Chief Executive Officer Application

Position Specification

Chief Executive Officer

Carlson Beck advises TODCO Group based on an exclusive consulting assignment. The following details are for your information and should be shared with discretion.

POSITION SPECIFICATION

TODCO GROUP

The Position: Chief Executive Officer

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: San Francisco, California

THE ORGANIZATION

Vision

Working together with SoMa’s many communities, TODCO’s vision is to realize a just and inclusive Neighborhood of Opportunity.

For more than 50 years TODCO (Tenants and Owners Development Corporation) Group has been a powerful advocate for affordable housing in the South of Market (“SoMa”) neighborhood. Today, its properties in SoMa are home to more than 1,200 families and friends. Its residents are a living testament to what happens when you put people first in the neighborhood.

Mission

As South of Market Neighborhood Builders, it is the mission of the TODCO Group to assure that those living below the poverty line -- elders, hotel residents, homeless, immigrants, and families -- will always be an integral part of SoMa's future, always benefited rather than displaced by renewal, and able to meet basic needs for housing, nutrition, and economic security; to live in safety with dignity, respect, and equity; to share in community productivity to build social capital, wellness, and common assets; and to achieve their just aspirations now and for generations to come. It pursues this through affordable housing ownership, resident services, community arts, and active policy advocacy.

Values

TODCO’s work is guided by commitments that run through its history: resisting the displacement of low-income residents; ensuring dignity, respect, and equity for every resident; giving the community a real voice in decisions that shape the neighborhood; and putting tenants first in everything from property management to policy.

History and Overview

TODCO grew from a social movement of tenants and owners who joined forces to prevent the displacement of people living below the poverty line and elderly residents in SoMa in the late 1960s and 1970s. Now it is an affordable housing developer with a 50-year track record of improving the lives of South of Market residents.

In the 1960s when the City of San Francisco approved the massive Yerba Buena Center Redevelopment Project to demolish Third Street’s “skid row” and build a convention center, the poor and elderly residents organized to fight back and vowed “we won’t move!” Their federal lawsuit demanded decent relocation housing that brought the project to a halt for four years.

Ultimately, the City was legally required to provide four sites in Yerba Buena Center to replace the demolished housing and to provide tax funds to finance development. Thus, Tenants and Owners Development Corporation (“TODCO”) was born as one of San Francisco’s first nonprofit community-based housing development corporations.

TODCO went on to build and redevelop eight buildings in SoMa that now provide almost 1,000 living units for the elderly, homeless, hotel tenants and people with disabilities. In response to its residents’ need for professional support services and active social involvement, TODCO introduced its Resident Services and Activities Program (“RSAP”). And throughout it all, the organization has fought tirelessly to champion the needs and perspectives of its low income and senior residents through the rapid development and gentrification of SoMa.

Responsible development includes housing policy that respects the needs, rights and contributions of all of the people of San Francisco, including low-income residents and seniors. With unshakeable determination, TODCO has championed the belief that community input must shape San Francisco neighborhoods so that development meets human needs.

Current Key Program Areas

Affordable Housing Ownership: Eight SoMa properties serving seniors, formerly homeless, SRO hotel residents, and people with disabilities; most tenants pay 30% of income with HUD/DHSH subsidizing the remainder.
Resident Services & Activities Program (RSAP): Meals, recreation events, wellness programs, social activities, and case management across all properties.
Housing Policy Advocacy: Active engagement on San Francisco land use, development policy, and anti-displacement efforts.
Community Arts: 6th on 7th and 6M Community Arts programs providing cultural programming for SoMa residents.
Alice Street Community Garden: Neighborhood green space maintained for SoMa community members.
Photography Workshop: Creative programming for residents.

Organizational Leadership and Financials

TODCO has approximately 30 full-time staff members. The Chief Executive Officer oversees the following functional areas:

Advocacy
Asset Management
Finance and Accounting
Human Resources
Property Management
Resident Services and Activities Program (RSAP)
Social Work

TODCO is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors comprised of local community members, professionals in real estate, financial services, property management, and social services. The Board meets regularly, and its standing committees provide Board input regarding the organization’s functions. There is an annual day-long retreat attended by Board and senior staff for the purpose of updating the participants on sector and political influences, annual goal setting, and business plan review.

TODCO, and related entities, has an annual operating budget of approximately $8 million and a combined balance sheet of approximately $100 million, including properties held in limited partnerships. TODCO generates revenue from three primary sources: tenant rents which are HUD-subsidized, government service contracts and grants, and investment income. It has an endowment/reserve fund of approximately $9 million. Long-term ownership of its eight-property portfolio in SoMa entails balancing affordability, financial sustainability and periodic capital projects to maintain the physical assets.

For more information on TODCO, please see www.todco.org.

