Westbeth Seeks Executive Director

POSITION DESCRIPTION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – WESTBETH
New York, NY
November 2022

THE OPPORTUNITY

Westbeth is seeking a new Executive Director. Recognized nationally as a model for affordable housing, Westbeth was the first and largest public and privately financed conversion of an industrial complex into housing for artists in the United States. Westbeth comprises a complex of buildings (approximately 100,000 square feet in Greenwich Village) made up of residential, studio, commercial rental spaces and several cultural organizations.

The Executive Director will provide the vision, knowledge, credibility and passion to advance all aspects of Westbeth’s mission and strategic direction including overseeing a $10 million budget and staff of 25 and managing relationships with a wide range of constituents and stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with substantive, relevant experience in affordable housing, non-profit management, capital development and successful stakeholder engagement and community building.

ABOUT WESTBETH

Westbeth’s mission is to “maintain a vibrant cultural community where artists of all types can live and work in a safe, affordable and healthy environment and where partnerships with arts organizations will contribute to Westbeth’s identity as an arts center for New York City.”

Named for the intersection of West Street and Bethune Street, Westbeth was conceived in 1967 by Jacob Kaplan (Founder of the JM Kaplan Fund) and Roger Stevens (then Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts). Designed by architect Richard Meier, the former Bell Telephone Laboratories headquarters was converted into 384 live-work studios (a combination of rent stabilized and Section 8 units) and commercial spaces including a theater, dance space, gallery, and community meeting/performance area. In 2009 Westbeth was added to the National Register of Historic Places and in 2011 became a New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission Historical Landmark. The most recently completed capital project was Build It Back, a $40 million HUD-funded Superstorm Sandy resiliency project overseen by the NYC Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD).

Westbeth is also home to major cultural organizations including the New School for Drama, The Kitchen and the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. Previously, it housed the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio and was an early home of the City’s first LGBT synagogue. The Westbeth Artists Residents Council (WARC), a 42-year-old tenant-elected nonprofit organization, programs the majority of cultural events in support of residential tenants.

Westbeth has an annual budget of approximately $10 million, with 75% coming from residential rental income, 21% from commercial leases, and 4% from grants and
donations. There are 25 employees who staff the facilities portion of the organization. A property management company oversees all the back-office operations at Westbeth, as well as consultants and contractors engaged in various capital projects and renovation work.

As the residential population has evolved, the commercial and community space usage has grown, the complexities of government funding and regulations have multiplied, and the aspirations for Westbeth as a cultural entity have increased, Westbeth seeks a bold, dynamic, visionary and strategic leader to guide the organization into its next era.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director will provide the credibility, vision, knowledge, and passion to advance aspects of Westbeth’s mission, strategic direction, and goals. Key responsibilities of the role include:

Leadership and Vision. Lead with an inspirational and strategic vision, judgment and finesse to fully embrace and promote the mission of a complex organization with diverse constituents. Oversee all long-range organizational planning, project and program development, in partnership with the Board.

Training/Understanding Westbeth. Develop a deep understanding of Westbeth’s history, mission, values, and culture. Understand Westbeth’s organizational structure, finances, programming, and fundraising efforts. Understand the residential and commercial building complex, current and future maintenance priorities, capital improvement needs, space usage, and options for revenue generation. Learn about the legal and regulatory frameworks in which Westbeth operates as a residential organization.

Fiscal, Administrative and Operational Oversight. Manage Westbeth’s financial operations, including developing annual budgets and monitoring expenditures and income during the year. Work with the Board to ensure that Westbeth is fiscally and administratively sound. Oversee the day-to-day operations of the residential and commercial spaces. Ensure that tenant services, operations, development efforts, communications, and information systems are coordinated and support the policies of the Board and the needs of the organization. Oversee successful administrative systems and practices including payroll, human resources, insurance, annual audit, regulatory compliance, etc.

Tenant Relations. Partner with staff and the property management company to fully understand: 1) Westbeth’s resident services; 2) the specific responsibilities of the Corporation vs. the responsibilities of individual residents and WARC; 3) government programs and how they are structured, regulated and funded; 4) how strategic goals regarding tenancy are being met; and 5) what it costs to ensure and deliver high-quality services including meeting the needs of an aging tenant constituency, both as determined by the mission and as informed by best practices. Find ways to ensure Westbeth’s value to current tenants and to recruit new ones. Seize or create opportunities for collaboration with diverse partners that can support these efforts.

