City Rescue Mission exists to see men, women, and families experiencing homelessness and hardship transformed spiritually, physically, and mentally for productive lives. Its vision centers on the healing power of the Holy Spirit and the hope that its work will help the community see people experiencing homelessness differently. Transformation includes knowing and following Jesus, recovering from destructive habits, restoring health, developing skills, maintaining employment, and living with stability and purpose.
Core Values:
Loving God: Honor God through the work, depend on Him in prayer, and allow Scripture to shape decisions and relationships.
Loving and Protecting Others: Recognize the image of God in every person, show dignity and respect, and protect physical and emotional safety.
Integrity above Reproach: Lead honestly and consistently, with character that inspires trust and welcomes accountability.
Excellence in Stewardship: Use the time, abilities, relationships, and resources entrusted to the Mission responsibly and effectively.
At CRM, faith is part of the daily life of the organization. Chapel, prayer, biblical teaching, and personal encouragement belong alongside the practical work of meals, counseling, finances, and facilities. Every role contributes to ministry. The CEO should be comfortable sharing Scripture with a group, praying with a staff member, and learning the name and story of someone receiving care.
Staff consistently describe the kind of leadership they value: someone who listens, stays steady under pressure, speaks honestly, and is willing to be interrupted. They appreciate a leader who can correct with gentleness, make difficult decisions, and maintain healthy boundaries. They want to be trusted to do their work and supported when that work becomes difficult.
The next leader will join a team with deep experience and strong convictions, along with newer staff bringing fresh perspectives. Caring for the people who serve is essential to caring well for the people who come to CRM.
The CEO reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the Mission’s spiritual leadership, organizational health, and long term sustainability. Leading through the executive team and department leaders, this person will keep CRM’s Christian purpose central while ensuring its resources and operations support safe, effective ministry.
Lead the Mission and Its People
Model a mature Christian life and uphold CRM’s Statement of Faith, Position Statements, and Code of Ethics. Provide biblical encouragement and help sustain a culture of grace, integrity, and accountability. Know the people doing the work and remain connected to those receiving care. Develop leaders, clarify responsibilities, and strengthen collaboration across departments and locations.
Build Relationships and Secure Support
Serve as CRM’s principal fundraiser and public representative. Partner with development leadership to cultivate and steward major donors, churches, businesses, foundations, and other supporters. Make clear invitations to invest in the Mission, expand dependable revenue, and help the community understand the breadth and impact of CRM’s work. Prepare future capital fundraising efforts with the direction and authorization of the Board.
Guide Strategy and Steward Resources
Translate strategic direction into achievable priorities, budgets, and measures of progress. Oversee financial performance, cash flow, internal controls, audits, and the responsible use of restricted and unrestricted funds. Evaluate the ongoing costs of proposed growth, strengthen operational capacity, and ensure facilities and technology support the ministry effectively.
Support Excellent Care
Work with program leaders to sustain services that integrate Christian discipleship with sound professional practice. Understand the realities of homelessness, addiction, mental health needs, and recovery. Support staff training, resident safety, appropriate clinical partnerships, accreditation requirements, and continuous improvement. Use meaningful outcomes and participant feedback to understand what is helping people move toward lasting stability.
Partner Well with the Board
Maintain candid, timely communication about finances, programs, people, risks, and strategic progress. Bring thoughtful recommendations, implement Board policy, and respect the distinction between governance and management. Help Board members understand the ministry well enough to provide effective oversight and represent it confidently in the community.
Lead a Thoughtful Transition
Work with Paul and the Board to transfer knowledge, responsibilities, and important relationships. Listen before making changes, communicate clearly, and build trust through consistent action. Honor the contribution of longstanding staff and supporters while giving the organization confidence in the next season of leadership.
- A mature and growing evangelical Christian faith, active participation in a local church, and full agreement with CRM’s Statement of Faith, Position Statements, and Code of Ethics.
- A leadership history marked by integrity, humility, emotional maturity, sound judgment, and accountability.
- At least ten years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience, with substantial responsibility for people, strategy, finances, operations, fundraising, and Board relationships.