THE POSITION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

Building on founder John Elberling’s legacy of advocacy for, and development of, affordable housing for the underserved residents of the SoMa neighborhood, the next chief executive officer will be charged with visionary and strategic leadership and financial management to achieve TODCO’s mission. This exciting and challenging inflection point for TODCO is marked by the passing of Mr. Elberling and a generational leadership transition. TODCO is not looking for someone to replicate its founder, but for a CEO who can carry forward its resident-centered mission while building a strong institution for its next chapter. The organization enters this transition from a position of financial strength, with Board consensus around stabilizing and sharpening operational efficiency, reinvesting capital in aging buildings, deepening resident services, and charting a clear strategic direction for the next chapter of TODCO’s impactful work.

TODCO is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) to lead this iconic, highly respected San Francisco organization to meet current and future challenges and to capitalize on current and future opportunities. The outcomes of the CEO’s work will ensure organizational financial health, stability, and sustainability. Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the CEO, who is expected to be hands-on in overseeing them.

The CEO will hold together three parts of TODCO’s work: stewardship of its housing, resident services and resident voice, and TODCO’s role as an advocate for SoMa. The CEO does not need to be the single expert in every area but will have the judgment to lead a strong team of capable senior leaders, bring the Board clear choices and tradeoffs, and build trust with residents, staff, the City, and community partners. The CEO will also work in partnership with the Board on the organization’s direction, bringing entrepreneurial leadership to that partnership.

Challenges in the landscape of affordable housing development include high construction costs, shrinking federal and state funding, housing shortages, and city bureaucracy define a difficult sector-wide environment. However, TODCO’s strong financial position provides stability and relative freedom to choose its endeavors, even as many peer organizations face financial pressure. Even so, future funding needs and funder relationships remain important, and the CEO will value and build the external funding relationships that sustain TODCO’s work. The new CEO will focus on tightening up operations, such as increased cross functional teamwork, streamlining software and systems, improving collaboration with external partners, examining the performance and effectiveness of the property management company, and arriving at greater strategic clarity about where TODCO is and wants to be. Advocacy remains central to TODCO’s mission and identity.

Reporting to the full Board of Directors and working closely with the Executive Committee, the CEO works in thought partnership with them on strategic issues, policy issues, real estate (re)development, as appropriate, and high-level operational issues. The CEO partners with the Board on the organization’s future direction. Communication with the Board is transparent and proactive. The Board will work to consolidate, focus, and enforce stronger governance practices, including term limits.

This is an exciting executive opportunity to set a bold new vision for this financially strong, mission driven organization at a generational turning point. Carrying forward TODCO’s 50-year legacy of serving SoMa residents while leading TODCO into its next chapter makes this a compelling leadership opportunity.

Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership, Strategy, and Management

Provide thoughtful and strategic executive leadership to guide TODCO’s actions in pursuit of the organization’s mission, as defined and approved by the Board.
Direct and manage TODCO’s departments, including Resident Services (social work and activities), Policy and Research, Asset Management, Property Management, Finance and Accounting, Information Technology, and Human Resources, including day-to-day operations as well as long- and short-term planning and implementation.
Oversee TODCO’s real estate development activity, including projects currently underway, and work with the Board to evaluate and shape TODCO’s development strategy going forward.
Develop and strengthen organizational infrastructure to support operational effectiveness, organizational and staff health, and financial sustainability.
Develop and present strategic options, with clear choices and tradeoffs, for organizational impact and obtain Board approval, as needed, to carry out the work of TODCO’s mission; design and manage the implementation plan for these options.
Ensure TODCO’s financial health by prudently directing resources and managing all financials within budget guidelines; ensure TODCO’s long-term financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves, including cultivating funder, public-sector, and donor relationships and securing external funding as needs arise.
Develop the annual budget and long-term financial projections with TODCO senior leadership and staff.
Ensure timely compliance with and completion of federal, state, and local filings such as with Charitable Trust Registry, Secretary of State, Welfare Exemptions, etc. and work with auditors regarding timely completion of all audits.
Review and approve corporate documents, filings, checks, as well as vendor contracts and payments.
Model collaborative leadership internally with Board, staff, and residents, as well as external partners and stakeholders.
Create meaningful channels for resident voice and participation in TODCO’s decisions, programs, and governance, consistent with TODCO’s origins as an organization of tenants and owners.

Board Relations and Governance

Maintain regular and ongoing communication with all board members to build strong relationships, provide leadership and support to all members.
Communicate effectively with all Board members by providing robust, high value information necessary to function effectively and make well-informed decisions in a timely and accurate manner.
Implement Board policies and procedures.
Partner with the Board on the future direction of TODCO, bringing entrepreneurial leadership and presenting clear options and tradeoffs for Board decision.
Work closely and transparently with the Executive Committee and full Board ensuring ongoing communication of risks, issues, recommended courses of action, and successes. Ensure increased transparency between staff and Board.
Support and partner with the Board for ongoing board recruitment and development of Board members.