Residents and Commercial Tenants. Regularly meet with and thoroughly understand WARC’s mission and activities, paying special attention to opportunities for collaboration and mutual support. Establish and maintain clear boundaries of oversight and responsibility to ensure high standards, fairness, and transparency that respect Westbeth’s mission, the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities, and the rights of New York City subsidized housing tenants.

Management, Leadership and Culture. Lead a knowledgeable and committed staff, employing collaborative practices and transparent decision-making, and fostering trust to ensure a healthy workplace and organizational culture. Foster open channels of communication and accountability and continue to provide professional development opportunities. Oversee four direct reports, who in turn manage and work with a staff of 25, including union maintenance and security staff, many of whom are long-time employees deeply dedicated to the residents and buildings. Manage consultants in construction, maintenance, planning, and research. Develop and steward relationships with subcontracted professionals providing clinical and social services for the growing number of senior residents residing at Westbeth. Review and assess internal structures and staffing to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Capital Projects. Oversee various capital improvement projects including apartment renovations, Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP; previously known as Local Law 11), and other repair and improvement projects. Recruit and manage consultants and contractors for capital project work.

External Relations, Communications, and Fundraising. Be an outstanding and diplomatic leader, collaborator, and communicator for Westbeth with a diverse range of stakeholders. Be an advocate and spokesperson for the organization, capitalizing on opportunities that enhance Westbeth’s ability to serve its residents, commercial tenants, and community partners. Raise awareness of Westbeth’s mission and work among the general public, government officials, policy makers, and donors. Heighten visibility of Westbeth’s activities, obligations, and impact on the neighborhood and in the broader cultural, political, regulatory, and financial community of New York City. Partner with other entities in the subsidized housing and senior resident sectors and look for opportunities to better serve Westbeth tenants. In partnership with the Board and staff, expand Westbeth’s nascent development efforts. Cultivate, nurture and steward relationships with prospective donors.

Board Relations. Establish a strong working partnership with the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Gain their trust and confidence as a strong peer, and forge relationships that will bring forth their best ideas and efforts forward in support of Westbeth’s services and programs. Manage and maintain open, regular and timely communications with the Board of Directors on all matters of strategic, operational and fiduciary relevance. Coordinate and support the efforts of various Board committees. Help identify new Board prospects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideally, the Executive Director will have the following qualifications:
▪ A deep commitment to and passion for the mission of Westbeth.
▪ At least 10 years’ experience in nonprofit/affordable housing and management in an organization of comparable or larger size, scope and resources, with a proven track record for overseeing day-to-day operations and leading organizational growth.
▪ Highly developed leadership and management skills, with responsibility for operations and finance, staff supervision and development, program development, board engagement, and external relations.
▪ Sophisticated understanding of real estate financing and management. Strong relationships with affordable housing leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors, with an emphasis on New York City. Substantive knowledge of the laws and regulations governing subsidized housing.
▪ Strong organizational, problem-solving, and collaboration skills to facilitate thoughtful decision-making and enable others to contribute fully to the overall success of the organization.
▪ A successful track record managing a healthy organizational culture as a unifying team builder who inspires collaboration and accomplishment among staff.
▪ Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively in a range of settings. Experience utilizing database software platforms is highly desirable.
▪ Strong cultural competency and demonstrated ability to build genuine, productive, trusting relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders and partners.
▪ Credibility and experience to connect the Foundation to a range of resources and opportunities. An understanding of the cultural and political landscape of New York City is highly desirable.
▪ High level of emotional intelligence, empathy, humility, integrity, and the capacity for deep listening and self-reflection.
▪ Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in a related field or equivalent preferred.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. This is a full-time exempt salaried position.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit a substantive cover letter highlighting interest, relevant experience and values alignment, as well as a current resume no later than Friday, December 16, 2022, to: Lauren I. Gumbs, Senior Partner, Gumbs + Partners via email, applications@gumbspartners.com.

Westbeth is an equal employment opportunity employer. The organization recruits, hires, trains, and promotes persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, gender or age (except where gender or age is a bona fide occupational qualification, as defined by law), genetic information, or physical or mental disability (except where the disability prevents the individual from being able to perform the essential functions of the job and cannot be reasonably accommodated in full compliance with the law).