Chief Executive Officer

Carpenter's Shelter seeks a service-oriented, strategic, and dynamic leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer. Building on more than forty years of community impact, the CEO will guide the organization through its next chapter of strengthening the foundation that sustains high-quality services, elevating organizational capacity and performance, and exploring new approaches and partnerships that expand pathways from homelessness to stable housing. This is a compelling opportunity for a forward-thinking executive who brings both a deep commitment to service and the business judgment to lead strategic transformation.

The Organization

Carpenter's Shelter has been at the forefront of addressing the housing crisis faced by low-income and historically marginalized households in Alexandria, Virginia since the 1980s. During that time, Carpenter’s Shelter has evolved into a comprehensive service provider dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals and families facing homelessness through shelters and services. Throughout its history, the organization has adapted to shifting client needs, changing government policies, and fluctuating funding landscapes, guided by thoughtful leadership, unwavering commitment of staff and volunteers and high-impact strategic plans.

Its mission is to support people experiencing and at risk of homelessness to achieve sustainable independence through shelter and housing placement, guidance, education, and advocacy. Its vision is for homelessness to be eradicated in the communities it serves. Service delivery includes:

• The Hoffman Center. A purpose-built facility completed in 2020 that includes a family emergency shelter, Rapid Re-Housing programming, David's Place day shelter, administrative offices, 10 Permanent Supportive Housing units, and 87 affordable housing units owned and managed by Housing Alexandria.
• Alexandria Community Shelter. An Alexandria City-owned, 64-bed emergency shelter operated since December 2023 by Carpenter's Shelter.
• A broad continuum of support. Emergency, winter, and day shelter; Rapid Re-Housing; Permanent Supportive Housing; therapeutic and medical services; education and employment assistance; and housing stabilization support.
• Meaningful community reach. 981 people served in 2025, including 152 children, across its programs, supported by a deeply engaged volunteer community.

Carpenter's Shelter is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors and operates with an annual budget of approximately $6 million. A staff of approximately 28 full-time employees, together with part-time team members and 1,200 volunteers, delivers services across the organization's programs and facilities.

Learn more at carpentersshelter.org.

The Leadership Opportunity

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will lead an established and respected organization at an important point of evolution. The Board and staff seek a leader who can preserve Carpenter's Shelter's strongest assets while building the strategy, infrastructure, leadership capacity, and external reach required for its future. The CEO will balance visible community leadership with disciplined organizational management, empowering senior leaders while maintaining clear accountability for performance and results. They will also have a role in strategic staff development to build bench strength across all levels.

The organization's 2025-2027 Strategic Plan is organized around three themes: Sustain, Elevate, and Explore. Together, they call for Carpenter's Shelter to reinforce financial and organizational sustainability; strengthen economic mobility, services, and housing pathways; and use research, advocacy, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships to shape future impact.

Near-term priorities include:

• Lead strategic transformation. Translate the strategic plan into a focused long-term vision, clear priorities, measurable action, and the organizational capacity needed to deliver on both current commitments and future opportunities.
• Expand partnerships and regional impact. Deepen relationships with donors, volunteers, community organizations, government, businesses, housing partners, and other stakeholders while evaluating opportunities across Alexandria and Northern Virginia.
• Diversify and grow revenue. Set the strategic direction for sustainable revenue growth, broaden institutional and philanthropic support, strengthen donor and funder relationships, and ensure the organization has the leadership, systems, and development capacity needed to support long-term impact.
• Advance sustainable, thriving operations and financial health. Strengthen financial discipline, operational systems, risk management, and organizational infrastructure to support high-quality service delivery, responsible growth, compliance, and long-term resilience.

