Key Responsibilities
- Shepherd the Culture and Staff: Lead with presence and relationship, fostering a culture of trust, empowerment, and shared ownership. Invest in staff at every level, ensuring people feel seen, valued, and equipped to serve.
- Lead and Develop the Team: Assess and strengthen the organizational structure, ensuring the right leaders are in the right roles. Recruit, hire, develop, and onboard key staff, including an executive team, to build the capacity needed to support long-term health and growth.
- Build Community and External Presence: Serve as the Mission’s primary ambassador, building relationships with donors, churches, civic leaders, and community partners. Personally engage in major donor stewardship while strengthening the development function.
- Shape Vision and Strategic Direction: Collaborate with the board and staff to define and execute a clear path forward with a strategic plan that brings alignment and momentum across programs and priorities.
- Partner with the Board of Directors: Work closely with the board to ensure strong governance, clear communication, and shared ownership of the Mission’s direction and strategic priorities.
Key Qualifications
- Senior leadership experience as a CEO, Executive Director, COO, or similar, with responsibility for staff, budget, and organizational direction.
- Experience in rescue missions, homelessness, addiction, and/or mental health and trauma preferred.
- Experience building and strengthening leadership teams in growing or evolving organizations.
- Track record of cultivating donor relationships, including major donors
- Experience working with a board of directors and navigating governance dynamics
- Baseline financial acumen, including the ability to understand financials and engage in the budget process.
Staff Culture + Core Values
Rockford Rescue Mission has a deeply relational, Christ-centered culture rooted in a shared calling to serve those in need with compassion, dignity, and faith. Staff are committed to walking alongside guests in both practical and spiritual transformation, with an opportunity in this next season to strengthen communication, collaboration, and shared leadership across the organization.
The Mission’s core values are:
- Living for the Glory of God
- Respecting Human Dignity and Immortality
- Proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Modeling Compassionate Generosity
- Partnering with the Church and Community
- Serving with Integrity and Excellence
- Rejoicing in Lives Changed by God
The Challenge + Opportunity
- Lead the Mission’s first major leadership transition in over two decades: Step into a pivotal moment with the full support of an outgoing CEO transitioning to a President Emerita role, committed to the next leader’s success.
- Build on a strong foundation: Inherit a well-loved ministry with committed donors, financial stability, and a passionate staff – and help guide it into its next season.
- Strengthen the leadership bench: Assess, develop, and recruit the right leaders into the right roles, building executive capacity needed for sustainable growth.
- Invest in the community: Engage and expand relationships across Rockford’s church, civic, and referral networks, where meaningful opportunity remains.
- Grow the Mission’s reach and impact: Enhance program utilization and connect more people in the community to its life-changing work.
First-Year Wins
- Listen and learn across staff, donors, board, and community. Build trust by showing up consistently, communicating honestly, and creating space for people to be heard.
- Clarify and begin strengthening the executive leadership structure and key senior roles.
- Foster a renewed sense of energy, empowerment, and collective investment across staff and programs.
- Establish personal credibility with key donors and begin developing direct relationships alongside the development team.