Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Resource Center

About Resource Center

Founded in 1983 as an advocate and frontline service provider to LGBTQIA+ individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS, Resource Center is a cornerstone of support for North Texas’s LGBTQIA+ communities. Today, it stands as one of the nation’s largest LGBTQIA+ community centers, with nearly 100 staff members and 1,200 volunteers serving over 60,000 people annually.

Resource Center delivers a wide range of affirming, community-centered services:

• Health & Wellness: HIV/STI testing and treatment, primary and gender-affirming care, mental health counseling, telehealth, PrEP/PEP access, dental care, a food pantry, and nutrition support.

• Housing: A residential campus that provides affordable housing and a welcoming community for adults 55 and older.

• Community Support Programs: Programs that support the mental, emotional, physical, and social health of LGBTQIA+ individuals through inclusive, identity-affirming wellness programs for ages 12 and up.

• Advocacy & Education: Civic engagement and public policy initiatives, public education, and cultural competency training for schools, businesses, and law enforcement.

Resource Center has recently achieved several milestone initiatives that reflect both its bold vision and operational strength. In 2024, the organization opened Oak Lawn Place, an 84-unit affordable housing complex for LGBTQIA+ seniors, which reached full occupancy shortly after opening and now provides affirming, stable housing for low-income residents.

For most of its 40+ year history, Resource Center provided LGBTQIA+-affirming healthcare services from its Community Center on Cedar Springs Road, the Nelson-Tebedo Sexual Health Clinic, and the Harold Simmons Foundation Health Campus in the heart of Oak Lawn, Dallas’s historic LGBTQIA+ neighborhood. Last year, Resource Center Health launched, bringing together medical, mental health, and nutritional services, along with an on-site pharmacy, under one roof and serving as a one-stop destination for compassionate, inclusive care.

The Mission

Resource Center pursues societal equity by proudly offering LGBTQIA+ affirming resources designed to improve health and wellness, strengthen families and communities, and provide transformative education and advocacy.

Organizational Highlights

Founded: 1983

Annual Operating Budget: $35 million

Board of Directors: 16

Staff: 90+

Headquarters: Dallas

The Position

Reporting to the Board of Directors, collaborating with a highly skilled executive team, and leading a dedicated staff, the CEO will chart a visionary path for Resource Center’s continued evolution and increased impact. They will join the Center following a period of exponential revenue and staff growth, as well as unprecedented programmatic expansion. The new CEO will maintain existing funder relationships to sustain recent growth and develop new revenue sources to support the Center’s future. They will lead with a deep understanding of community needs, an enterprising vantage on the current landscape, and a forward-thinking strategic vision. The Center’s new CEO will hold the following responsibilities:

Leadership

• Financial acumen and issue area expertise to successfully lead a financially and programmatically complex organization into its next phase of growth and transformation;

• Relational skills and emotional intelligence to effectively engage and inspire the Center’s staff, board, clients, and stakeholders:

• Communication skills to effectively represent the Center to diverse audiences, including community partners, donors, elected officials, and the media;

• Executive management and organizational development skills to motivate teams and optimize talent to realize strategic goals;

• Values grounded in transparency and accountability to support developing a strong partnership with the board.

Strategy & Vision

• Financial forecasting and modeling skills to drive business model evolution and inform strategic planning, implementation, and refinement processes;

• Change management skills to balance mission with sustainability and to adapt and lead through challenges, uncertainty, and disruptions;

• Skills to envision, grow, and scale programs and services;

• Business strategy and planning skills to expand fee-for-service programs and create and implement a social enterprise.

Fundraising

• Authentic, creative, and enthusiastic approaches to donor cultivation and engagement;

• Awareness of and ability to navigate the shifting political climate, particularly the impact of DEI rollbacks on institutional engagement;

• Fundraising and revenue diversification strategy experience to partner with the development team and the board of directors to meet the Center’s revenue goals and ensure long-term sustainability.

The Opportunity

At a time of growing threats against the LGBTQIA+ community, this is an extraordinary opportunity for a sophisticated, entrepreneurial executive to drive the continued transformative impact of an empowering and life-saving center and lead the evolution of the largest multi-service LGBTQIA+ organization in Texas.

