
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills and style, including listening, articulating key messages, and a polished executive presence

Compensation and Benefits

BENEFITS AND PERKS 

Trellis has established a salary range of $140k-170k for the position. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance; paid holidays, personal days, accrued vacation and sick time; 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; a diverse and inclusive work environment; and job training and professional development opportunities.

The Trellis office is near downtown Phoenix. The office operates under a hybrid schedule. The CEO position has a physical presence in the Phoenix area.

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, upload resume and cover letter which conveys your interest in this leadership opportunity by clicking here.  Please contact Shreya Mahatwo at shreya.mahatwo@marcumllp.com if you experience technical difficulties submitting your materials or if you are a qualified candidate with a disability and require an accommodation to complete your application. No other application materials will be reviewed at this time. Resume reviews begin immediately.

For other inquiries or to learn more about the position, contact Adrienne O’Rourke at adrienne.orourke@marcumllp.com.

Trellis is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employees and job applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, or any other status protected by law. Trellis strives to reflect the diverse constituencies that the organization serves.

About Marcum’s Nonprofit & Social Sector Group 

On behalf of Trellis, Marcum’s Nonprofit & Social Sector Group is working with the Trellis Board of Directors to advance the search. Founded in 1984, we are, and always have been, a mission-driven professional services firm seeking to do more for nonprofits and socially conscious companies like Trellis. Learn more about our work at www.marcumllp.com/industries/nonprofit-social-sector.