Executive Director

VITAL COMMUNITIES, INC.•White River Junction, VT

12d•$126,053•Hybrid

About The Position

Vital Communities seeks a visionary, systems-oriented leader to serve as its next Executive Director — a bold strategist and collaborative changemaker ready to guide a respected regional nonprofit into its next era of impact. For nearly three decades, Vital Communities has stood at the center of cross-sector problem solving in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire. From climate resilience to housing, workforce development to civic engagement, Vital Communities convenes leaders, catalyzes partnerships, and advances practical solutions that strengthen communities. Now, as the region faces accelerating economic, environmental, and demographic change, the organization is poised for transformative leadership. The Upper Valley: A Place of Possibility and Complexity The Upper Valley spans more than 69 municipalities along the Connecticut River, bridging Vermont and New Hampshire. Anchored by White River Junction (Vermont) and neighboring communities including Lebanon and Hanover (New Hampshire), the region blends rural character, entrepreneurial energy, civic participation, and natural beauty. It is home to innovative employers, leading healthcare systems, small businesses, thriving arts communities, and engaged residents. It is also confronting real pressures: housing scarcity, workforce shortages, climate adaptation, transportation access, and economic transition. The Upper Valley is ready for leadership that connects vision to action. The Upper Valley offers a distinctive blend of rural character and forward-looking innovation. Residents care deeply about their communities and show up to collaborate. Organizations work across municipal and state lines. Civic life is vibrant. Natural beauty surrounds everyday work. This is a place where thoughtful leadership matters — and where it can make a visible, lasting difference. About Vital Communities: Trusted Convener. Catalyst for Change Vital Communities operates with a $1M+ annual budget and a 15-person professional team. The organization is widely respected for its neutrality, credibility, and ability to bridge boundaries — municipal, sectoral, political, and cultural. Unlike single-issue organizations, Vital Communities works at the systems level — identifying leverage points, aligning stakeholders, and building durable regional solutions. Its impact extends beyond programs; it shapes how the region collaborates. The next Executive Director will inherit a strong foundation — and a mandate to build boldly upon it. Vital Communities has a dedicated and passionate team who are deeply involved in the Upper Valley in their work with the organization and as community members. This informs our highly collaborative approach to work—we understand that we exist in tandem with the world around us and not in a vacuum. The organization has a long history in the community, with projects that have decades of work behind them, so we are often trying to figure out how to say yes to new projects the community wants to see. However, we also realize that sometimes we need to say not now or that another organization may be a better fit—we share the wealth! We are a flexible workplace—with our daily locations, our approaches to the work, the projects we take on as an organization, and how we make use of our time together when we are in person. This flexibility is balanced by an expectation of accountability to our colleagues, our partners, and the communities we serve. We empower team members to work with a high level of autonomy and to take initiative. Our work is challenging and ever-changing, so we make room to laugh, build community, and find joy with each other through our shared work. To learn more about our values, please visit our Strategic Compass and JEDI principles. Commitment to Equity. Still Learning Everyday. Over the last 6 years, Vital Communities has been working to expand our collective understanding of and ability to implement our programs with equity and inclusion at the center. We are still learning, practicing, and growing the muscles of holding ourselves and our organization accountable. This includes our own behavior in recent years, as well as the organization’s historical and current impact in the community. Vital Communities is committed to cultivating an inclusive organization and advancing equitable outcomes throughout the Upper Valley. This has included engaging staff in training and continued professional development on navigating intercultural conflict, anti-racism, and making the commitment to become a disability-friendly workplace. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our work and encourage candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds and those with diverse lived experiences to apply. We understand that experiences, skills, and qualifications come in many different forms. The application and interview processes are designed to give you and us opportunities to explore how your unique set of skills, experience, and perspective fit with this position.

Requirements

Senior leadership experience in a mission-driven organization
A proven track record of successful fundraising and revenue diversification
Experience managing complex budgets and high-performing teams
Strong facilitation and coalition-building skills
Exceptional communication and storytelling ability; strong public speaking skills
Knowledge of Upper Valley, its people, culture, and resources
Emotional intelligence, cultural responsiveness, and a deep commitment to equity
Systems-thinking capacity and comfort leading through complexity to improve organizational health and efficacy

Responsibilities

Shape and execute a bold strategic framework responsive to regional change.
Elevate Vital Communities’ role as a cross-sector systems leader.
Align programs, partnerships, and investments around measurable impact.
Demonstrate leadership within regional nonprofit community in commitment to JEDI principles in practice
Serve as chief spokesperson and ambassador across the Upper Valley and beyond for the organization and its programs.
Convene municipal, business, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders to drive collective action.
Identify emerging opportunities and position the organization at the forefront of innovation.
Strengthen Vital Communities efforts to work with BIPOC led community organizations doing racial equity work.
Lead a diversified fundraising strategy spanning individual donors, foundations, corporations, and public funding.
Personally cultivate and solicit major gifts.
Strengthen financial planning, forecasting, and long-term sustainability.
Develop and retain an engaged, collaborative leadership team. Bring demonstrated strong staff management skills to help guide the staff and provide mentorship.
Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, innovation, and professional growth.
Strengthen systems for evaluation, data-informed decision-making, and operational effectiveness. Focus on refining policies and procedures.