Professional Requirements

The Center’s next CEO will be a strategic executive adept at navigating current threats while mapping a long-term vision. They will be a values-driven leader with experience leading complex, multifaceted organizations. The CEO will be a talented fundraiser and skilled relationship builder with a history of cultivating and soliciting significant gifts. The ideal candidate will have:

• Executive leadership experience in a mission-driven organization with diverse services and complex funding streams;

• Proven success in individual major donor, corporate, and institutional fundraising on a similar revenue scale;

• A track record of success in leading cross-functional teams comprised of diverse, talented, and dedicated staff;

• An understanding of community healthcare programs that provide services to marginalized and underserved communities. Experience with LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS affected populations is ideal;

• Knowledge of the history and intersecting issues impacting LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS affected communities to credibly and confidently represent and advocate for the Center and the people it serves;

• An understanding of community health funding models, including Ryan White, 340B programs, fee-for-service, and insurance reimbursement, to drive strategy and support revenue diversification;

• Background in healthcare administration, public or community-based health is valued;

• Cross-channel marketing experience to increase awareness of Center services and programs, expand the Center’s client base, and effectively position the organization within an increasingly competitive sector;

• Persuasive communication and advocacy skills. Prior experience with legislative and lobbying activities is valued;

• A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree in public health, business, or a related field is a plus.

Essential Qualities

The CEO will be a sophisticated leader motivated to improve health and strengthen communities. They will have outstanding interpersonal skills, sound political instincts, and will be a compelling ambassador for the Center and the community.

Personal Characteristics

The CEO will be a charismatic and engaging leader who is passionate about advancing the Center’s mission and able to share the organization’s vision persuasively. The selected candidate will be an innovative, out-of-the-box thinker with the vision and tenacity to lead the Center to its next phase of growth and impact. The new CEO will bring the following qualities:

• Emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to develop and maintain genuine and productive relationships with the board, staff, donors, elected officials, community partners, and national leaders;

• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to authentically engage diverse audiences and the capacity to deliver bold and moving speeches;

• An understanding of the social determinants of health and a commitment to pursuing health equity;

• Cultural humility with a regional appreciation, including ideally an understanding of the political and social nuances of operating a LGBTQIA+ centered nonprofit in a conservative state;

• An ability to prioritize, delegate, and differentiate across situations.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is targeted at $350,000-$400,000. Additional compensation includes a performance bonus up to 25% of salary and a 457(f) deferred compensation plan. The Center’s comprehensive benefits program includes 100% employer-paid health, disability, life, and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. Dental and vision coverage are provided at a minimum cost to employees. Additional benefits include an employer-funded health reimbursement account, flex spending accounts, a 457(b) plan, and a 403(b) account with a generous 50% match on every dollar up to 6% of salary.

Location

Resource Center’s administrative offices are located at 5750 Cedar Springs Road. The executive staff works on-site a minimum of Tuesday through Thursday.

Contact

Resource Center has retained McCormack + Kristel to conduct this search. To apply, please submit a résumé and original cover letter that describes your interest in the organization’s mission and qualifications through the application portal on the McCormack + Kristel website at

If you have questions or would like to make a nomination or referral, please contact:

Michelle Kristel, Managing Partner

McCormack + Kristel

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 212.531.5003

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This position will remain open until it is filled. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

Please note that all resumes will be reviewed and all interviews will be conducted by humans. AI technology may be used to facilitate scheduling, support note-taking, and streamline processes.

Background Check Statement

McCormack + Kristel will check references and verify employment history and academic credentials. Our clients frequently request background checks before finalizing an offer.

EOE Statement

McCormack + Kristel works only with equal opportunity employers. Resource Center’s commitment to providing equal opportunity to all is a primary consideration in the organization’s success. Employment decisions will be made only on occupational qualifications and job-related factors such as skill, knowledge, education, experience, and ability to perform a specific job. The Center does not discriminate in any way based upon race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic. The Center does not discriminate against employees or applicants with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).