Executive Director - Latin American Coalition

The Latin American Coalition (LAC) seeks a mission-driven Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter. This is an opportunity for an experienced nonprofit leader to guide a respected 35-year-old institution through a period of financial and organizational strengthening and stabilization, building on a foundation of renewed trust and community engagement.

About the Role

The next Executive Director will step into an organization with deep community roots and a dedicated staff, with the support of a Board committed to strengthening LAC's operational and financial foundation for the next generation of impact. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and leads a team of approximately 12 staff and contractors, directly supervising a six-person senior management team spanning operations, finance, and program leadership.

Responsibilities

• Financial Management & Organizational Effectiveness
  • Develop and implement a financial stabilization and sustainability plan, including cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, financial controls, and risk management.
  • Develop and administer the annual operating budget and pursue Board approval.
  • Ensure compliance with all financial reporting requirements, audits, grant agreements, government contracts, and applicable regulations.
  • Strengthen existing programs and organizational capacity to advance mission impact on a stable and sustainable financial foundation.
• Operational Effectiveness, Strategic Leadership & Change Management
  • Set the organization's strategic direction in conjunction with the Board and translate it into measurable organizational goals and operational plans.
  • Direct the day-to-day operations of the organization to ensure efficient, effective, mission-driven service delivery.
  • Develop and maintain organizational systems, policies, procedures, risk management, and internal controls that promote operational excellence and accountability.
  • Ensure that organizational decisions are informed by data, community needs, and measurable outcomes.
• Fundraising & Resource Development
  • Lead organizational fundraising efforts through the cultivation of relationships with government agencies, foundations, corporations, individual donors, and community partners.
  • Develop and implement strategies to diversify revenue sources and strengthen the organization's long-term financial position.
  • Identify, pursue, and secure funding opportunities that advance the organization's strategic priorities.
• Board, Staff & Stakeholder Leadership
  • Serve as the Board's chief executive partner, maintaining open, honest, timely, and transparent communication on organizational performance, financial condition, and risk.
  • Recruit, develop, supervise, evaluate, and retain talented, diverse, and mission-driven staff, staying in compliance with employment laws, organizational policies, grant requirements, contracts, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive organizational culture grounded in integrity, accountability, innovation, and excellence.
  • Lead with a bottom-up approach that values staff insight and frontline experience in shaping organizational decisions.
• Community Building, Collaboration & Relationship Leadership
  • Serve as the organization's primary spokesperson and ambassador, building and maintaining productive relationships with elected officials, public agencies, funders, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, business leaders, and community stakeholders.
  • Represent the organization professionally in public forums while strengthening its visibility, reputation, and influence throughout the community.
  • Lead with a community-centered, collaborative mindset, building partnerships and uplifting the work of allied organizations for the greater benefit of the community.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, nonprofit management, social work, public policy, or related field required.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including management responsibility for organizational operations, finance, and staff supervision.
• Strong financial management and budgeting skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.
• Experience working with immigrant and Latino communities.
• Demonstrated success leading a nonprofit organization, or a significant division or program within one, through growth and stabilization.
• Experience managing budgets of $1 million or more, including government grants, contracts, and compliance requirements.
• Proven experience in fundraising, grant development, donor cultivation, and community partnership development.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and building high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success developing strategic partnerships with public and private sector organizations.
• Alignment to the mission, vision, and values of the Latin American Coalition.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business administration (MBA), public administration (MPA), nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) or other nonprofit leadership credentials.
• Experience working closely with a nonprofit Board of Directors.
• Knowledge of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg philanthropic, governmental, and nonprofit landscape.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic, visionary leadership with sound judgment and effective decision-making.
• Operational excellence, financial acumen, and fiscal responsibility.
• Transparent, ethical, and accountable leadership that inspires and unites diverse teams.
• Cultural responsiveness and commitment to serving Latino and immigrant communities.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships across sectors and drive continuous improvement in organizational performance.

About the Latin American Coalition

Founded in 1990 as the first Latino-led organization in North Carolina, the Latin American Coalition is a community center and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the integration, well-being, and full participation of immigrant and Latino families in Charlotte and the surrounding region. For 35 years, LAC has served as a trusted resource through its Family Wellness Center, Economic & Workforce Development Center, Immigration Legal Clinic, and Youth Education Center.

Visit mylac.org for more information.

Pay

Starting at $100,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), including 24/7 confidential counseling, legal and financial consultations, and caregiver support.
• Life and AD&D insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.
• Paid time off, beginning at 20 days annually and increasing with tenure, a 4-week sabbatical in year 5, plus 12 paid holidays.

Schedule

This is a full-time, in-person position based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Relocation assistance is not provided.