- A Master’s degree in business, nonprofit management, social work, counseling, public administration, organizational leadership, theology, ministry, or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate donors, secure financial support, communicate impact, and build productive community relationships.
- Strong financial judgment, including experience with budgets, financial reporting, internal controls, funding restrictions, and the financial implications of growth.
- Experience developing leaders, delegating authority, and guiding change across a complex organization. Leadership in a Christian ministry, nonprofit, human services, healthcare, or comparable setting is strongly preferred.
- Understanding of the relationship between spiritual care and professional services. Experience with homelessness, addiction recovery, housing, workforce development, accreditation, government funding, or major facility initiatives would be valuable.
- Willingness to live in Jacksonville, become involved in the community, and lead visibly across CRM’s locations. The role includes evening and weekend commitments, travel, and responsiveness to urgent organizational needs.
- Ability to complete State of Florida’s required Level 2 background screening.
The CEO will oversee a connected range of services alongside the programming team. Each program has its own needs and responsibilities, and the leader must understand how they work together to support a person’s progress.
Shelter Care Services and Overcomers
Shelter Care Services provide meals and a safe place to stay for people facing immediate need. Overcomers offers 24 hour shelter care with individualized case management and connections to employment, housing, and other supports. The work requires compassion, practical problem solving, and a commitment to helping people move toward sustainable stability.
LifeBuilders Addiction Recovery
LifeBuilders is a residential Christian recovery program at the McDuff campus. Its approach integrates Bible study, counseling, education, life skills, work readiness, and case management. The goal is lasting change in a person’s recovery, relationships, employment, and housing. Medical and dental partnerships and alumni support extend the care available to participants.
Crossroads
Crossroads provides structured residential prison diversion services with individualized attention to mental health and recovery needs. The program helps participants prepare to return to community life with support, accountability, and a commitment to sobriety. Leadership must understand both the care being provided and the expectations attached to program partnerships.
Workforce Development and Homes of Hope
Workforce development helps participants build practical skills, prepare for employment, and move toward greater independence. Homes of Hope provides supportive transitional housing for people moving from residential programs into independent living. These services connect recovery with the daily responsibilities of work, housing, finances, and community.
Volunteers, Churches, and Community Support
Volunteers, ministry partners, employers, healthcare professionals, donors, and alumni contribute to the Mission’s work in different ways. The CEO will help these relationships grow into dependable support for residents and programs, while maintaining clear expectations, respectful communication, and faithful stewardship.
Social Enterprise
CRM’s thrift store, chocolate, and baking ventures connect business with ministry, creating opportunities to support the Mission through everyday purchases. These enterprises offer another way for the community to participate in CRM’s work and contribute to its financial sustainability. The CEO will help guide their development, balancing business performance with ministry purpose and exploring how each venture can support practical skill building and pathways to employment.
The next CEO will help CRM connect a significant long term vision with the realities of daily ministry. Vision 2046 and the Mission’s strategic planning address its downtown presence, the development of the McDuff campus, deeper community engagement, better technology, and continuous improvement in services. This leader will work with the Board and team to determine the right sequence, establish realistic priorities, and align growth with the resources and capacity to sustain it.
Fundraising and community leadership will be central. CRM needs a CEO who enjoys building relationships, can communicate why the ministry matters, and is willing to make a direct invitation to give. Working closely with development leadership, the CEO will strengthen existing donor relationships and introduce new supporters to the Mission. Broadening dependable support for everyday ministry will matter alongside future investment in facilities and programs.
Facility planning must be connected to the lives of those receiving care. Decisions about McDuff, downtown services, and future capacity will require thoughtful attention to access, staffing, funding, partnerships, and continuity of services. The next leader will help the Board evaluate readiness for future capital fundraising and move forward within its approved direction. The opportunity calls for patience and judgment as well as vision.
Through it all, CRM needs a leader who will become part of Jacksonville. This person will build relationships across churches, employers, public agencies, and other service providers, helping the city better understand both the needs of its neighbors and the possibilities for their future. A stronger public understanding of CRM can lead to deeper support and more opportunities for people rebuilding their lives.