The Position

The CEO serves as Carpenter's Shelter's chief executive, primary public representative, and partner to the Board. The role has overall accountability for mission integrity, strategy, organizational performance, people, finances, operations, compliance, assets, and reputation. Direct reports currently include the Deputy Director, Director of Development, and Finance Director.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serve as chief ambassador and advocate. Communicate Carpenter's Shelter's mission, impact, and value with credibility and authenticity; raise its regional profile; and build partnerships that increase resources, housing options, and supportive services for clients.
• Lead revenue development and external engagement. Cultivate and steward donors and funders, expand philanthropic and institutional relationships, strengthen the development function, and pursue diversified revenue opportunities, including grants, corporate support, government contracts, and other aligned sources.
• Build organizational capacity. Assess leadership structure and capabilities, empower senior leaders, clarify roles and accountability, strengthen management practices, and develop the staff and systems needed for sustainable performance.
• Safeguard financial and operational health. Provide strategic fiscal oversight; ensure strong budgeting, reporting, controls, compliance, and risk management; and maintain infrastructure and operations that support high-quality programs and responsible growth.
• Champion an inclusive, high-performing culture. Model integrity, respect, transparency, collaboration, and accessibility; listen to staff and stakeholders; address challenges directly; and foster an environment in which employees feel valued, heard, supported, and accountable.
• Partner effectively with the Board. Keep directors informed, provide clear analysis and recommendations, support strong governance, engage the Board's expertise and networks, and maintain an effective distinction between governance and management.
• Align future direction with evolving community needs. Work in partnership with the Strategic Planning Committee and the Program & Operations Committee of the Board of Directors to assess shifting community needs, evaluate how Carpenter's Shelter can best serve the community moving forward, and align priorities, resources, partnerships, and organizational capacity with the organization's current strategic plan and future impact.
• Translate strategy into execution. Establish clear goals, decision rights, performance expectations, and cross-organizational coordination; monitor results; and adapt plans as circumstances change.

Candidate Experience, Skills, and Attributes

The successful candidate will be a strategic and pragmatic executive who combines service orientation with strong business judgment. Carpenter's Shelter welcomes candidates from homelessness services, health and human services, community-based organizations, government, business, associations, or other settings, provided they demonstrate a genuine connection to the mission, relevant stakeholder understanding, and the ability to lead transformation in a complex, people-centered organization.

Mission and Strategic Leadership

• Senior leadership experience with substantial responsibility for strategy, organizational performance, people, finances, operations, and external relationships; chief executive, C-suite, or major business-unit leadership experience is strongly valued.
• Record of leading or co-leading organizational or departmental transformation, building frameworks, structures, and capabilities that produce sustained improvement.

External Leadership and Revenue Development

• Success building trusted relationships with donors, funders, government leaders, community organizations, businesses, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Credibility as a visible spokesperson and advocate, with the ability to communicate mission, impact, and strategy to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated fundraising and revenue-development experience, including cultivating and stewarding relationships, supporting gift closure, diversifying funding, and building or leading an effective development team.

Organizational, Financial, and People Leadership

• Strong financial, operational, and business acumen, including experience overseeing budgets, financial performance, compliance, risk, and organizational infrastructure.
• Ability to lead through others, establish clarity and accountability, make difficult decisions, and balance short-term operational needs with long-term priorities.
• Track record of strengthening culture and staff capacity through listening, trust-building, transparent communication, talent development, conflict resolution, succession planning, and shared leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the presence, judgment, and adaptability to engage effectively across the organization and community.

Leadership Approach

• Integrity, sound judgment, empathy, and a clear commitment to mission.
• Collaborative and approachable style paired with decisiveness, accountability, and the confidence to move the organization forward.
• Respect for diverse experiences and perspectives, with a commitment to inclusion, equity, dignity, and client-centered service.
• Humility and curiosity to learn from residents, staff, and community partners.
• Intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to challenge assumptions while preserving what is most valued about Carpenter's Shelter.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in social work, human services, organization management, or a related field.
• Prior experience leading an organization or business unit in the health and human services space.
• 5+ years of managerial or supervisory experience.

Salary and Work Environment

The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $200,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, vision, dental, disability, and life insurance, as well as a 403(b) retirement plan.

This is an in-person leadership role based at the Hoffman Center in Alexandria, Virginia, with regular presence at the Alexandria Community Shelter and throughout the community. The CEO will engage frequently with staff, residents, volunteers, donors, public officials, and regional partners. The role requires the availability and flexibility appropriate to leading a 24-hour human-services organization, including occasional evening and weekend commitments and local or regional travel.