Executive Director - Religious Community Services

Ask yourself ... 
Are you someone who sees the potential of—and dignity in—all people, regardless of where they are in life and the challenges they face today? 

Are you a detailed-oriented administrator who can manage complex financials, maximize operational efficiency, build detailed budgets, and then develop an outreach plan to fund critical human services? 

Are you a community relationship builder who can inspire others and rally support to secure funding for a worthy cause?  

Are you a leader who enjoys rolling up their sleeves to work with volunteers on the ground in the morning and then meet with elected officials and business leaders in the afternoon? 

Are you the kind of leader who sees today’s realities and tomorrow’s possibilities and blends them together to forge an innovative plan for detailed fiscal oversight and programmatic growth built on data, input, relationships, and a deep understanding of the needs of families who are housing and food insecure? 

Are you the kind of leader who believes people are an organization’s most important asset and who knows how to build, develop, and nurture personal relationships and broad collaborations, both internally and externally? 

Are you a natural communicator who can connect with individuals and groups to find common ground and collective purpose, regardless of individual backgrounds, lived experiences, and personal beliefs? 

If so, keep reading because you might be the next Executive Director of Religious Community Services. 

Why? 
Religious Community Services (RCS), a 41-year-old faith-based nonprofit that addresses basic needs in New Bern and Craven County by providing food, clothing, and shelter to those who need it most, is on the hunt for its next Executive Director. 

Located in a picturesque waterfront community with small-town charm and big-city culture, RCS sits at the heart of a thriving nonprofit ecosystem supported by philanthropic-minded residents and a network of generous and active faith communities. Situated at the convergence of the Trent and Neuse rivers, and less than an hour from North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, New Bern is an outdoor enthusiast's playground, located next door to the Croatian National Forest. 

What will you do as RCS’s next Executive Director? 

• Lead a culture of strategic compassion laser-focused on providing housing, food assistance, and case management services to the most vulnerable adults and families in New Bern and the surrounding region   
• Manage an annual budget of $2 million+ and a sophisticated logistical supply chain and comprehensive system of client supports with a keen eye for detail and fiscal oversight 
• Creatively overcome the challenges and logistics of serving a vulnerable population in a thriving community projected to experience an increase of new residents in the coming years 
• Coach, lead, and inspire a 20+ member staff and a large volunteer network, nurturing a sense of unity that ensures collaboration and personal accountability, recognizing that many staff members journey daily with those they serve who are facing extraordinary mental, physical, and emotional challenges 
• Directly mentor and supervise the organization’s executive leadership team, inspiring collaboration and building a sense of common purpose 
• Partner with the RCS Board of Directors (currently 14 members) to set the strategic vision, determine the priorities, and ensure the funding that positions RCS to end homelessness and hunger for as many adults and families as possible 
• Forge alliances with elected officials, city, and county leaders and community partners across a spectrum of human services to support the community’s most vulnerable populations 
• Inspire donors, funders, and government partners to invest deeply in RCS’s commitment to help those who are struggling to achieve positive and lasting life changes 
• Build on the successes of four decades of service to the community and position RCS to surpass all expectations over the next 40 years 

Why RCS? 
Since 1985, RCS has focused its work on addressing the basic needs of struggling people by providing food, clothing, and shelter to those who need it the most in the city of New Bern. In 2023 alone, RCS served more than 94,000 meals, provided more than 14,000 nights of shelter to 180 individuals, completed more than 33,000 emergency food orders, and provided case management for 447 individual cases. 

RCS’s vision is to provide programs to help nourish the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Through its various programs and services, RCS strives to empower permanent life change by building a supportive community and engaging people holistically. 

Built on the vision and compassion of Sister Angela Mary Parker who started serving food to the homeless of New Bern out of her station wagon in 1982, RCS is more than a community collaborator. It is a community anchor that draws together hundreds of volunteers each year from its partner faith organizations and the larger community to provide food, shelter, and support to those in need. 

RCS creates transformative impact by: 

Building a Supportive Community: RCS believes in fostering an environment where individuals feel a sense of belonging, acceptance, and support. 

Engaging People Holistically: RCS’s approach recognizes the multifaceted nature of people’s needs and seeks to address them comprehensively. 

Empowering Permanent Life Change: RCS is dedicated to offering resources and guidance that leads to lasting, positive change in the lives of those it serves. 

Simply put, RCS’s commitment to service is built upon and deeply rooted in compassion and faith.  

Want to know more? Visit RCSs website at www.rcsnewbern.com. 

Key lived experiences, attributes, and skillsets sought in the Executive Director 

• All in on the RCS’s mission, values, and beliefs, exhibiting a deep-rooted compassion and empathy for the clients served by RCS 
• Detailed-oriented administrator with significant experience in budget management and fiscal oversight 
• Listener focused on understanding then responding 
• Creative, innovative, and visionary strategic thinker 
• Experience in nonprofit or corporate leadership, work in the faith-based services field preferred but not required 
• Compassion for and experience with those who have experienced homelessness, food insecurity, and/or trauma, preferred 
• Experience casting a vision, building a strategy, and leading the successful execution of a plan 
• Inspiring communicator who can motivate staff, Board, donors, partner agencies, government allies, and volunteers from a broad and diverse base of community stakeholders and partners 
• Relationship builder with a natural curiosity and interest in those who view the world through a lens different than their own 
• Collaborative problem solver who is available to every client, staff member, and volunteer, regardless of organizational rank and social status 
• Knowledge of human resource functions with direct experience in structuring, hiring, onboarding, and continually building a skilled and professional team 
• Decision-maker who understands when it is time to build consensus and when it is time to act 
• Effective fundraiser with a proven track record of successful grant writing and relationship building with individual donors, philanthropic funders, government agencies, and corporate partners  
• Experience developing and articulating a strategic communications plan to move beyond programmatic outputs and to share stories of positive life outcomes for the clients and families served by RCS 
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in family-friendly workplace 

Think you are the next RCS Executive Director? 
To apply, click on the link to the executive director position profile at https://armstrongmcguire.applytojob.com/apply/sFUvT6esOd/Executive-Director-Religious-Community-Services. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and professional references. Please provide all requested information to be considered.  

In case of any technical problems, contact [email protected]. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites. 

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and begins in the $65K range. Benefits include supplemental medical with allowance toward premium, dental, life, short and long-term disability insurance; pension and 403(b) retirement plans; accrued paid time off; and 11 paid holidays. 

Religious Community Services actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates. RCS is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age.