External Relations and Advocacy

Lead TODCO’s housing policy and anti-displacement advocacy, in partnership with the Director of Policy and Research and the Board, ensuring TODCO remains a strong, independent voice for low-income residents and seniors.
Develop an annual Advocacy Plan, consistent with TODCO’s strategic goals, with a budget and specific actions for the next one to two years for Board approval.
Strengthen communication within the SoMa neighborhoods and work with the City to improve and strengthen community activities in the neighborhood.
Work with partners in the Yerba Buena Center (“YBC”) area to improve and increase resident activities with neighboring organizations within YBC.
Represent TODCO at events, conferences, and meetings, with a wide range of audiences including relevant city and county elected representatives, agency leaders, and community partners.
Boost TODCO’s visibility and clearly define its identity amongst relevant public and community stakeholders.
Present and promote TODCO and its mission, programs and partners in a consistent and accurate manner.
Develop, strengthen, and steward relationships relevant and necessary for TODCO’s success, including funder relationships.
Deliver effective external and internal communication and strengthen TODCO’s reputation as a principled, independent advocate for its residents.

Staff Relations and Organizational Culture

Promote a positive work environment where staff passion for TODCO’s mission is cultivated and recognized; where staff thrive in a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared leadership; and where staff are inspired and empowered to innovate, collaborate cross functionally, and take ownership of appropriate decision making.
Inspire a focus on continuous operational improvement; promote and support ongoing staff professional development.
Ensure a strong internal infrastructure and leadership ladder.
Ensure transparent communication and clear expectation setting for performance assessments; seek staff insights and expertise to better inform decision making.
Nurture and promote a staff environment that is resident-centric, that supports continuous learning and endorses striving for excellence.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent demonstrated professional experience is highly desired. Graduate degree in Public Administration, City and Regional Planning, Business Administration or a related field is preferred but not required.

Qualifications/Experience:

Minimum of seven years of experience as Executive Director, CEO, or as a senior leader of a nonprofit organization with responsibility for financial health and sustainability, P&L management, and budget authority experience. Skilled manager of people with the ability to inspire, empower, and hold accountable team members while engendering their best work.
Significant leadership experience in nonprofit or for-profit affordable housing, public agency, community- or real-estate development and affordable housing service and programs in Northern California. Experience as an owner of affordable housing that provides asset management and resident services is highly desired.
Experience working with, in partnership, and providing executive officer leadership to a Board of Directors, including leading strategic planning and implementation.
Experience guiding an organization through a time of challenging external landscape conditions, mission refresh, organizational development and change management. Drives change toward the best interest of the organization and in the direction of strategic goals and objectives and aligned with organizational mission, vision and values.
Strong communication skills, professional representation, stakeholder relationship management, advocacy, negotiation, persuasiveness, listening, and diplomacy skills.
Understanding of major metropolitan area government and political dynamics including prior experience with San Francisco’s (or similar major metro-area) government processes and politics is valued. An ability to navigate successfully in complex political landscapes with cities, counties and agencies, as warranted, as they relate to the mission of TODCO.

It is not necessary to meet all the criteria above to apply and be considered for this critical position.

COMPETENCIES / ATTRIBUTES

The successful professional will have:

Passion about TODCO’s mission and a commitment to affordable housing, asset management, and resident services in San Francisco and, ideally, the SoMa community.
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, comfortable with a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders.
Strong listening skills and active curiosity, coupled with the ability to evaluate and make difficult decisions.
Well-developed financial acumen and savvy, including insightful analysis and critical thinking about what the financial information is revealing.
Excellent and accessible approach to community engagement.
A “tenant first” approach to TODCO’s work.
A demonstrated commitment to resident voice, shared decision-making, and advocacy alongside the people TODCO serves.
Sound judgment and the ability to lead a strong team of capable senior leaders, without needing to be the single expert in every area, and to bring the Board clear choices and tradeoffs.
The ability to build trust with residents, staff, the City, and community partners.
An entrepreneurial approach and the ability to partner with the Board on the organization’s direction.
Comfort cultivating funder and donor relationships to support TODCO’s long-term funding needs.
The ability to make a compelling case, to be an effective advocate, for TODCO’s mission.
Ideally, nonprofit executive management experience.
High integrity and ethical standards.
Demonstrates humility and has a sense of humor.

The successful professional will be:
Dynamic, strategic, visionary, and an operationally focused leader possessing successful staff management experience.
Focused on engendering and supporting operational excellence from all staff.
Well-connected to City officials and well versed in navigating City government processes.
Inspirational and motivational; able to bring people together; is a savvy and effective relationship builder, able to build consensus.
Comfortable and enthusiastic about being a genuine community presence in San Francisco and SoMa.
Culturally dexterous and agile, experienced working with diverse populations, especially Asian American/Pacific Islander community and seniors, as well as immigrants, people with disabilities, and formerly homeless residents.
Highly skilled as a unifying and empathetic presence as an executive leader.

COMPENSATION

An annual salary ranging from $300,000 to $350,000 will be offered, commensurate with experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

HOW TO APPLY

To initiate consideration for this opportunity, please submit a resume and cover letter, speaking to your qualifications as per this Position Specification, to the Carlson Beck representatives below.

TODCO Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

In compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (August 13, 2014),

all qualified applicants with criminal history will be considered for the position.

Sally Carlson |Managing Partner | 415.203.5259 mobile | sally@carlsonbeck.com