Executive Director, Indiana Cooperative Development Center

Negotiable starting salary will be in the range of $75,000 – $85,000 depending on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Position Description – Executive Director, Indiana Cooperative Development Center

The Mission of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center is to advance cooperative and collaborative enterprise development.

ORGANIZATION VISION
ICDC is recognized as a leading resource for cooperative and collaborative enterprise development in Indiana.
The Executive Director of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Center, implementation of annual strategic goals, and development of the long-term vision for the organization.

Primary qualifications:
– Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent, in an appropriate field of study
– Minimum of five years’ experience in non-profit organization and board management
– Extensive, functional knowledge of for-profit and non-profit cooperative models
– Tangible experience with grant writing and/or fundraising
– Successful experience with event management
– Superior capacity for communicating effectively with diverse audiences
– Strong & extensive relationships within national and regional networks of co-ops, funders, relevant organizations, and subject matter experts
– Superior skill in simultaneously managing multiple complex projects at different stages
– Capacity to articulate a cohesive vision for the future of co-ops in Indiana and the role of the ICDC in that work over the next 5+ years

Potential additional skills:

– Ability to network and link various organizations and individuals together
– Fluent in MS Office tools (especially Outlook, Word and Excel)
– Understanding of federal contracting requirements, state contractual compliance requirements and accounting and record keeping standards
– Content knowledge related to primary and potential ICDC project areas (e.g. food, farming, childcare, housing, energy, etc.)
– Knowledge of historical context within Indiana and the region, with a focus on economic development and prior cooperative endeavors
– Current knowledge of local and regional political landscape, demographic changes, policy issues, and potential obstacles

Basic responsibilities of the ICDC Executive Director

The ICDC Executive Director is the leading advocate for the cooperative model in Indiana. The incumbent works to promote the concept of cooperatives to leaders and stakeholders and provides consultation to entities that are considering the cooperative model as an operating structure. ICDC and its Executive Director are advocates for rural problem-solving through deployment of the cooperative model.

The ICDC Executive Director works with members of the ICDC Board of Directors and various stakeholders to develop educational opportunities that promote, explain, and advocate for the cooperative model. These educational opportunities may include national or local conferences, workshops, webinars, collateral materials, social media, or podcasts. The ICDC Executive Director is the primary staff implementer for the annual, national Up and Coming conference.

The ICDC Executive Director is directly responsible for securing funding for operating and sustaining the organization. Typically, funding has been in the form of federal grants with local matching funds. There is a desire among the Board of Directors to diversify funding sources.

The ICDC Executive Director is responsible for administering and maintaining accurate financial records in compliance with federal and state requirements. The organization conducts an annual financial review.

The ICDC Executive Director maintains a productive relationship with the Board of Directors and works with the Board President to prepare board meeting agendas and materials.

ICDC offers a competitive, professional salary commensurate with the incumbent’s experience and provides a competitive benefit package that includes health insurance, retirement, and paid time-off for vacation and sick leave.

Negotiable starting salary will be in the range of $75,000 – $85,000 depending on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. ICDC offers a hybrid working arrangement allowing for a combination in-office/work-from-home structure. Compensation and benefits will be discussed as part of the interview process.

Future Considerations for ICDC
ICDC is currently organized as a 501 c 3 non-profit organization and is funded primarily through federal grants. In early 2025 an Indiana University class will conduct a project to identify and catalog all of the cooperatives operating within Indiana. This will be a first-ever effort to identify the extent to which the cooperative model is deployed throughout Indiana.

With this information, the ICDC Board of Directors is interested in exploring the potential of forming a 501 c 6 ‘cooperative association’ that will exist alongside the 501 c 3. The incumbent to this position may be tasked with developing a feasibility recommendation and plan regarding the formation of an association.

Resumes and letters of application should be submitted virtually to:
Lee Lewellen, ICDC Board President
lewellenprogress@gmail.com

Application materials must be submitted by January 31, 2025, at 5:00pm (EST). Late submissions will not be accepted.