Overview

Bridges to Change (“BTC”), one of the largest peer-led organizations in Oregon, was founded in 2004 to support people on their path to recovery. BTC provides a combination of peer-delivered services, behavioral health care and a full continuum of community-based housing options to ensure comprehensive support for its participants. The organization has rapidly expanded its reach in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, and Wasco counties to provide over 550 beds at 55 different locations. The organization has an annual budget of over $16 Million, with a dedicated team of nearly 150 staff members. Through the concerted effort of its staff, BTC is able to help over 1,800 participants per year, continuing the mission of walking alongside individuals on their recovery journeys.

Mission and Values

BTC’s organizational vision is to provide health and housing for all, BTC is dedicated to providing housing for those who need it most, fostering recovery through the perspective of lived experience, and promoting well-being through comprehensive behavioral health services. BTC advocates for individuals who have been ignored by their systems.

These are our shared values:

• Compassion: Meeting both staff and participants where they are at with curiosity and empathy.
• Integrity: BTC approaches their work with authenticity, always working to meet the needs of the community.
• Equity: Continuously learning and evaluating decisions based on feedback from those most impacted.
• Inclusion: BTC values the depth of knowledge and understanding that comes from representation of the entire community.
• Transparency: BTC aims to be consistent, clear, and accountable.

Programs

• Housing: With over 55 locations and 550 beds, BTC provides housing to those in need with a critical focus on individuals with substance use disorder, mental health diagnoses, formerly incarcerated individuals, the unhoused, and those with culturally specific needs. With a growing portfolio of locations, and a desire to positively impact more lives, BTC is an important provider in the communities it serves and across the state.
• Mentorship: BTC’s peer-led mentorship program is the foundation of its success with clients. Many employees are former clients who are passionate individuals looking to help others in need.
• Treatment: BTC offers Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) services for substance abuse, as well as outpatient telehealth therapy for individuals with mental health and cooccurring disorders.

For a more comprehensive look at BTC programs and services, and the values and philosophies upon which the organization operates, please see https://bridgestochange.com/.

About the Position

BTC seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in supportive housing, addiction recovery, mental health services, and nonprofit leadership, paired with a steady, collaborative leadership style. BTC's new CEO will be tasked with guiding the organization through its next phase of growth while ensuring sustainability and operational excellence.

Key Priorities

The new leader should initially spend time listening and learning, understanding the organization’s internal dynamics and needs, and building relationships and trust with the staff, board, and community partners, as they better understand the organization’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities. Building upon these foundational relationships, the new CEO will need to address the following key priorities in their first 18-24 months:

1. Strengthen the Organization, Internal Relationships, and Communications: Build trust with staff through listening and understanding staff perspectives and understanding the strains that growth has placed on the organization. Conduct a thorough evaluation of the staffing structure in light of the organization’s growth, and help to clearly define roles, break down silos, and establish clear lines of authority and position boundaries. Bolster staff development initiatives alongside a more delineated structure to give staff the opportunity to succeed throughout the organization.
2. Community & External Relationships: As the public face of the organization, the new CEO will need to maintain the organization’s presence within the community and at the forefront of policy making that will affect those in need. This will involve building on existing partnerships and developing new connections with community organizations, leaders, and donors to strengthen relationships, enhance service offerings, and increase the organization’s impact.
3. Define the Structure & Standards for Success: With rapid growth has come rapid increases in the number of lives served, and the services offered to individuals in need. The organization needs to clearly define its methodologies and standards for care, and ensure they are echoed in staff training and community outreach so that BTC can maintain and enhance its reputation with the treatment community.
4. Increase Board Engagement: As the Board undergoes a “changing of the guard,” there is a unique opportunity for the new CEO to work with the Board in redeveloping its structure, enhancing its engagement, and magnifying the passion of its board members to help support the organization.
5. Financial Management: As the organization has become increasingly reliant on public funding, with a large portion of its grants through Measure 110 and restricted funding sources, it needs to be properly positioned for the future with a sustainable mix of grants and earned income that reduce the risk of overreliance on individual grants and allow the organization to define its own future, rather than the future being dictated by grantors.

Application Process

BTC has retained Glick Davis & Associates, LLC to facilitate this search on their behalf. To apply, interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume as a single pdf file to: bridgestochange@glickdavis.com

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Attributes

• At least five years of executive level experience and success leading a complex nonprofit organization and fostering high-performing teams, preferably at a similar nonprofit organization. Will also consider candidates with extensive experience in health and human service nonprofit organizations.
• A strategic leader with experience in the fields of supportive housing, addiction recovery, and mental health treatment who can communicate effectively with staff, board, community partners, legislators and others to build a team and continue BTC legacy as a quality provider in the community.
• A compassionate, empathic, and positive individual able to skillfully lead a culturally diverse staff team comprised of peer recovery mentors to graduate level clinicians. Ability to build trust, motivate, and empower others and hold them accountable
• Experience in successful partnerships with boards of directors and with building and enhancing board membership.
• Skilled communicator, with professional speaking, public relations and presentation experience with demonstrated success in advocating for government funding at the state and local levels.
• Experience in organizational development and a track record of managing significant organizational transitions.
• Strong background in budget building and analysis; ability to work closely with Board and Finance Director to maintain the budget. Extensive experience and understanding of grants and nonprofit funding.
• Experience building a development team and fund-raising program and with developing new revenue sources.
• A college degree in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, psychology, sociology, health care administration, business management, or equivalent experience. Advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading change management in an organization
• Develop organizational strategic plan, set priorities, targets, and achievable goals that serve the organization and its role in the community. Build action methodologies to ensure that strategic goals are interwoven in the organizational culture.
• Awareness of the political and socio-economic climate in Oregon, including legislative and funding trends impacting nonprofit social services (in particular, Measure 110, which is critically important for BTC), and of the supportive housing market.

Application Process

BTC has retained Glick Davis & Associates, LLC to facilitate this search on their behalf. To apply, interested candidates should e-mail their cover letter and resume as a single pdf file to: bridgestochange@glickdavis.com.

The position is open until filled.

Inclusiveness

BTC is an equal-opportunity employer and seeks to recruit people of diverse backgrounds and support the retention and advancement of diverse persons within the organization. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer corps with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission.

BTC is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that includes people of diverse backgrounds and fully utilizes their talents to achieve its mission. We are committed to fostering and supporting a workplace culture inclusive of people regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital status, age, physical abilities, political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other non-merit fact, so that all employees feel included, equal, valued and supported.

About Bridges to Change

This employer has retained Glick Davis & Associates, LLC to facilitate this search on their behalf. To learn more about the organization, please visit their website listed above.

Connections working at Bridges to Change