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ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Mission

Union Station Homeless Services recognizes the inherent value, dignity, and humanity of the people we serve. Together, we work to end homelessness through housing solutions, supportive services, and connection to the community. We advocate for equitable and just systems that ensure all individuals and families will have a safe place they can call home.

Based in Pasadena, Union Station is the leading agency serving individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, exiting homelessness or on the brink of homelessness across Northeast Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3). The four pillars of our work —outreach and intake, interim housing, permanent housing, and community integration – encompass a broad spectrum of services that provide those we serve with the targeted and comprehensive care they need. Union Station utilizes a Housing First approach in all we do and incorporates harm reduction and trauma-informed care, among other evidence-based practices, across all programs.

In 2014, as a result of our leadership combating homelessness in our community, the County of Los Angeles selected Union Station as the Lead Agency of the Coordinated Entry Systems (CES) for both individuals and families in the San Gabriel Valley, also known as Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3). Our service region, which now also includes Eagle Rock and El Sereno as well as SPA 3, encompasses more than 40 diverse cities and unincorporated communities stretching from Northeast Los Angeles to Pomona. Today, we have grown to be one of the pre-eminent homeless services agencies in the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County with an operating budget of $38 million and 300 staff members working to permanently house individuals and families.

Union Station’s impact, geographic reach, and scope of services have grown significantly since the pandemic which has led to greater public investment in solutions to end homelessness and rapid growth of Union Station. The following accomplishments were reported for Fiscal Year 2023:

• Served a total of 3,768 individuals and family members experiencing homelessness
• Provided outreach and engagement services to 1,404 individuals throughout the service area (families not included)
• Provided emergency shelter and interim housing to 807 individuals, including motel vouchers (includes 112 families and 453 individuals)
• Housed a total of 1,091 individuals, 128 families (451 individuals) and 668 individuals
• Provided 176 individuals with employment services
• Provided 521,850 meals

For additional information, please visit https://unionstationhs.org/.

THE POSITION

Union Station is seeking a visionary, strategic, impact-oriented, and mission-driven leader as its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO provides strategic direction and overall leadership by articulating vision, strengthening culture, setting goals, and empowering the executive management team, while working collaboratively with the Board of Directors. The CEO is responsible for overseeing financial management, fundraising, fostering a positive work environment, building partnerships, and advocating for the needs of the people served by Union Station.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO directly supervises the Vice President, Contracts & Compliance; Vice President, Development; Chief Program Officer; Senior Advisor, Coalitions & Sector Engagement; Chief Financial Officer; Vice President, Advocacy & Community Engagement; Chief Operations Officer; and Executive Assistant.

Specifically, the CEO has the responsibility to:

• Define the strategic direction of the Union Station in partnership with the Board and senior staff, consistent with the vision, mission, and culture of the organization. Manage the rapid growth and develop the infrastructure to support the mission by enhancing processes and policies to support expansion without compromising the values and effectiveness of Union Station.
• In partnership with senior management, build and develop Union Station’s infrastructure to implement best practices, build a strong culture, and provide transparent communication centered around equity and inclusivity. Nurture a culture of continuous improvement achieved through an ongoing process of defining goals, developing strategies, implementing systems, and measuring and rewarding performance results.
• Play a major role in fundraising, pursuing an agenda of donor outreach and exceptional donor stewardship to increase the organization’s financial resources. Develop effective partnerships, collaborations, and strategic alliances with government agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals and other sources of funding and service partners.
• Lead the executive management team to strengthen and support the programmatic, financial, and operational goals of Union Station, including attracting, retaining, developing, and motivating qualified staff. Ensure opportunities for staff development and mentorship, including promoting a culture that supports work-life balance and the well-being of all employees.  
• Ensure the organization is operated on a sound fiscal basis. Collaborating with the Chief Financial Officer and other senior staff members, oversee the development of the organization’s budget, manage within the budget, and keep the Board of Directors regularly informed of the financial status of the organization. Lead the process to secure, manage and administer all revenue streams, including philanthropy, corporate and government contracts, and grants.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson/advocate for Union Station and promote its mission by clearly articulating its programs and impact on the community. Establish and grow mutually beneficial relationships with nonprofits, government agencies, elected government officials, corporations, funders, community leaders, educational institutions, media, and others to support the growth and development of the organization.
• Provide oversight of all operational functions of the organization, including program development, management and administration, financial management, community relations, fund development, human resource management, volunteer leadership, facilities management, and infrastructure growth.
• Support an engaged Board of Directors in advancing the work of the organization. Provide timely and accurate information to the Board so it can effectively execute its oversight role. Facilitate the Board’s operations and administration and contribute to the selection and recruitment of new Board members. Foster and strengthen the relationship between the Board and the senior management team.

