POSITION: Executive Director

ORGANIZATION: NAMI Rome, Inc.

NAMI Rome was established in the late 1980s-early 1990s by a small group of family members who identified a need to find resources for their mentally ill child. Driven by the belief that an organization dedicated to helping people who were living with mental illness could address this need by providing education and support they discovered the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and became familiar with its mission and programs.  Since becoming a NAMI affiliate, NAMI Rome has stayed true to its original mission, and today it boasts a membership of nearly 80, a group of 20 program leaders, and has made a significant impact in our community.  For example, NAMI Rome touched the lives of nearly 3000 people in 2024 through its support groups, presentations, educational programs, and community events and engagements.

Learn more at www.namiromega.org.

WHERE WE ARE TODAY

As one of the 700 NAMI affiliates spread across the US, NAMI Rome is considered an independent affiliate, which should be operated with an executive director at its head. NAMI Rome seeks a dynamic and experienced executive who will partner with the Board of Directors to develop and execute a vision for the next chapter of NAMI Rome, building on past achievements and leading us to expand on our original vision to support people living with mental health issues and their families in the Rome, Georgia area to expand into three surrounding counties.  We aim to identify a candidate who can bring the work of the organization to life in powerful and innovative ways.  Initially, the position is part time–25 hours a week.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Using the power of storytelling, ignite and kindle the passion for our mission with all organization stakeholders - staff, board, volunteers, donors - propelling them to invite people to join in our work
• Build a real sense of belonging for those who have found their way to our organization, ensuring NAMI Rome is diverse, equitable and inclusive
• Model the leadership you look to see in others by tending to your own self care

Board Partnership

• Build, cultivate and nurture a true partnership with the Board of Directors built on mutual respect and trust
• Provide the Board of Directors with the resources, information, and training necessary to fulfill their duties and to be organizational ambassadors
• Actively engage with the Board of Directors to help identify prospective board members who bring the skills, attributes, and lived experience necessary for the board to be the best partner it can be

Vision and Strategy

• In partnership with the Board of Directors, align the organization around a compelling vision for the future, one that we can rally stakeholders and donors around as we secure resources, human and financial to support our work
• Ensure that mission and core values are developed to provide NAMI Rome with a compass to guide us toward our vision, which are aligned with NAMI National and NAMI Georgia
• Coordinate with the Board of Directors in the development of goals, strategies, and tactics in the form of strategic and annual plans as a key roadmap that introduces an accountability component to the strategy we develop

Management

• Build, lead and retain an effective and diverse team of program leaders and volunteers dedicated to the mission and with the requisite skills to be successful in their work
• Establish effective decision making to ensure that voices are heard and that short and long term goals are met
• Ensure NAMI Rome operates according to NAMI’s policies and standards of excellence
• Ensure NAMI Rome complies with state/federal guidelines for nonprofit corporations
• Ensure NAMI Rome is resting on a fiscally sound foundation and that relevant parties are informed about fiscal status and that financial information is communicated in a manner accessible to all
• Manage annual NAMIWalks Rome awareness and fundraising event
• Seek, prepare, and implement grants and funds needed to operate NAMI Rome

Impact

• Oversee a programmatic portfolio that is designed with a deep understanding of the communities we serve and that aligns with our mission and our long range plans
• Ensure effective systems for program evaluation and regularly evaluate the program portfolio, ever mindful of the need to adapt to the needs of our communities
• Bring a spirit of innovation to the program work with an eye toward piloting new ideas that could be incorporated into or will maximize existing work

Growing resources

• Serve as the fundraiser in chief of the organization, setting fundraising strategy and responsible for working with board and volunteers to identify prospects and close gifts
• With an understanding that fundraising is relational, develop strategies that ensure that donors are nurtured from their first gift

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Our ideal candidate will embody the values of NAMI Rome and bring leadership and strategic insights to the work through the following skills and characteristics:

• Deep belief in and passion for our organization’s purpose
• Exudes humble confidence
• Compelling communicator and storyteller
• Keen understanding of the ability to listen, meet people where they are and engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders
• Leads and manages with intention
• Culturally responsive and emotionally intelligent
• Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Demonstrates compassion and empathy, especially in times of crisis
• Digitally savvy with enthusiasm about its possibilities
• Leads and manages with a growth mindset, open to learning and adapting
• Courageous and compassionate truth-teller
• Recognizes that leadership is a joyful responsibility

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates may emerge from nonprofit, foundation, government, or industry backgrounds and should possess the following:

• Two years of prior experience as a CEO, Executive Director, or in a related position at a nonprofit, foundation, government, or industry
• Strong business acumen and a history of providing visionary leadership at the executive level
• Proven experience executing organization growth and leading a similar or larger size successful nonprofit and/or related entity
• Proven experience working with a nonprofit Board and working with diverse groups of people
• Familiarity with diverse business functions such as Marketing, Public Relations, Human Resources, etc.
• Experience and success in motivating, recruiting, developing, retaining, and mentoring high performance, mission-driven, and results-oriented teams
• Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
• A bachelor’s or advanced degree

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Part time, 25 hours a week at $25 per hour
• No benefits included

DEI VISION STATEMENT

NAMI Rome's DEI vision statement emphasizes creating a world where all individuals affected by mental illness, regardless of background, can live healthy, fulfilling lives. It aims to foster a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring equal access to resources and support for all.