President & CEO

The Opportunity MDC is a catalyzing force for economic progress in the South. As areas of the South flourish in population and economic growth, deep racial and economic disparities persist. MDC is working to change this. For over 50 years, it has been a vital player, connecting the region’s most vulnerable populations to economic growth opportunities. MDC equips Southern leaders, institutions, and communities with the necessary tools and strategies to advance equity - particularly racial and gender equity and economic mobility. It provides research, convenings, and strategic support to develop strong leaders, disrupt harmful systems, and shape a South where all people thrive. The new leader has an exciting opportunity to build upon a strong platform with a mandate to: Recognize patterns and problem areas across the South that hinder equitable growth and continue to build and drive bold solutions. Expand partnerships and resources to support the work. Continue to develop and build staff capacity. The Responsibilities The next President of MDC will inherit a healthy organization and engaged staff. The leader will continue the evolution of the work, fundraising, and building and growing staff capacity. The leader will: Provide leadership and vision. Provide thought leadership on issues most vital to developing equitable economic opportunities in the South for those most in need. Work with the board and staff to expand upon the existing strategy, with particular attention to thought leadership, expansion across the South, and greater clarity and branding of the work. Anticipate trends and opportunities, initiating and leading catalytic change to drive equity and economic mobility for those most in need. Inspire confidence with staff, partners, and the larger community. Champion the spirit and substance of the work to ensure foundational principles of equity and inclusion undergird every aspect of the work—both internally and externally. Attract and grow resources and the Board. Be a persuasive advocate for the mission, persistent in attracting the necessary resources. Inspire confidence with existing funders and partners. Continue to build the infrastructure within MDC to support a sophisticated development function, with increased emphasis on individual donors and general operating funds. Enlist the full team to build a culture of philanthropy internally. Determine the priority and opportunity for federal funding. Grow the size of the Board, currently 7, attracting new, committed leaders to help advance the work. Strategically grow MDC’s reputation and impact. Recognize patterns across the South that require solutions. Develop a strategy to increase MDC’s presence across its service area and determine whether MDC will be an incubator for programs in the South, or provide regional teams on the ground throughout its service area. Continue to convene the best and brightest minds to develop strategies to systemically lift those on the margin. Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence and rigorous program evaluation. The Candidate The ideal candidate is a respected leader with extensive relevant experience driving change and a demonstrated passion for increasing equity in the South. Professional Experience Experience working and leading in the South Demonstrated commitment to building economic mobility and racial equity Strong existing relationships with foundations and the facility for attracting the resources to support an ambitious strategy Core competency in systems change, public policy, philanthropy, or strategy consulting Experience successfully leading a nonprofit or public-focused entity Respect for the power of data and the individual lives and life experiences that data represent Strong people management skills and the demonstrated ability to develop and inspire a high-powered team in a collaborative manner Financial and business management skills and a proven record of delivering healthy and sustainable momentum Experience leading a virtual organization is a plus Personal Assets High emotional intelligence and an ability to bridge divides Deep understanding of the South Entrepreneurial spirit An engaging and accessible manner Humility, authenticity, and an infectious commitment to learn, adapt, and grow The Location MDC and most of its staff are located in Durham, North Carolina. The MDC office is in the historic John Sprunt Hill building in downtown Durham. The next leader will ideally be located in Durham, but there is an openness to consider other locations in the South.

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