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED

The CEO must have a strong understanding and belief in Union Station’s mission – housing first, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care. Given its rapid growth, Union Station requires a CEO who can create sustainability, build infrastructure, be a transparent communicator, and be a servant leader to all employees. The ability to recognize the humanity and struggles of those without stable shelter and essential services is imperative. The CEO must understand client stories and challenges, inspire a culture of inclusivity and generosity, and promote a more equitable and compassionate society for all.

The ideal candidate will be a big picture thinker and visionary with an ability to think strategically and creatively about achieving Union Station’s organizational priorities. The CEO will have a proven track record of successfully managing growth and change in an institution. The CEO will also possess strong financial acumen, which will yield effective decisions regarding the future and growth of the agency.

The knowledge and experience to motivate, coach, and develop staff and to meet objectives including anticipating challenges, identifying issues, and developing solutions is essential. The ideal candidate will be an authentic, transparent, and inspirational leader who has a clear and consistent management style that supports collaborative, team-oriented approaches to serving the mission. The CEO will have empathy and compassion for the people Union Station serves as well as a passion for serving the community’s most vulnerable members including a demonstrated experience and commitment to applying an equity lens to their work and a history of centering diversity, equity, and inclusion as organizational values.

The candidate will be knowledgeable about the current issues surrounding homelessness in Los Angeles County and a commitment to the implementation of the best practices for delivery of homeless services. The ideal candidate will understand the political environment surrounding homeless issues in the region and will be an active partner with the key players involved in homeless services and funding.

The CEO will be an active and intuitive listener who builds genuine relationships with staff, board, donors, and community and government partners. A demonstrated ability to reach out, form effective relationships and work collaboratively in a diverse community is important, as is an ability to facilitate group discussion, group decision-making and group action.

The ideal candidate will be a decision-maker and strong leader capable of guiding Union Station to new heights. The ability to exhibit empathy, humility, compassion, integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, emotional intelligence, strong ethics, and fairness is important.

CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION

Competitive candidates will bring a history of excellence in senior leadership positions, ideally from other complex nonprofit human service organizations recognized for their commitment to exemplary service to the community and their clients. A minimum of ten years of experience as a CEO or in senior management of an organization of comparable size and complexity is desired. A history of managing the growth and infrastructure of an organization to increase its impact would be valued. Candidates should have wisdom and prudence in the deployment of financial resources and sufficient fiscal management experience to be conversant with the fiduciary responsibility of a complex organization with a large asset base. Familiarity with the process and accountability required for government funding is strongly preferred. Demonstrated successful experience in fundraising, program development and board relations will be highly valued. The successful candidate will have strong donor relations skills and success at cultivating major donors, asking for and obtaining major gifts.

EDUCATION

An advanced degree in social work, human services management, public administration, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field is preferred. However, a demonstrated successful history serving in a senior leadership position of a similar organization will be considered of equivalent value to a degree. An understanding of current issues surrounding homelessness would be an asset and a commitment to the implementation of best practices for delivery of services is essential.

COMPENSATION & ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The annual salary range for this position is $275,000 to $325,000 plus the potential for a performance-based bonus. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. A comprehensive and competitive benefits package will be provided.

Union Station staff are currently working on a hybrid in-person / work-from-home schedule. The CEO is expected to have a regular presence in the office and be available for frequent in-person meetings with staff, Board members, donors, and community members.