President

ROLE

President of Whatcom Business Alliance

HOURS

Full-time, Monday through Friday

BENEFITS

Health insurance allocation, retirement plan and paid time off

COMPENSATION

$72K to $90K per year, depending on experience

APPLY

Open until filled; apply via Indeed. Please include a cover letter.

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As president of Whatcom Business Alliance in Bellingham, WA, you will lead and direct a member-focused nonprofit organization that is driven to facilitate business success and community prosperity in Whatcom County. The work you do will strategically bring together business leaders, industries, policymakers and the public in ways that positively impact economic health and quality of life.

Under the guidance of our board of directors, you will be responsible for day-to-day operations, including the development and implementation of strategic plans, budgets and policies. You will publicly represent Whatcom Business Alliance and our members in compelling ways. You will build and enhance positive relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders by working in alignment with these corporate values: truth, respect, accountability, passion, education, integrity, optimism and community.

WBA operates with a small, tight-knit and collaborative team of staff and contracted service providers. In the role of president, you will provide leadership and direction to these individuals, helping them efficiently and effectively serve our members and our community.

Each day with WBA provides an opportunity to bring about positive change in the Whatcom County community. We hope you’ll consider joining us!

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The information outlined below represents a general overview of the president’s role. WBA is a member-focused organization that is responsive to the evolving business and advocacy needs of its members. Under the direction of the WBA president and considering the nonprofit’s nature of continuous improvement, these are subject to change.

This list represents critical success factors – measurable areas of focus for the role of WBA president:

• staff and process development;
• board engagement, development and good governance;
• business continuity and financial stability;
• member engagement;
• communications; and
• advocacy – research, analysis, education, advocacy, funding.

Job description: https://whatcombusinessalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Job-description-for-WBA-president-1.pdf

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Due to the high impact of this role on our community, we ask that you have the following level of business acumen and leadership experience:

• five or more years of experience in economics, business, community development or association management, with a record of accomplishments and career advancement;
• three or more years of experience in leading and inspiring staff and teams of stakeholders;
• familiarity with local, state and federal governing organizations and policymakers; and
• familiarity with 501(c)3 nonprofit operations.

EDUCATION

For this nonprofit leadership role, the following level of education (or a suitable amount of experience and working knowledge) is preferred.

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration or a similar field.

TRAITS DESIRED FOR THIS NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BELLINGHAM, WA

In order to effectively manage the above tasks, successful candidates will have many of the following traits:

• A strong desire to support and advocate on behalf of Whatcom County businesses, from mom and pop operations to small businesses to the largest employers in our community.
• The ability to communicate confidently in ethical, transparent ways (verbally and in writing) while maintaining confidentiality when required.
• The ability to develop and leverage interpersonal relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Leadership skills that motivate and encourage staff, contracted service providers, volunteers and others.
• A natural comfort and confidence in addressing both small and large audiences.
• A mind for critical thinking and strategic planning and the ability to set and achieve goals.
• An appreciation for your role in the stewardship of WBA and a willingness to protect the organization for decades to come.
• A sense of realistic optimism and a positive disposition.

ABOUT WHATCOM BUSINESS ALLIANCE

Whatcom Business Alliance serves as the eyes, ears and voice of the local business community. We believe success is the single largest driver of community prosperity, which is why we focus our efforts on advocacy, research, education and job growth. We bring business leaders together to encourage, acknowledge and share the best business practices. Our members improve their respective businesses and work closely with community leaders to promote public policy that supports a healthy business climate and a vibrant economy. Learn more at whatcombusinessalliance.com/about.

WBA is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including decisions to hire, promote, discipline or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $72,000.00 to $90,000.00 /year

Experience:

• operations management: 5 years (Required)
• nonprofit management: 2 years (Required)
• team leadership: 3 years (Required)

Location:

• Bellingham, WA (Required)

Work Location:

• One location

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off

This Company Describes Its Culture as:

• Innovative — innovative and risk-taking
• People-oriented — supportive and fairness-focused
• Team-oriented — cooperative and collaborative

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• 8 hour shift