Deputy Director

Position Title: Deputy Director

Reports to: Executive Director

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Location: Juneau, Alaska, or remote Southeast Alaska

Salary: $90,000+ DOE

Deadline to Apply: August 25, 2024

About Spruce Root

Spruce Root, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) creating a sustainable future for Southeast Alaska’s people, communities and environment. We are shifting the paradigms of power to support localized economies grounded in Indigenous values and ways of living. Spruce Root is a team of ambitious people dedicated to a new way of working in our region; working collaboratively with others, prioritizing family and well-being, and honoring our ancestors while building for the future. As a federally-certified Native CDFI, Spruce Root works to create positive change and equitable access to economic development through financial products and services to individuals in Southeast Alaska. Other programs include Path to Prosperity, Resilience Circles, workforce development, financial wellness, community planning and facilitation, and the administration of the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) and the Seacoast Trust.

Job scope

Spruce Root is seeking a Deputy Director to lead the operationalization of Spruce Root’s overall strategy and to ensure effective programming, efficient operations, and well-being across the organization. As a core member of the Spruce Root leadership team, the Deputy Director will manage a diverse team of Program Directors to offer support and ensure the quality of our programs. The ideal candidate is a strategic systems thinker, skilled at developing processes for effectively managing work in a collaborative environment. This role will be responsible for supporting a team of highly capable individuals, ensuring functional team coordination and strategic alignment in order to amplify our mission.

Primary tasks and areas of responsibility 

• Lead annual action planning and goal setting across all programs
• Supervise and support Program Directors to ensure effective collaboration and alignment to achieve the organization’s mission
• Guide process enhancement for continuous excellence in program management
• Guide performance management standards and procedures
• Lead major projects, processes, and initiatives that support the growth and strategic development of the organization
• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director on strategy for operational improvements as well as projects that drive towards the organizational mission
• Ensure collective staff leadership development through organizational trainings, annual evaluation process and other initiatives
• Support the implementation of software across the organization and ensure proper use by staff
• Develop opportunities for mission alignment
• Develop, update and implement internal standard operating procedures
• Identify and support strategies to finance community and regional priorities 
• Support the Executive Director to grow organizational visibility with relevant partners
• Supervise direct reports and manage their recruitment, training, and coaching
• Other duties as assigned

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Ability to lead, plan, organize, control, and administer projects
• Ability to initiate and develop strategic plans and process improvements
• Ability to support, train, and grow productive team members, specifically at the Program Director level
• Ability to identify and bridge operational gaps
• Communication skills (written and oral) and ability to facilitate and speak in public settings
• Ability to work collaboratively with all levels of employees, management, external agencies, and philanthropic and impact investment partners 
• Knowledge of financial statements and GAAP standards
• Knowledge of grant writing and administration
• Ability to write and negotiate contracts and proposals to support programs
• Knowledge and skills in non-profit organizational management
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced and dynamic environment

Required education and experience

• Education in public administration, business, finance, community development, economic development, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience in community development or mission-driven, non-profit capacity
• Experience leading highly collaborative projects and programs
• Experience developing organizations and teams

Additional requirements

• Valid driver’s license
• Satisfactory completion of a background check
• Satisfactory completion of a reference check

Working conditions:

• Standard 35-hour work week with occasional evening and weekend assignments
• The physical and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk, use hands to finger, handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; bending or crouching; talk or hear. The employee must be able to lift/carry and/or move up to 30 pounds safely. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions and other elements prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal. This job requires regular travel in commercial planes, AMHS ferries, float planes, and twin engine planes.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.